Chapter 15: A Fleeting Moment

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Translator: Soafp

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[Shiho PoV]

I wake up in the morning, get ready at a relaxed pace, and head out of the house.

Back in middle school, I had gotten used to waking up early for morning basketball practice, but now there’s no need for that.

Now that I'm in high school, I haven't joined any clubs, and I haven't been able to focus on my studies either… I've just been drifting through life without any motivation.

“I’m off…”

The moment I step outside, my eyes fall on Haruki's family home across the street.

He's no longer there.

Since we were little, I'd gone to that house countless times to pick him up.

We talked about everything, went to all kinds of places together.

I bite my lip and start running toward the station.

I don't want to remember any more of those happy days—days that I can no longer have, that I can never get back.

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“Please, Fukase-san! Join the basketball club, won't you?!”

“Huh…? No, I mean… I've already quit basketball…”

Ever since I entered high school, the basketball club members have been persistently trying to recruit me.

“Whaaat? Why? You were amazing in middle school!”

Apparently, many of them had seen me play back then and really wanted me to join.

“We've got a practice match next week with Kaisei High School. We're planning a game just for the first-years. Come play with us!”

Kaisei High School…?! That's the school Haruki goes to.

If I join the basketball club… there'll be a practice match with Kaisei High School.

I might get to see Haruki again… but…

“I'm sorry. I've already given up basketball… and besides, I need to focus on studying.”

Yes… I'm not playing basketball anymore.

I'd feel too guilty to let Haruki see me having fun playing again…

I'm putting shackles on myself, trying to make it feel like I'm atoning for my mistakes…

But really, this is just selfish self-satisfaction.

“Fukase-san, you were amazing in P.E. the other day! You should totally join a club!”

Some boys nearby who had apparently overheard our conversation came over and chimed in.

“Ah, no, I… I really don't think I can join any clubs right now…!?”

The next moment, my heart started pounding uncontrollably.

“Fukase-san, what's wrong? Are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah, I'm fine…”

In my mind, I saw his face.

[I'M SORRY FOR BEING DISGUSTING!!]

That day, he shouted at me with a look of disgust and sorrowful anger—Haruki's face.

The tension left me unable to speak clearly…

A cold sweat broke out all over me…

My heart was pounding furiously…

Even these boys who were kindly reaching out to me—somehow, I was scared of them.

---

I hadn't really made any close friends in high school, and time just kept slipping by.

The only thing I did consistently each day was… stare at the calendar.

“Half a year… huh.”

It had been exactly six months since I last spoke with Haruki—since I last saw him.

I didn't want the memory of our final exchange to fade, so I kept looking at the calendar every day, trying to hold on to it.

“Shiho. This was in the mailbox.”

“Hm? What is it?”

What my mom handed me was an envelope addressed to me.

I opened it and checked the contents—my eyes widened in surprise.

“A… Kaisei High School culture festival… invitation…?”

Kaisei High School—the school Haruki attends. And this is an invitation to their culture festival.

Why… would something like this be addressed to me…?

“Oh, it's an invitation ticket? Someone must have kindly dropped it off.”

“Y-Yeah… maybe…”

Since graduating middle school, I hadn't kept in contact with anyone I used to be close with.

I cut off those connections to try to leave my ugly past behind me… again, just selfish self-satisfaction.

There was no sender's name on the envelope.

Could it have been someone from middle school who still cared enough to send it?

But if that were the case, they would've at least signed their name…

(Could it have been… Haruki who put it in the mailbox…!?)

No… That's probably not it.

Haruki… has likely completely given up on me by now.

“Oh look, they even included the festival pamphlet. Do you have a friend at Kaisei High School?”

“Yeah… someone really important to me.”

Someone important—my childhood friend.

I may not have the right to stand beside him anymore, but still… I want to see him.

“So, are you going to this culture festival?”

“Yeah… I'm going.”

Maybe he won't even want to see my face anymore.

Maybe if I go, he'll reject me all over again.

Even so…

I might get to see Haruki.

I might get to talk to him.

That faint hope… was enough to jolt me out of my lifeless days and move me forward.

---

“Um… do you happen to know which class the first-year student Haruki Asano is in?”

It happened… I've finally come to Haruki's school—Kaisei High School.

“Hm? Oh, you mean that Asano who's close with Endo-san? I think he's in the class doing the haunted house.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you very much.”

I asked a girl who looked approachable in the hallway, and she kindly responded.

The haunted house class could only be one of the first-year classes on this floor.

Haruki must be in there.

“Are you maybe… Asano-kun's girlfriend?”

“Huh? N-no! I-I'm not…”

Me? Haruki's girlfriend…?

Something that dreamy could never happen.

