Yuuta inhaled deeply.
"Finally… I'm going to Airi's house," he said, adjusting his shirt in front of the mirror. "Yuuta is ready."
He paused.
"But… that Hikari will be there too. Sigh... I can't do anything about it."
"Oi, why are you talking to yourself like a weirdo?"
Yuuta flinched and turned to see Renji leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"O-Oh, Renji! You're here?"
"I've been here a while. Long enough to hear your pathetic whining."
"Oi! The first thing in the morning you should say is something nice!" Yuuta complained.
"Stop talking and start walking," Renji muttered, already moving forward.
"Where's Sakura?"
"She went ahead. With her sister, Hikari."
"No one wants to walk with a dumbhead like you," Yuuta said with a smirk. "I totally get Sakura."
Renji clenched his fist. "You little—"
Yuuta took a step back, nervous. "I-I should get going now…"
"STOP RIGHT THERE, YUUTA!! I'LL KILL YOU TODAY!"
"GAAAAH!" Yuuta screamed as he bolted down the road, Renji chasing close behind.
"GET BACK HERE, DUMBHEAD!"
---
At Airi's House
Both boys arrived at Airi's front door, panting heavily.
"Huff… Finally… made it…" Yuuta wheezed.
"Let's go in already," Renji muttered, wiping his forehead.
The doorbell rang. Airi opened the door, dressed casually and looking impossibly cute.
(So cute…) Yuuta thought, lost in her presence.
But his attention quickly shifted.
Standing beside Airi... was a demon.
Hikari.
"Finally, Renji. You're late," Hikari said. "Let's go in."
She and Airi walked in together. Renji gave Yuuta a half-hearted wave and followed them.
Yuuta blinked. "I think… I'm being ignored?"
He sighed and trailed after them.
Inside Airi's room, Sakura and Saya were already seated.
"Oh! Renji, you're finally here!" Sakura called.
"We were waiting for you," Saya added.
Yuuta stepped into the room, took one look around, and his face lit up.
"Is this heaven? I can die peacefully now…" he whispered, grinning like an idiot.
Everyone stared at him.
He froze.
"N-Nothing happened!" Yuuta quickly posed like he was stretching.
"HENTAI!" Hikari and Sakura shouted in unison.
(If you don't know: 'hentai' means pervert in Japanese.)
---
Everyone gathered around the table.
Sakura sat beside Renji. Saya and Hikari took the other side. Yuuta… sat alone at the edge.
Hikari had dragged Airi to sit beside her.
Sigh… Yuuta thought. How am I supposed to talk to Airi when they keep pulling her away? First Hikari, clinging like she's her soulmate, and Renji all lovey-dovey with Sakura. I thought he'd help me, but he's just a pain in the head…
"Sakura, how are you working on your presentation?" Saya asked.
"Renji's doing the writing. I'll explain everything in class," Sakura replied.
"Oh, we're doing the same," Saya said.
"I don't have to do anything," Hikari chimed in. "Class rep is my partner. She's super good at this stuff."
"N-No, it's not a big deal," Saya said, blushing. "I'm not that good… Airi's better than me."
"Airi, how are you handling it?" Sakura asked.
"I'll do the writing and drawing, and also explain in class," Airi answered.
"Oi, Yuuta! Are you making Airi do all the work again?" Hikari snapped.
Yuuta panicked. "N-No, it's not like that—"
"I can do it myself," Airi said calmly.
"If you say so… but what will Yuuta do?" Hikari asked, eyeing him.
"He can do whatever he wants," Airi mumbled, her tone cold.
Yuuta slumped in his seat. "Ha… I guess I'm just useless…"
Everyone returned to working.
"Oh! I forgot something," Airi suddenly said.
"What is it?" Hikari asked.
"I forgot to buy something important. I have to go get it now."
"Want help? I can come with you," Hikari offered.
"No need. I can manage alone."
As Airi started leaving, Renji casually said, "If you want help, Yuuta can go with you."
"What?!" Hikari snapped. "What are you saying, Renji?!"
"Nothing special," Renji said with a shrug. "He's not doing anything and he looks bored. Let him be useful."
Yuuta stared at Renji, eyes sparkling. My best friend… I knew I could trust you.
"Yes! I'll help Airi!"
"No need," Airi replied coldly.
Hikari glared. "Yuuta won't be any help. He's just a burden to Airi."
"Hikari, you're worried he'll talk to her, aren't you?" Sakura teased. "Relax. Yuuta, don't talk to Airi. Just help carry stuff."
"Airi, you can't carry too much alone, so just let him come," Saya added kindly.
"Fine," Airi said softly. "But Yuuta…"
"Yes?" he asked nervously.
"If Airi tells me you did anything…" Hikari leaned in threateningly. "You will find out what happens."
"Okay!!" Yuuta squeaked.
Airi started walking. Yuuta gave a thumbs-up to Renji and followed.
---
On the Way
They walked together in silence.
Haah… For so long, I wanted to walk beside Airi, Yuuta thought. I'm so happy… but why can't I talk to her? It's so awkward…
Suddenly, Airi stopped, pulled out her phone, typed something, and showed it to him:
> "You go to the corner store down the road. I'll go to the mall."
Ah… she's splitting up the task.
Yuuta nodded.
They went in different directions.
In my world, I only met Airi once or twice. We barely talked. But now, I walked beside her. Even just that… makes me happy.
With a bright smile, Yuuta ran toward the store.
---
Back at Airi's House
"Will everything be alright?" Hikari asked.
"If Yuuta does anything… you're here to make him pay, right?" Sakura grinned.
"If you're that worried, I'll go too," Saya said as she stood up. "I need to buy something anyway."
"Oh, thank you, Saya!" Hikari smiled.
Saya left the room.
---
Outside the Store
Yuuta walked out, arms full.
"Man, it was hard finding all this. I hope Airi found what she needed too…"
As he crossed the street…
He froze.
A black fog surrounded him. A faint crying voice echoed in his ears.
A memory? No… this again…
A voice whispered:
> "That's not the time."
Suddenly, someone yanked his arm hard—pulling him out of the street just as a truck whizzed by.
Yuuta stumbled and looked up.
It was Airi.
"A-Airi… what just…"
"Baka! Baka!" she yelled.
(Baka = idiot)
"I-I didn't see the truck…"
Tears welled in Airi's eyes.
"You never notice! You don't care what happens to others! You only think about yourself!" she cried.
Yuuta panicked. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean—But it's not worth crying over, I'm okay now—"
A loud smack rang through the air.
Airi had slapped him.
He stood there in shock.
"You always say things like it's nothing. But it hurts, Yuuta! You promised you'd never leave me! You said you'd always be by my side! But you left me…"
Tears streamed down her face.
"You always act like you don't care whether I'm suffering, whether you broke your promise, whether I'm alone! You say things like you don't love me anymore… like you're bored of me. It hurts so much…"
Yuuta couldn't move. Couldn't speak.
"And when you pretend like nothing happened, that's what hurts the most…" she sobbed. "I hate you, Yuuta. I hate that I love you!"
Yuuta's heart ached.
That moment… when she saw me nearly hit… it opened the door. The fear, the pain, everything she'd buried inside. Her anger… her love. She didn't want to break up. She didn't want to be alone…
"Why, Yuuta? Why did you leave me? I'm all alone… please… don't leave me…" she whispered.
Yuuta took a step forward and gently pulled her into his arms.
Airi gasped in shock.
"I'll never leave you," Yuuta said softly.
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—KazukiYami