The next day, I contacted Ayaka-chan to officially break up with her.
She arrived at the meeting spot wearing a cute summer outfit—faded blue mini shorts and a pink, polka-dotted blouse with puffy sleeves. It disgusted me how she could still smile so effortlessly, as if yesterday's betrayal had never happened.
We sat across from each other at a small table in a quiet coffee shop. She looked at me, still wearing that same sweet, oblivious expression.
"So, what's this about?" she asked casually.
I didn't flinch. I didn't blink. My voice came out cold, flat, and hollow.
"We're breaking up."
Her smile faltered for a split second before she quickly put it back on.
"Eh? Why?" she asked, feigning confusion.
I stood up, turning away.
"Figure it out yourself," I said quietly.
I didn't look back. Not once.
Some wounds don't need confrontation—they just need distance.
I had been accepted into the school of my choice, and honestly, I was ecstatic.
When my sister found out about the breakup, she tried to cheer me up. Even my usually-absent family came home to check up on me. For the first time in a while, I felt like a little kid again.
The next day, something unexpected happened. Apparently, a student had live-streamed our coffee shop meeting, and it spread like wildfire. By morning, everyone knew about the breakup.
When I told my friends I was never going to fall in love again, they dared me to make a contract.
Stupid Fatso Ichimiya actually pulled out a pre-written contract. I still don't know how he had it ready so fast. He urged me to sign it, and eventually, I gave in. After signing it, I felt strangely refreshed—like a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders.
I knew that if I was going to move on, I had to transform.
The next day, I visited Ichimiya's house. His dad runs a tattoo and piercing shop, and I asked for a full makeover.
The first tattoo was a snake wrapped around a cross, with blood dripping from its tail. I called it Poison, because the love I once had felt toxic to me. I had it inked on my right arm.
The second was a phoenix, symbolizing my rebirth from the ashes of my naive personality. That one went on my back.
The third was a tree, representing my growth and strength through pain. It was imprinted on my left shoulder.
The last design—I didn't even care. I let them pick something for me. It didn't matter anymore.
After that, I got eight piercings in each ear. When it was all done, I stared at myself in the mirror. I looked different—almost too different. And with school starting in a month, I knew it was too much.
So I grew out my hair, tying it back in a ponytail to hide the piercings and tattoos.
I started learning self-defense. For the first time, I was doing something entirely for myself. I picked up music and dance, fixed my messy routine, and began waking up at 4 a.m. just to exercise.
When the entrance results came in, I found out that I, along with Ichimiya and two other friends, had been accepted into Minatogawa High.
On the first Monday of the new school year, I felt proud as I wore my neatly pressed uniform, tied my hair, and polished my shoes.
"Minatogawa High, here I come!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
Somewhere in the distance, a little boy tugged his mother's hand and asked, "Mom, what's that guy doing?"
The mom glanced at me, then covered her son's eyes."Sweetie, don't look there. Walk faster."
I couldn't help but laugh.
A new chapter had begun—One where love had no place.