Ryota Beppu's Past

Ryota told me a story from middle school.

A boy who loved studying, wasn't good at sports, but had a cheerful personality.

He had a deskmate for two years.

A girl—famous throughout the class, even the whole grade.

She was dazzling.

Usually, they did things together and studied together.

The boy would tutor the girl, And on breaks, the girl would go out and play with the boy.

"Of course we're really good friends."

Facing the boy's question, she answered.

Hearing her precise reply, the boy felt happy.

Because at some point, strange voices had started creeping in around him.

"Does a guy like him even deserve to hang out with her?"

"...He's not qualified."

"Maybe he's just deluding himself that they're close..."

Words like that made him 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 girls.

She really was radiant.

He sighed.

It seemed like they were teasing her—he caught a glimpse of her ears turning red.

He thought he heard his name...

And then, "How could I like him? He's just an ordinary friend."

To this day, that's the only line he remembers.

The envelope tucked inside his textbook drifted away like a fallen leaf.

He never dared to hope for love, but he had heard her say it herself.

"Really good friends..."

They were really good friends...

For any problem, there was a way to confirm the answer.

But this answer alone could only be sought from her.

He thought he had gotten it.

He really thought

he had gotten it.

Back at school, he watched her from a distance.

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

He never heard the doubts from when they were inseparable again.

Because there was no longer any need for doubt.

He couldn't accept it.

But he had to.

He swore

there would never be a next time...

"I'll never be fooled like that again."

After saying this, Ryota turned and left.

He wasn't wrong.

I said nothing, silently watching him go.

Zelkova Shopping Center, Palette.

I raised my coffee and brought the story to an end.

Tetsuya sat beside me, his expression somewhat grave.

"I actually have something I want to say too..."

Yui Ninomiya gripped the cup's edge, a hint of resolve showing in her expression.

"In middle school, I went to the same school as Beppu-kun."

Facing the group's somewhat surprised looks, she continued.

"That time, it was actually a bit of a misunderstanding."

"Because it was still middle school, topics like love are somewhat embarrassing for girls. Especially when your true feelings are called out, your mind goes blank except for denial. So the misunderstanding back then probably happened for that reason."

"But if it was love, you wouldn't just let Ryota bear it alone, right?"

Tetsuya asked.

"After Beppu-kun left school for a few days, that girl realized she was wrong, but she was drowning in her own mistake, and Beppu-kun was very resolute too."

"After that, neither of them ever brought it up again, and there were no more stories about the two of them."

"Such a shame..."

"They clearly liked each other, but because of a misunderstanding, it became a scar for both."

Chihiro Shiramaki sighed with some emotion after hearing this.

"Were you that girl back then?"

Facing my sudden question, Yui Ninomiya gave a bitter smile.

"No..."

If she wasn't, her knowledge of these details was quite deep.

She seemed to sense the reason behind my question.

"But I do like Beppu Ryota-kun."

Though a bit shy, she repeated it softly.

"You made me wait almost twenty minutes, you know."

She sat down across from me.

With some distaste, she moved aside the empty cup left on the table from before, then turned her head to look out the window.

She was angry.

Even though I could only see her profile, I could still feel her glancing at me now and then.

While I was discussing Ryota's matters with my group members, she had already been waiting for me at Palette.

"Sorry, I got held up by some things."

She kicked me a little in anger, but straightened her turned body.

"What are you smiling at? I haven't forgiven you."

Karuizawa said somewhat fiercely, but I didn't react.

A waiter came over to clear the empty cup, then handed over a plate with dessert.

Matcha mille-crepe.

"After a day at Zelkova Shopping Center, want some dessert?"

"Hmph... I'll grudgingly accept that you have some thoughtfulness."

I watched Karuizawa, whose eyes were slightly squinting from enjoying the dessert.

"Why are you staring at me..."

"..."

"You want some too?"

She scooped up a piece and held it out in front of me.

Isn't that a bit too unguarded? I looked at the spoon in front of me, swallowed, but ultimately didn't open my mouth.

This girl, just handing over something she'd already eaten from like that...

"Here, take these."

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

"What's this? It's all practice problems."

"Try to do them."

"No way, I want to enjoy my weekend!"

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

"And where did this come from?"

Karuizawa picked it up and examined it closely.

"Looks handwritten. The penmanship is pretty nice."

"Don't tell me it's from that Ichinose Honami in your class."

She tossed it aside with a look of disgust, as if she'd touched something unclean.

"I wrote it."

"Oh..."

She replied indifferently, casually stuffing it into her bag.

"If there's something you don't know, just leave it blank. Anyway, if you have time, try to write a bit."

"I get it, okay."