Chapter 13: The past

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Translator: Soafp

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[Shiho PoV]

The trigger was something trivial.

“Hey, Asano, isn't he cool?”

“I thought so too. Other boys do a lot of stupid stuff, but… Asano is quiet, isn't he?”

“His eyes look scary, but his face is nice. I talked to him once, and he was kind.”

Haruki had always been kept at a distance by those around him because of his unusual appearance. However, in the second year of middle school, he noticed that the way others looked at him was gradually changing.

“Maybe I should try talking to him sometime. He probably doesn't have a girlfriend, right?”

Such sudden flip-flopping comments from classmates made me angry.

After all, they had pushed him away and treated him like an outcast…

Without really knowing his true goodness…

I was the only one who truly understood him…

“Hey, Shiho, you're close with Asano, right? Could you introduce us sometime?”

“No way.”

I absolutely refused.

I was the one who really understood Haruki… I alone had the right to be by his side.

“The truth is… Haruki is kind of violent… or rough…”

I ended up saying that because my heart was weak.

If only I had trusted the relationship we had built, even if others tried to get close to him…

No, that's just an excuse.

I simply wanted to… keep Haruki all to myself.

---

I belong to the basketball club and am treated as the ace of the team.

“Shiho… Is it really okay for me being the captain?”

“It will be fine, Miwa. You are reliable, and Coach Tamiya knows that's why he chose you as captain.”

She is Miwa Tatsumi, my senior in the basketball club.

After the third-year seniors graduated from the club, Coach Tamiya appointed her as the new captain.

It's still early in the new system, but everyone is practicing with determination.

“I worked hard today, both at club and studying.”

My days are busy.

I have to study for next year's high school entrance exams and also do my best in basketball.

But among the busy days, there's one thing I look forward to the most.

“Haruki, wake up. It's time for school.”

“Yeah, yeah. Shiho, you're so energetic every morning.”

I pick Haruki up in front of his house since he's not a morning person. I love this routine we've kept since kindergarten. Seeing Haruki's face first thing in the morning gives me energy for the whole day.

“Hey, there's a basketball game coming up. Won't you come watch?”

“Nah, I won't. It'd just kill the atmosphere if I showed up.”

Even though Haruki says that, I know he secretly comes to support me at important games.

Even in crowded venues, I can always spot him quickly.

Because we've spent so much time together, he is… special to me.

“By the way, Haruki, you haven't been in the classroom during lunch lately, right? Where have you been?”

“Oh, just wandering around the school building. With Endo.”

“Endo? The one famous for bad behavior?”

“Yeah, he's a delinquent for sure, but he's a good guy.”

I've never heard Haruki talk about being close to anyone at school before.

And a girl, no less.

“What kind of conversations do you have with Endo?”

“Silly stuff. Like how good the lunch is, or what games we're into lately.”

“I see… I guess that's fine…”

When Haruki is with me, he doesn't seem so tense like he does at school. I think he's probably more relaxed and just himself.
That's proof he trusts me, and it makes me really happy. But when he talks about Endo, he seems… happy.

I felt… jealous.

“Haruki… let's definitely go to the same high school.”

“What? The same one? I'm not as smart as you.”

“Then study harder. I'll work hard too.”

“Yeah, okay.”

We'll go to the same high school, and from then on, always… forever…

---

“Hey, Shiho, do you like Asano or something?”

“Eh!? W-why would you say that…”

During basketball practice breaks, when girls gather, they mostly talk about love.

“But you walk to school with Asano every day. Even if you're childhood friends, isn't that kinda close?”

“Th-that's just a habit from long ago…”

“Really…? Then can I try hitting on him?”

Eh…? Why does it come to that…?

“Hey, Tatsumi, come here for a sec.”

“Okay.”

Coach Tamiya called Miwa away, so I was spared from having to answer.

(Is Miwa… interested in Haruki…?)

It wasn't just Miwa — I felt that Haruki's popularity at school was steadily rising.

Especially from girls, the attention seemed to increase day by day.

If someone talks to him and gets close…

Then he might leave my side…

Just imagining that made tears well up.

Right now, I'm the only one he has… and just being by his side is enough. I felt deeply insecure about myself.

---

“Hey, Fukase. Come with me for a bit.”

“Ah, um… I have studying and club activities on my day off…”

Lately, I've been followed around by this guy. He's a senior one year above me, named Senda. He's been asking me to hang out a lot recently. I've refused many times…

“Don't say that. I'll make it fun.”

He's a delinquent, just like he looks, and honestly, there's no way I'd go out with someone like him. Besides, I'm busy with club and studying.

If I had any free time, I'd want to spend it with Haruki. I don't even want to think about anyone else.

“Hey, isn't that Senda-senpai? Our basketball club member is getting annoyed, so please stop.”

While I was struggling to respond, Miwa came from behind and defended me.

“What's the deal? I was just talking. See you, Fukase. Think about where you wanna go.”

I told him I wasn't going, but…

“Shiho, are you okay?”

“Y-yeah, thanks.”

Miwa really is capable and reliable. She's kind, and if Haruki got approached by someone like her…

“Hey, that Senda guy has been stalking you, right? You should refuse him more firmly.”

“Yeah… I have refused him…”

“People like that troublemaker tend to underestimate girls, so no matter what you say, they won't listen. Maybe you should have someone you trust warn him.”

Someone I trust…?

“How about Asano? He looks like he could handle that delinquent.”

“Haruki's not a delinquent.”

“But you said before that he's kind of violent and rough, didn't you?”

“Ah… yeah. Miwa, are you… interested in Haruki?”

“Eh… ah, well… maybe, yeah.”

