I had a dream.
About what happened after Remi transferred.
Having lost the person I trusted and liked the most in my life up to that point, I was depressed every day.
Unable to get used to daily life without Remi, I rode my bicycle past her empty house every day to see it.
Wondering if she had forgotten something and come back to get it.
Wondering if perhaps some relatives were still there, and if she might come back to visit someday.
Even though I knew the chances were almost zero, I continued going there throughout the entire spring break right up until I entered middle school.
On a day of heavy rain, I didn’t ride my bicycle.
That became the trigger for not going for several weeks, and when I finally went because I felt lonely, Remi’s house had become a beautifully cleared lot.
Feeling like my memories had vanished along with it, that was the first time I cried.
Probably, that was the first time I truly realized the reality that Remi was gone.
After entering middle school, I stopped going to the place where Remi had lived, partly because I became busy.
It was because my head was full of other things for the first time, but I was also searching for a way to get used to life without Remi.
But I, who had always made friends through Remi, initially had trouble fitting in with my class.
When I advanced to the second year and finally started to enjoy middle school life.
In a season when breath turns white, I found myself alone with a certain girl.
That girl, whose name I don’t even want to remember now, smiled and said this.
“I’ve been thinking for a while, Yoshiki, you’re a good guy, aren’t you?”
“Eh?”
I was on friendly terms with that girl, occasionally meeting on the way back from club activities. But this was the first time we were alone together.
When she invited me, saying “Let’s go home together,” I was desperately trying not to misunderstand internally.
“The boys in our class are all idiots, you know. But when I talk with you, Yoshiki, I feel at ease. It doesn’t seem like you’d suddenly do something stupid.”
“I’m glad you say that, but I’m already in my second year of middle school. Isn’t that normal?”
“That’s right, even though we’re second years? Don’t you think the level of idiocy around us has increased?”
“Haha, indeed.”
“Right? Yoshiki, don’t you become an idiot, okay?”
“Leave it to me!”
I thought about it.
I had originally thought I was getting along well with that girl.
Every time we talked, the distance between us seemed to shrink, and by the time winter came, I even harbored a slight crush on her. Although she was quite popular, ever since Remi transferred, I had known the regret of not taking action.
“…I’m glad you’re in our class,”
the girl murmured.
I could feel my feelings of love rapidly swelling within me.
— Maybe this is what they call “getting along well.”
My classmates had started getting their first boyfriends and girlfriends one after another, and I too strongly yearned to date someone I liked.
Realizing my feelings, I took action.
“Hey.”
“Hm. What is it?”
“…Would you go out with me?”
A moment of silence.
And then.
“…Huh? No way. How did you come to that conclusion?”
“Eh? …But, well…”
“But what? Didn’t I just tell you not to do anything stupid? …This is seriously not happening.”
A thorough rejection if there ever was one.
“You, misunderstandings like this are way too creepy.”
The girl left those words behind and walked away from the bench.
Left alone under the cold sky.
If you were going to reject me so strongly, why did you walk home with me alone?
If you were going to reject me so strongly, why did you say you felt at ease with me?
At that time, I couldn’t understand it at all.
But there was one thing I learned.
This is what happens when you misjudge the distance between people.
Your own sense of distance can’t be relied upon too much.
The moment her startled expression changed to one of disgust is something I still sometimes see in my dreams.
And after being rejected by that girl, I became isolated from my class.
The one who helped me then was–
“Yui Yuzuha.”
Hase-sensei called out the full name, waking me from my sleep.
Apparently, I had dozed off.
“Late again, huh. Those who are friends with Yuzuha, please remind her.”
Some classmates glanced at me but quickly looked away.
In the seat in front of me, I thought I saw Takeru fidget for a moment.
…I wonder if Takeru thinks he’s the one.
Time flies fast in school.
The rumor about Yuzuha and I being in a relationship has now thoroughly been debunked as false.
