Chapter 88: The Ice Once Again

In the small but spacious space of the school yard, no special change would occur after someone’s fragile and tragic love ends.

On weekdays, there were classes and students gathered in the classroom. After school, they attend their club activities or play, and most of them go home. On weekends, each student had his or her own life to lead.

Such a natural cycle of daily life would continue as it always had.

Still, relationships changed daily, to a greater or lesser extent.

Especially in the case of a romance, it was complicated and involved not only the people themselves but also the people around them.

Love, be loved, reject, be rejected, fall in love, be swollen.

Even if your love was fulfilled, even if you remained friends, even if you were secretly heartbroken.

For better or worse, love could change a person.

And it would arrive as suddenly as a passing rain.

“Asahi, did you make Himuro-san angry?”

At a diner after school, Chiaki asked him point-blank.

The hand that dipped the fries in ketchup was as messy and unmotivated as ever.

Asahi, on the other hand, was unusually weak. After sipping a cheap café au lait he got from the drink bar, he sighed and looked down.

“Maybe I did.”

“Are you saying you’re not aware of it?”

 

“I would have apologized immediately if I was.”

“Well, I guess so.”

 

In no time at all, the cup was empty and Asahi left his seat to go pour a second cup.

Then Chiaki drank the juice in one gulp and silently held out the glass.

Apparently, he wanted him to get some while he was at it.

“What would you like?”

“Cola.”

After hearing that, Asahi headed to the drink bar section.

“I wonder what’s going on with Himuro-san?”

 

Chiaki’s voice over his back sounded like it was someone else’s problem.

But for Asahi, it was unnerving.

It was obvious that Fuyuka had been avoiding him for the past few days.

When he tried to talk to her, she would just give him a vague response.

As he approached, she casually moved away.

When their eyes met, she turned away from him as hard as she could.

Eventually, on the weekend when they usually had dinner together, she refused to come, saying she had plans.

It was an attitude reminiscent of the “ice” from some time ago.

It was still warm compared to that time however.

But it was true that she was avoiding him.

More than anything, Asahi was baffled by the fact that the “ice” was directed only at him.

Starting with Hinami, Chiaki, Asuka, and her classmates and friends, Fuyuka was still exchanging conversation with them, and she seemed to be interacting with Ryoma, albeit awkwardly.

Conversation, and sometimes even a smile.

There was no sight of Asahi there, just him staring from the side.

It was as if one day the world had suddenly flipped over on its head.

The distance between Asahi and Fuyuka had grown far, far away. To be more precise, they had been distanced.

The only thing he knew was how this happened.

‘Ryoma confessed to Fuyuka, and then after that…’

Since that day, Fuyuka had become distant.

That much was clear.

However, if Ryoma, who had confessed and been rejected, was not being avoided, Asahi couldn’t find any reason why he, a third party, was being avoided.

‘Perhaps it had something to do with the tears that were on her face when she came back to the classroom?’

Although he was missing the point, Ryoma seemed to realize the reason for Fuyuka’s tears.

However, Ryoma wanted to make it vague, so there was no point in asking him.

In the end, the fact that Fuyuka was avoiding him was the only thing that bothered Asahi more than ever.

“You’re late.”

 

“I’m sorry, I was just thinking.”

“I see, that’s why my cola is green.”

“I thought you said melon soda.”

“That’s the one I just drank. Look, you’re tired. Cool up a bit.”

Asahi was annoyed to hear Chiaki say that, but he couldn’t say anything because it hit close to home.

After pouring down his iced coffee with sugar, Asahi exhaled deeply again.

“You look like you’ve been through a lot.”

“I guess.”

 

“Not encouraging at all.”

Chiaki chuckled bitterly and clinked the ice in his glass.

“So, are you fine like this?”

“Of course not.”

 

“Oh, now we’re talking. You’re right, it can’t go on like this.”

Chiaki nodded exaggeratedly.

“You don’t have any idea what it is, right? Then it should be from her.”

“I hope so.”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be faster to ask her directly?”

When he was told plainly, Asahi shut his mouth.

Of course, he thought at one point to ask Fuyuka directly.

However, Asahi’s voice couldn’t reach her in a situation where he was being avoided in the first place.

Just as he was about to take the first step, pushed by Ryoma, this happened.

“I don’t know how to treat Fuyuka right now. I just can’t move forward thinking she might reject me…”

Asahi frowned as he revealed his painful feelings.

It was something he could discuss only in front of Chiaki, his closest friend.

Exposing your weaknesses to ask for opinions on them.

The reason why Asahi invited him to the family restaurant was because after only a few days, he couldn’t stand it anymore.

He felt a hole was dug inside his heart without Fuyuka in his daily life.

The only person who could fill that hole was Fuyuka.

“I think you already have the answer, though.”

Chiaki smiled serenely, but Asahi felt it was no laughing matter.

“You’re worried because you don’t have an answer.”

“I figured you’d say that, so I’ve called in some powerful helpers today.”

“I didn’t hear anything about this.” Asahi said, and before he could say anything else, he felt a presence behind him.

When he turned around, there was a brown-haired girl and a blond-haired girl standing next to each other, getting along well.

“Hi there! When it comes to love, leave it to Hina-chan and~?”

“Asu-chan~!”

 

At the appearance of Hinami and Asuka, two energetic girls, Asahi rolled his eyes and Chiaki laughed in amusement.