If only that kind of miracle could come true… how happy life would be…

“I see, yeah. Asano-kun has Endo-san, after all.”

Haruki… has Endo-san?

Does that mean… Haruki and Endo-san are dating…?

I knew they both entered Kaisei High School, but… I didn't want to imagine that they had gotten that close.

After thanking the girl, I followed the map in the brochure and finally arrived at the haunted house.

I registered right away and, since there wasn't a crowd, was able to go in without waiting.

The room was cold from the air conditioning, and the chill clung to my skin.

Walking alone through the dim, narrow corridor made me feel uneasy.

I remembered when Haruki and I went to an amusement park as kids and entered a haunted house together.

I was so scared back then, hiding behind him… clinging to his broad back… it felt so safe, like I was being protected…

Now, it's just a fond memory. A precious one.

There were many clever little scares inside, but I was too focused on looking for Haruki to feel any fear or surprise. Before I knew it, I had almost reached the exit.

(He's nowhere to be found… maybe he's not even inside…)

Just when I was starting to think I wouldn't get to see him after coming all this way—I saw someone in front of me, and my eyes locked on them.

Even in the dark, I could tell—he was wearing a costume for the haunted house, and his hair, once brown as I remembered, had been dyed black. But I recognized him instantly.

It was him—Haruki. He seemed absorbed in his phone and hadn't noticed me yet.

“U-um…”

Without thinking, my frozen thoughts gave way and I called out to him.

“Don't turn around!”

I reached out and placed a hand on his back to stop him as he tried to turn.

“Don't turn around… Haruki.”

My heart pounded violently.

When I'm around other boys, my heart races and I panic inside, completely losing my composure.

But with him… my heart was definitely racing—but in a very different way.

“Fukase… is that you?”

“…Yeah.”

Even without seeing each other's faces, we knew who we were.

I could feel Haruki's warmth.

I could hear his breathing.

“It's been about half a year, huh?”

“Half a year… and 27 days.”

Yes… half a year and 27 days.

And until a little before that, I was always by his side like it was the most natural thing.

“…I'm sorry… for the awful things I said… for hurting you… I'm really sorry.”

As the memories flooded back from being so close to him again, the first thing I needed to say was my apology.

My voice trembled, and I couldn't speak clearly—but I just wanted to say I was sorry.

“…Are you doing okay?”

“How's high school life treating you…?”

“…Have you lost weight?”

Even though he had every right to push me away, Haruki still worried about me.

My emotions were so tangled up that I could only nod desperately to hold back my tears.

“You… quit basketball?”

“…Yeah.”

(Haruki… he knows I didn't join the basketball club… So he has been thinking about me…)

“Someone like me… doesn't deserve to do the things I love…”

Because of my ugly jealousy, I hurt the person I cared about most.

Someone like me doesn't deserve to smile and enjoy life.

“I always liked seeing you… giving your all in basketball and studying. That's why I worked hard too. So… you should keep being yourself and give it your best.”

Tears I had been holding back finally spilled out.

After six months apart, Haruki was still the same kind, gentle person I remembered.

“Thank you… for encouraging me… Thank you… for calling me by my name.”

I could feel that he truly understood how I felt and chose his words to match.

And at the same time… I realized, whether I liked it or not, that this was truly our goodbye.

“Goodbye, Fukase.”

No… no!

We just met again…

And now we're parting…

We may never meet again…

But maybe… by doing this, Haruki is helping me move forward in life without regrets, without guilt.

I can't keep relying on his kindness anymore.

“Goodbye… Asano-kun.”

Calling him “Asano-kun” was my way of saying farewell.

I quickly exited the haunted house and rushed away to put distance between us.

Even now, I could still easily imagine what Haruki was thinking.

And probably… he could imagine my thoughts too.

Because we were once close childhood friends…

“Hey, Endo-san looks amazing in that maid outfit!”

“Yeah! Look, there she is! She's seriously cute!”

I reacted to the boys I passed by and turned to look—there was Endo-san, smiling and serving customers in a maid outfit.

She didn't look flashy like she did in middle school—now she looked calm and elegant. Her blonde hair was now black, and that stood out.

Haruki and Endo-san… both with black hair… attending the same school… probably getting along well…

Even though I had just said goodbye to Haruki, I couldn't believe how clingy and pathetic I was being.

“Why… why couldn't it be me…?” …!?

For a moment… I thought Endo-san glared at me.

A chill ran down my spine, and I hurriedly left the maid café.

Haruki didn't forgive me.

We may never see each other again.

But still… if by some chance we meet again someday… I want him to see me giving my best, just like he said.

“Haruki… I love you… Goodbye.”

Facing the Kaisei High School building, I whispered those words, and walked away.