Chapter 8 (2/2)

Even up to this day, neither Yuu nor Souta had heard Harukiabout that himself

Haruki would bring up his aive hith to inspire those around him, it also only made it look like he needed support for his own case

It was like they were all fighting on their own, and Haruki had the strong resolve to hide his strategy until he sure that it would yield results

‘That’s probably why he hasn’t said anything to us’

Convincing hi

“Chances are low, but I’ll try applying for a recommendation next month, too”

“…I see”

“Yeah”

The conversation ca a chair out echoed unpleasantly

‘This… This is aard… I never thought I’d have try to hard to co to talk about with Haruki’

Naturally, he couldn’t mention Natsuki’s na about Miou, either

But all that aside, the two of them were close childhood friends

There were times when he’d intended to choose a co to it in some unexpected way In fact, just yesterday, they’d started off talking about a quiz, and yet so him into a state of panic

After Yuu spent several more minutes of silent distress, Haruki suddenly spoke up

“Do you remember that video I made that year?”

“Huh? Yeah, that docuht?”

The short film that Haruki had shown him in the winter of their second year was a work that he’d produced entirely on his own

He re a beautiful filue kept to a bare minimum

“Come to think of it, didn’t you say that you submitted it for some kind of contest? Are the results…”

Suddenly, this had become the topic of conversation

And as his question shi+fted to one of conviction, his next words slipped away from him

‘Wait, so the reason that Haruki’s been feeling so uneasy lately is because…’

Haruki nodded with a slight grunt and finished Yuu’s sentence

“I won the grand prize”

“Congratulations… right?”

Yuu asked in a shaky voice, and Haruki forced a laugh and a faint shrug

“Mm, thanks I’m pretty happy about the fact that I won, too”

“Then, what’s the problem? Was there some kind of additional prize or conditions that came with it?”

He was pretty certain that he knehat it was already, but he had to make sure

Impatiently, he stood up and walked over to Haruki

In contrast with Yuu, as visibly upset, Haruki answered in a voice laced with light laughter

“Sharp as always, Yuu The bonus is that I’ve been invited to study abroad for college”

“…Have… you already told the others about this?”

“No, you’re the first I plan to tell Mochita about it tomorrow, too”

While listening to his heart beat to an unsettling rhythm, Yuu asked in a husky voice,

“And what about Natsuki…?”

“M her, she’ll just worry”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Was he denying all responsibility even after he’d confessed to her?

He felt like he could screa the somehow sad look on Haruki’s face made the breath catch in his throat

‘Ugh, there it is again… Why do I feel so uneasy…?’

Why did Haruki see head on?

Was it because he thought he couldn’t do so he couldn’t take responsibility for?

‘…Ah! It all makes sense to me now’

As if it’d fallen straight down from the sky, the answer suddenly came to him

Most likely, the one that Haruki liked was Miou

But ever since the contest, he realized that he couldn’t just confess to her without fulfilling a responsibility

‘When I asked if he was going out with Miou or not, he didn’t say anything, but he didn’t deny it, either…’

No, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer; he couldn’t

He probably wasn’t worried about Yuu and Souta spreading ruht they’d badger him about why he hadn’t confessed to her yet If that was true, then the only thing he could do was keep quiet about it altogether

“And ould be the point in asking? If I told you that I was going out with Aida… No, that’s not right If I said that I liked anyone other than Natsuki, you’ll feel relieved, right? And then what?”

Haruki had been genuinely encouraging Yuu that time

Saying that, even if I can’t do it, make sure that you do

“Yuu, you really like Natsuki, don’t you? Then have a little more confidence in yourself”

He wasn’t saying so irresponsible

He was just giving him a push from behind, as a childhood friend, and as another man

That hy Yuu looked Haruki in the eye and said back to him,

“Don’t you dare leave behind any regrets either, then”

Haruki widened his eyes slightly, and then let out a soft laugh

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

After Akari and Miou saw her off, Natsuki headed up to the 3-2 classroom

As she climbed the quiet staircase, her heart beat faster the closer she got

By the time sheso fast, it felt like it ht leap out of her chest

‘This feels just like before’

Clenching the front of her shi+rt, theback

Underneath the track pants she wore under her skirt, her legs were shaking

‘But it won’t be like last time…’

It had been threethe confession rehearsals, and nointer’s footsteps were approaching

Day by day, the environ

‘I’ve changed since then, too!’

Just like when she stood up on the diving board when swi, Natsuki slowly took in a deep breath

In her head, she heard the “On yourthat as her ti, she threw open the door

“Yuu! Sorry to have kept you waiting!”

“What’s with you, all fired up? It’s like you’re ready for a duel or so”

Letting out a laugh, Yuu put down the book he’d been reading on the desk

‘A duel… huh… I guess it does seem that way’

Strangely agreeing with his observation, Natsuki walked briskly over to Yuu’sseat

Yuu stood up from his seat as well, and waited for her to reach hi since they’d talked alone like this Just feeling his eyes on her made her face start to heat up

“So, what kind of favor did you come to ask for today?”

