Chapter 87: Unattainable Love

Heavy rain poured down and a roaring sound echoed.

Ryoma stopped him and they arrived at an empty classroom.

Hinami said she would go after Fuyuka, but for some reason Chiaki restrained her and they decided to leave.

Asahi also tried to reach out to the small back, but he couldn’t go any further because of the cold air emitted by Fuyuha who said, “…Please leave me alone for now.” The cold words were reminiscent of past her, but much different from the impression of being pushed away.

Ryoma’s terribly sad eyes were pleading with him to listen to him as he stood there.

The sound of the rain was awfully noisy, so Asahi quietly closed the curtains.

Then, in the darkened classroom, Ryoma started his story.

“I confessed my feelings to Himuro-san.”

Asahi’s shoulders gave a small jump.

He had an expression that he immediately wanted to know what had happened between Ryoma and Fuyuka.

“‘I’m sorry,’ she said. Which only leads to one thing…”

 

Ryoma smiled lightly, Asahi could not say anything and kept his mouth shut.

He didn’t know whether he was in a position to say anything while sorting out his feelings.

He didn’t even feel happy that Ryoma was rejected.

However, he couldn’t exactly cheer him up either.

The only thing on his mind was the fact that Ryoma was rejected.

He had good looks, a good personality, was the ace of the soccer team, and they had the same hobbies.

Even though the man was immensely popular, Fuyuka did not go with him.

If that was the case, what would happen if Kagami Asahi confessed?

Asahi had all of these thoughts to himself, including a future he didn’t even want to imagine.

Slowly, a name began to appear in the haze in his mind, and as if to shake it off, he switched to another topic.

“Why was Fuyuka crying?”

It was understandable that the one who was rejected would cry.

But why would the one who rejected cried?

“After I was rejected, I said the conventional line about wanting us to remain friends. Then Himuro-san couldn’t take it anymore and started to cry.”

“Nothing else?”

“Yeah. That’s all. It’s just a small wish. But it must have been hard for Himuro-san.”

“Kagami-kun.” Ryoma softly called his name.

“I owe you an apology.”

“But first.” There was such a preamble.

“Will you listen to my story? I’m going to tell you the story of how I fell in love with Himuro-san and was rejected.”

He looked at him with so much sincerity that Asahi gave a small nod.

He didn’t even have the time to ask Ryoma why he was gonna tell his story.

Asahi could naturally guess that he had been called here to listen to what he was about to say.

“Thank you.”

The story that began after he gave his appreciation. It all began in an air-conditioned infirmary during last summer vacation.

“I often get a lot of attention for being cool, tall, athletic, and so on. Of course it was nice to be noticed, but at the same time, I was often shunned. I tried to be as nice as possible to everyone, but inevitably I ended up being a bad person to someone else.”

It looked like bragging, but Asahi didn’t feel uncomfortable about his monologue.

Asahi quietly listened, and Ryoma continued his story.

“By the time I got to high school, I understood my position. So I knew that a student who was given the responsibility of being the ace of the soccer team as a freshman would not be pleasant to some of the seniors.”

“I was maliciously fouled by a senior during summer practice. Fortunately, It was nothing serious, but one wrong move and I could have been out for a long time. At that time, I was more disgusted with myself for putting on a smile than being angry with my senior.”

“I dragged my bleeding feet to the infirmary alone. As I walked down the hallway, I hated everything about it. I was tired of being a ‘good person.’ It was in such a bad state that I met the ‘Ice Lady,’ Himuro-san.”

Ryoma looked up at the ceiling, as if longing for the past, and gave a small laugh.

“I’d heard about the Ice Lady, but I didn’t know she was on the health committee. I was too busy with myself at the time, and I wasn’t interested in rumors. I didn’t think much of it, so I asked her to treat me. And you know what she said?”

In response to Ryoma’s question, Asahi silently told him that he didn’t know.

“‘I don’t think a red card is enough.’”

“What’s with that?”

“It seems that she was watching the whole thing from the infirmary, and in her own way, she was concerned about me.”

“‘That’s not enough to get you out, is it?’”

“Isn’t it hilarious? I laughed so hard she glared at me.”

It was easy to imagine the exchange.

A wonderful moment, like a fresh breeze blowing in the hot and humid summer.

It was surely the perfect prologue for the start of love.

“That’s when I started to become curious about Himuro-san. I tried to talk to her a few times in the infirmary, but as they say, she was cold as ice. But I know that she had a kind heart. I wanted to be friends with her, and eventually I wanted to go out with her. I continued to be a good person because I thought that would be a good way to approach Himuro-san.”

The wind blew strongly, and the window panes made a noise beyond the curtains.

“And then, as summer drew to a close and the second semester began, Himuro-san slowly began to change. It was as if the ice was melting, and I was glad that I thought my chance had finally come.”

As if in response to Ryoma’s story, the rain intensified.

“But I soon realized that her ice never melted naturally. Someone had to have been the sun. So, I gave up. I knew it was an unattainable love.”

“Still, no one can blame me for expressing these feelings, right?”

The eyes that looked straight at Asahi were more sorrowful than ever.

“I think you understand now what I meant when I told you you were being unfair.”

‘How could I not be aware of this after being told so much?’

Asahi was in the position that Ryoma wanted to be in from the beginning.

“…Sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. In fact, it’s me who needs to apologize.”

Ryoma continued to speak without looking away from Asahi.

“In the end, I ignored your feelings and prioritized my confession. As a result, I ended up making Himuro-san cry… I’m sorry, I just couldn’t find any other way.”

Ryoma bowed his head deeply.

Unable to stand by and watch him, Asahi immediately called out to him.

“Yamada, you don’t need to apologize. You said it yourself, no one can blame you.”

“That’s… I think it’s fine even if you blame me, Kagami-kun.”

“Then, I won’t. I have no right to blame you.”

Asahi muttered, Ryoma slowly looked up.

“You’re a really good person, aren’t you?”

What kind of thought was put into those words?

Asahi shook his head slightly, receiving only a superficial meaning.

“Can I ask you one last question?”

“If it’s a question I can answer.”

“How do you feel about Himuro-san?”

Oddly enough, it was the same question and answer that Asahi and Ryoma had on the day of their first conversation.

What had changed were Asahi’s feelings.

And he had no intention of changing in the future.

That was the only thing he was sure of.

As if saying to himself, Asahi opened his mouth.

 

“I like her. I like Fuyuka.”

 

“I’m glad I was able to hear that.”

This time, Ryoma smiled with usual fresh smile.

“There’s going to be another rain. But you can be the umbrella, and you can also be the sun.”

The look on his face was refreshing.

“I’m rooting for you, Asahi-kun.”

 

“Thanks, Ryoma.”

 

With his back pushed, Asahi left the empty classroom.

The clouds didn’t seem to be clearing yet, but there was a small light in the distance.