Ryota Beppu's Past

Ryota told me a story from his middle school days.

There was a boy who loved studying. He wasn't good at sports, but he had a cheerful personality.

He had a friend who'd sat next to him for two years.

She was a girl, famous throughout both her class and the whole grade.

She was dazzling.

They usually went everywhere together and studied together.

The boy would help her with her studies,

and during breaks, she'd go out and have fun with him.

"Of course we're really good friends."

That was her answer when the boy asked.

Hearing her reply, so full of certainty, made him happy.

Because at some point, strange voices had gradually started popping up around him.

"Does that guy even deserve to hang out with her?"

"...He's not good enough for her."

"Maybe he's the only one who thinks they're close..."

Words like that made him a little timid.

That day, as usual, he went to her classroom to wait for her after school.

Leaning against the wall near the back door, he saw the girl surrounded by a group of other girls.

She really was dazzling.

He sighed.

They seemed to be teasing her. He caught a glimpse of her ears, bright red.

He thought he heard his own name...

Then he heard her say, "How could I ever like him? He's just an ordinary friend."

Even now, that was the only thing he remembered.

The letter he'd tucked inside his textbook turned into a fallen leaf and drifted away.

He'd never expected her to like him, but he'd heard her say it herself.

They were really good friends...

They were really good friends...

There was always a way to check the answer to any question.

But this was the one answer he could only get from her.

He thought he'd found it.

He really thought,

he'd found it.

When he returned to school, he watched her from afar once.

He saw his reflection in her eyes, but he only watched from a distance.

He never heard the doubts he used to hear when they were inseparable.

Because there was no longer any need to question it.

He couldn't quite accept it.

But he had no choice.

He swore,

it would never happen again...

"I'll never let myself be deceived like that again."

After saying that, Ryota turned and left.

He wasn't wrong, either.

I said nothing, silently watching him go.

Zelkova Shopping Center, Palette.

I picked up my coffee and brought the story to a close.

Tetsuya sat beside me, his expression grave.

"There's something I've been meaning to say, too..."

Yui Ninomiya gripped her cup, a hint of determination in her expression.

"When I was in middle school, I went to the same school as Beppu."

Seeing the surprise on everyone's faces, she continued at once.

"That time, there really was a misunderstanding."

"Since we were still in middle school, girls could get a little embarrassed by topics like romance. Especially when someone hit the nail on the head about their feelings. Their minds would go blank, and all they could do was deny it. That was probably why the misunderstanding happened."

"But if she liked Ryota, she wouldn't have let him bear it all alone, right?" Tetsuya asked.

"Beppu was away from school for several days. The girl realized she was in the wrong, but she got caught up in her own guilt, and Beppu acted very resolute."

"After that, neither of them ever brought it up again, and there was never another story about the two of them."

"That's such a shame..."

"They clearly liked each other, but because of a misunderstanding, they both ended up with a scar."

Shiranami Chihiro sighed after hearing the story.

"Were you that girl?"

At my sudden question, Yui Ninomiya gave a wry smile.

"No..."

If she wasn't, then she knew a great deal about what had happened.

She seemed to understand why I'd asked.

"But I like Ryota Beppu."

She was a little embarrassed, but she repeated it softly.

"You've kept me waiting for almost twenty minutes."

She sat across from me.

With an annoyed look, she moved the empty cup left on the table aside, then turned to gaze out the window.

She was mad.

I could only see her profile, but I could still feel her glancing at me from time to time.

She'd already been waiting for me at Palette while I discussed Ryota with the group.

"Sorry. Something came up and held me up."

She kicked me a little, still annoyed, but turned back to face me.

"Why are you smiling? I haven't forgiven you."

Karuizawa spoke in a sharp tone, but I didn't react.

The server came over to clear away the empty cup, then brought over a plate of dessert.

Matcha mille-crepe.

"You've been at Zelkova Shopping Center all day. Want some dessert?"

"Hmph... I suppose that counts as a little effort."

I watched Karuizawa's eyes narrow as she tasted the dessert.

"Why are you staring at me..."

"..."

"Do you want some, too?"

She scooped up a bite and held it out to me.

Wasn't she being a little too careless? I stared at the spoon in front of me and swallowed, but in the end, I didn't open my mouth.

This girl was offering me a bite with a spoon she'd already used...

"Here, take these."

I pulled a few sheets of paper from my bag, and she reached out to take them.

"What's this? Why are they all questions?"

"Try to do as many as you can."

"No! I want to enjoy my weekend!"

"It's the weekend. Do you know what weekends are for? Rest!"

"And where did you get these, anyway?"

Karuizawa picked them up again and took a closer look.

"They look handwritten. The handwriting's pretty nice."

"Don't tell me these were written by Ichinose Honami from your class or something."

As if she'd touched something dirty, she tossed them aside with a disgusted look.

"I wrote them."

"Oh..."

She replied without much interest, then casually stuffed them into her bag.

"Just leave the ones you don't know blank. Anyway, try to do a few when you have time."

"Fine, I know."