Once Natsuki was only about three steps away, Yuu asked this in a teasing tone

Natsuki stopped, and held out the envelope that she’d been holding under her arm

“I finished this last night”

Yuu seemed surprised somehow, and blinked in confusion

He simply stood there with a blank look on his face for a while until Natsuki impatiently waved the envelope in his direction

“Oh, yeah, sorry…”

She’d finally gotten him to take the envelope, but he still looked puzzled

Though she thought that strange, Natsuki started to explain the contents of the envelope

“That’s the manuscript that I mentioned before Will you be the first one to read it?”

Her voice was cracking because of how nervous she was, and she couldn’t smile normally like she usually did, either

But still, it was important that she’d taken this first step, Natsuki told herself as she waited for Yuu’s reply

“If this is a ‘rehearsal’ too, I won’t read it”

The words she heard in response were unexpected

Feeling like she’d been stabbed in the chest, she unconsciously took a step back

‘No, I shouldn’t be feeling hurt right now’

This hat she deserved for treating Yuu so poorly the whole time; he wasn’t at fault here

She knew that, but the fact that she wasn’t being taken seriously made tears threaten to spill

“Then… if it’s the ‘real thing,’ will you read it?”

She said it This tied to say it

Curious about Yuu’s reaction, she looked up to see a sad look on his face

“‘Then’…? Natsuki, are you really fine with this?”

“Of course, I’ that it is, aren’t I?”

‘What is it that’shim act like this?’

Puzzled, Natsuki kept on pressing him, but he just looked even more disappointed

“…I feel like I don’t really understand you anymore”

“Th-That’sto say here?!”

What Yuu said had set her off, and without thinking twice, she shot back heated words at him

Yuu i to calh his hair

‘How did it turn out this way…?’

It was like they weren’t even on the sae

In all of her confusion right now, all she kneas that the situation had gone beyond her understanding

Holding back the urge to cry, Natsuki looked down at her feet

“…The teachers are going to lock everything up soon, so let’s just go home for today”

Sighing, Yuu turned around and started walking away

He left the envelope with the manuscript on Natsuki’s desk as he passed by it, and was about to leave the room

“Wait!”

Before she could think twice about it, Natsuki caught up to hirabbed his wrist

She stopped hi any further, but he didn’t turn back around She tried toenough to even get hie

‘I can’t stand it ending like this, without being able to tell him how I feel…!’

Realizing that this ht be her last chance, she yelled towards his motionless back

“Everything I said about a confession rehearsal was a lie! You’re the one that I like, so much that I can’t take it!”

Yuu turned around and stared back at her ide eyes

Natsuki felt like running away, but she bit down on her lip and held her ground

“I-I’et jealous easily, and I don’t like it when I’m not taken out on dates often… I’ets worked up over stupid stuff, but…”

As she spoke, the tears kept on building up

Was she crying because she was sad, or just because she couldn’t hold back her emotions anymore?

All she kneas that she had feelings for Yuu, feelings of not wanting to be hated by Yuu

And that hy challenging the lis

“But I want you to go out with me!”

She could hear distressed breathing, separate fro of her own heart

Yuu opened and closed his ht words

Every second felt like an eternity, and Natsuki could feel heroff somewhere far away

Her entire body started to feel weak, and her grip on Yuu’s hand loosened

‘Maybe… it really is hopeless’

Knowing how kind Yuu was, he was probably thinking of how to reject her without hurting her feelings

If she just lied again and said that this was another rehearsal, Yuu wouldn’t have to feel burdened by it It orth considering to pull back one y

‘…No, if I do that, nothing’s going to change’

She told herself that it was for Yuu’s sake, but in reality, she was just trying to avoid getting hurt

Though she hated to admit it, she kneeak and unfair she could be She couldn’t keep lying to herself anymore

And more importantly, if she ran away now, all of her hard work up until this point would have been for nothing

‘I’ve already decided that I wasn’t going to run away anymore’

Biting on her lip, Natsuki looked back up at Yuu

Yuu seeer seemed so troubled

Natsuki was captivated by the firm, determined look in his eyes

“Obviously, I’ht?”

Yuu’s stiff expression broke, replaced with one that looked like so

‘He’s the only one…? Then, that means…’

As Natsuki stared back at him in a daze, he patted her on the head

When she looked up at him with eyes filled with both uneasiness and anticipation, he pulled her into his arms

“Wh– Huh?!”

“I finally caught you,”

She heard Yuu’s quivering voice say from above her

She could feel his warm hands behind her head and her back, and in front of her, was Yuu’s shoulder

‘W-Wait, this is…’

Finally realizing that Yuu was hugging her, her tear-stained cheeks filled with heat again

‘Ah… I can hear Yuu’s heartbeat’

Just like how Natsuki could hear the beating of his heart with her ears, Yuuclose to each other like this, she felt like their separately beating hearts were gradually starting to beat in sync

“Natsuki,”

Yuu said in the kindest voice she’d ever heard him speak in

She nodded a bit, and he strengthened his arms around her

“Me too, I feel the same way”

“…I’lad”

That day, Natsuki held hands with Yuu for the very first time

Not as childhood friends, but as boyfriend and girlfriend

—–