I dared to ask, but after all, that was the truth.

At that moment, I don't think I was calm.

The fear that someone might take Haruki away from me…

That sense of crisis, my ugly feelings, escalated my foolish behavior.

“You'd better not get too involved with Haruki. He's quick to fight… and selfish too.”

“Is that true? Normally when people say bad things about someone they dislike, they say it angrily or laughingly… but you seem kind of flustered?”

Say bad things about the person I love…?

“No, it's not like that. He's really a sloppy guy. Asano.”

I raised my mouth slightly, called him by his surname as if he were a stranger, sweating on my back, and said bad things about Haruki.

“I see. So Asano's that kind of guy…”

My heart… my mind… it felt like they were wearing away.

“That delinquent senior just now — maybe the opposite might work?”

“Eh… the opposite?”

“If you flatter him a bit, maybe his mood will improve.”

Earlier you said it would be better to have someone I trust warn him… and now you're saying to flatter him?

I didn't understand what she was saying.

“Hey, Tatsumi. Come here for a second.”

“Ah, Coach Tamiya is calling me, so I'll go. See you at practice.”

After Miwa left, I sighed alone in the hallway.

(This isn't good. If Haruki found out I was saying things like this…)

“Hey, you look like you're having fun.”

Lost in thought, a voice came from behind again.

Turning around, there stood Endo — a famous classmate known for her striking long blonde hair.

“Eh, Endo…san?”

“You're talking about something fun, huh, Fukase?”

She was known as a delinquent because of her flashy appearance, but I'd heard she had high academic skills and was left alone by the teachers.

“You know who I am…?”

“Yeah. I've heard you're beautiful, the ace of the basketball team, a good student, and popular in class… and that you talk about rough and sloppy Asano.”

(She heard it…!? The conversation with Miwa just now…)

“W-wait! Endo-san!”

Endo-san was about to leave without saying anything else, so I couldn't help but stop her.

“What is it?”

“Um… about the conversation just now… to Haruki…”

“I'm not gonna tell him. When I'm having fun with Asano, I don't wanna hear about you.”

Endo-san said coldly.

More than feeling sorry to Haruki, I was worried that my misdeeds would be exposed through Endo-san's mouth.

At that moment, my heart was probably already broken beyond control.

---

“Fukase… what's wrong? You're spacing out. Are you feeling okay?”

“Ah… I'm fine.”

Since the day Endo-san overheard the conversation, daily life went on as usual.

My relationship with Haruki stayed the same, and it seemed that Endo-san hadn't tattled on him, just as she said.

“Haruki… I want to talk about something…”

“Hm? What's up?”

Until a few days ago, Senda-senpai, who had been stalking me, became more persistent than usual.

Though it was a painful choice, I followed Miwa's advice and tried to flatter Senda-senpai to keep him in a better mood.

That seemed to soften his usually pushy attitude.

But then a big problem came up.

Senda-senpai asked me out on a date, and having been trying to keep him happy until just before, I couldn't refuse it.

“Actually… there's this Senpai named Senda who's been stalking me… and today he's calling me behind the gym…”

“What!? That delinquent Senda? When is it today?”

“Uh, lunch break…”

I was the one who called Senda-senpai, hoping to talk and refuse the date.

But he might get angry.

“Don't go to that kind of callout. Just ignore him.”

“That's impossible. Even if I ignore him today, he'll bother me tomorrow…”

“Got it. So, behind the gym at lunch break.”

I didn't want to involve Haruki, but the only person who wouldn't be afraid and would protect me from a bigger Senpai like Senda was Haruki.

---

“Hey, Fukase. Calling me out to a place like this—don't tell me it's a confession?”

“N-no… um, it's about the date we talked about before…”

The gym is a place where no one usually comes unless it's for gym class or after-school club activities.

Especially behind the gym during lunch break, it's even more secluded.

When I told Miwa I didn't want other students to see me talking with Senda-senpai, she told me about this spot.

“Ah. So, where are we going?”

“Well, actually… I want to pretend the date talk never happened…”

“Huh…?”

Senda-senpai's face, which had been in a good mood just moments ago, instantly twisted into anger.

“Don't mess with me! You called me out here just for that!?”

“Ah! That hurts!”

Senda-senpai grabbed my shoulder hard, and pain shot through it.

My legs trembled… I was scared…

“Hey! Stop that!”

Just when I was on the brink of despair, Haruki appeared swiftly and grabbed Senda-senpai's arm to intervene.

“What the hell do you want? I'm talking with Fukase right now. Let go!”

Senda-senpai shook off Haruki's grip and reached toward me.

“Eh!? N-no!!”

“Ha! As I thought, you've got a nice ch*st!”

Senda-senpai grabbed my chest roughly, and I was frozen with fear, unable to move.

“Senda! Let go of Shiho!”

“Shut up already! Enough of this!”

Haruki grabbed Senda-senpai's arm again to protect me.

Annoyed by this, Senda-senpai swung a punch at Haruki.

“Haruki!!”

Ignoring my worries, Haruki punched Senpai in the face, and it was over in an instant.

“Shiho, are you okay—”

“Hey!! What do you guys think you're doing!!”

Almost at the same moment Senda-senpai fell, a loud voice came from afar.

Running toward us was Coach Tamiya, the basketball club advisor.

(Why is Sensei here…? Such bad timing… This might make it look like Haruki was the bad one…)

“Fukase, are you okay? You guys… Senda and Asano, come to the guidance office!”

After that, Haruki was punished with suspension under the guise of “home study” for using violence against Senda-senpai.

From then on, Haruki… was completely isolated.