Although the rumor only started a month ago, it feels like ancient history now.
That’s why if someone were to ask who’s close to Yuzuha in this class, many would surely raise their hands.
Actually, it might be more accurate to say in this school rather than just this class.
Still, if I could be the first to speak up, I’d want to.
Despite the misunderstandings from others before, the reason I think this way is simple.
Namely, because we’re friends.
That’s reason enough to talk to her.
…Plus, I owe Yuzuha big time.
I recalled past scenes but quickly dispersed them.
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The chime rings, ending the morning assembly.
As everyone starts preparing for first period, Takeru suddenly turns around.
“Didn’t you hear anything? Even though you’re close with Yuzuha.”
“I didn’t hear a thing. It’s not like we’re in contact every day, you know.”
“Oh, really? If even you don’t know, maybe Yuzuha’s secretly dating someone else. Don’t let it happen, man! She’s Class 2’s sun, after all!”
“Well… I’ll tell her if you want. I was planning to anyway.”
Yuzuha has been late seven times just in April and May.
It’s fine if she makes it to first period, but it seems difficult for Yuzuha, who’s been weak with mornings since middle school.
As Takeru worries, at this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had to repeat a year.
“I’m sure Yuzuha’s keeping track of her attendance days. She might get angry if we bring it up.”
“Hmm, I hope she is. But you know, it’s surprising that Yuzuha’s weak in the mornings. Doesn’t she seem like the type to be ‘bright and energetic from the morning!’ kind of character? She’s even called the sun.”
“That sun nickname isn’t something Yuzuha calls herself, you know. She’s the quintessential gyaru, so she’s probably more of a night owl.”
“That’s true. But even for a gyaru, she’s the type who’s kind to otaku too, so it’s not weird that she’s treated like the sun.”
Just then, the classroom door slid open with a clatter.
“Oh… speak of the devil, here comes the sun.”
Takeru said that and went to get his textbook from his locker.
He probably wanted to talk to her, but I get why he didn’t.
I can’t bring myself to talk to Hanazono either.
I haven’t even been able to make eye contact with her since then.
I looked for Hanazono for a moment but quickly realized she wasn’t there.
When Hanazono isn’t in her seat, she’s usually not in the classroom at all.
I reluctantly got up and walked towards Yuzuha.
Yuzuha slumped face-down on her desk before seeing my face.
“Morning, sunshine.”
When I called out to her, Yuzuha lazily raised her head.
“…Oh. Yoshiki.”
“Hey, morning. Yuzuha, you overslept again?”
“Well, yeah… I went to bed late last night.”
“You’re seriously going to have to repeat a year at this rate.”
“Shut up, leave me alone right now.”
Yuzuha replied and flopped back down on her desk.
On days when she’s late, Yuzuha becomes grumpy like this.
At times like these, even the girls in Yuzuha’s group are careful not to approach her. I privately call this ‘Yuzuha Yui’s Morning Mode’.
It’s a phenomenon that only happens with people Yuzuha trusts.
I’d like to think that’s more pleasing, so that’s what I tell myself.
In any case, Yuzuha’s personality hasn’t changed.
“Hey, Yuzuha.”
When I called her by her first name, Yuzuha mumbled “What?” with utter exhaustion and met my gaze.
Even when she’s this tired, she’ll look at me if I call her.
That’s why it’s easy for me to invite her.
“Want to go get some coffee? Let’s hit the vending machine in the North Garden.”
“…Ah, that might work. Yeah, I might want to go.”
“Alright, shall we?”
“Sure~”
As expected, Yuzuha, who became a bit more cheerful, stood up.
Feeling someone’s gaze, I looked to the side.
Remi seemed to be watching where I was going while talking with the other girls.
“…What’s up?”
“…Ah, no. It’s nothing, let’s go.”
I replied and Yuzuha and I left the classroom.
I’ll tell Remi later.
That when Yuzuha and I leave the classroom together, it usually means she was late.
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