[it's now a third-person perspective for both Takanashi Ichika and Shouta Kazehaya]
It is possible to be friends with someone in a variety of ways.
Takanashi Ichika was that friend in Junior High School who would be there for you if you had an issue. If a friend required assistance with a project due tomorrow, she would assist her until the job was completed.
She was, some might say, an Idol. She was the front picture of her class and her school. Winning almost every tournament she attended.
That was her life back when she was a junior highschooler, but now she's a highschooler, and everyone wants to change when they're in their last three years of school.
"—You know… Ichika"
"Ehem? What is it?"
He looked to his left and his right, nothing but sand and water. With Enoshima island behind him, he walked to Takanashi, who was sitting down on a carpet.
"Are you some kind of goddess?"
Takanashi, after hearing the word goddess, smiled and giggled.
"Are you trying to tease me, Ryuu?"
There was something weird. Where Takanashi was sitting, there was a ray of sunlight piercing through the clouds, while her surroundings were covered in the cloud's shadow.
"The gods love you… huh?"
"No no… That's too much for me, I don't even love myself"
"Please tell me you are being sarcastic"
"..."
"..."
"Not really…"
It wasn't really his stomach that hurt. It was a feeling of disbelief, making his stomach sink.
"Should I ask her…?"
"You can't go"
"Why?"
"No other reason"
"Guess I'll go alone…"
"No!"
Her face didn't change. Her words were still cold as usual with no emotions behind them. Sara held Shouta's hand, not letting him go.
"If you don't want me to go alone, then go with me"
"We can't"
"What's the reason?"
"Because we have school tomorrow"
"..."
Today was Saturday, still morning. The sun was slightly out of the horizon and the streets were getting slightly busy.
"I'm leaving"
"I'm going with you!"
This girl's mind…
Speaking to her can sometimes be hard but she does everything directly without showing a sign of stopping.
Shouta and Sara made their way back to the station and to Shouta's house. There, Shouta and Sara would take a break, drink and eat something warm. As Shouta predicted, the food on the table had been eaten by everyone in the house.
"I'll brew us tea"
"—excuse me master, I'll be the one brewing it"
"Oh… thank you"
Yamamoto Kaede, the maid of the house, walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.
Yamamoto Kaede was a short woman, slightly taller than Mia. Her hair reached to her stomach but when she's in uniform, she always ties the hair, making twin buns.
Sara sat on the couch, looking around the room. Her eyes reached from the edge of the living room, to the edge of the dining room behind her.
"Sara, want something to eat?"
"No"
"But… didn't you say you were hungry?"
"I lost my appetite"
"..."
The sun has finally shown up and showered the town with vitamin D. The wind brings cold breezes to cool off those who are tired and out of breath.
The station was filled, unlike yesterday.
From his eyes, he could see many tourists visiting and not that many locals. It happens rarely for Shouta Kazehaya but it was a nice view to see. Unless a girl with brown hair ruins every bit of calmness the world gave to him.
Every word she says can ruin his whole day.
"Shouta, don't you think you should start on your story?"
"Didn't I said we'll do it tomorrow"
"Yes, you did"
"..."
It's useless to rant to her
The train arrived shortly, after 2 minutes sitting on a bench, drinking a hot beverage.
In the train, Shouta sat down near the door and Sara sat down next to him.
Shouta doesn't have a lot to say to Sara, either way, he was in a train and it was dead silent without anyone talking a single word, he doesn't want to speak his words, fearing someone might hear him.
Scrolling through his phone. Social media was filled with art of anime characters and fan made characters.
Suddenly, he received an email.
He quickly opened the email and read the first word and he knew who it was.
Oppai.
He glanced at the girl beside him, having an expressionless face looking at her phone.
Why?
Shouta texted Sara.
I don't know what you're saying
Sara replied with a glance from her eyes.
So, do you have any ideas for the story?
Sara asked.
I still can't find a good one, most of the good stories I've read are complicated enough to give me a headache.
How about this story?
A link showed on his screen from Sara, a link to an online web novel site.
"Fragile birds"
The name of the novel made Shouta think about what was inside the novel before reading it.
It was quite clear the name "Fragile birds" means someone who wants to fly and achieve freedom but they're fragile like a thin sheet of glass.
Thank you, I'll go read it later.
You're welcome.
It was on a Saturday when Sara sang her song. The number of people watching and listening to her voice were immeasurable to my beliefs.
All of the boys were clapping as hard as they could when Sara stood up on the stage.
She was chosen as the student representative and was supposed to do a speech. However, what she delivered was unexpected, but a welcome one.
As she sang her song, Shouta stood on my seat, his eyes watering like a dam opening it's gates. His mouth was frozen, he couldn't start a word, but he wanted to say something.
Still, he was able to say one word. He would still question what he was about to say.
I
The ninth letter of the alphabet came out of his mouth.
When the graduation was over, everyone was leaving with their diplomas in hand, Shouta waited for Sara outside, near the soccer field.
His face was burned out red and he couldn't stop smiling. He had the urge to laugh and shout but he tried to hold it.
He was about to walk around the field for a moment. That is, until the star of the show came up and walked to the soccer field.
"Shouta, congratulations"
"O-oh… congratulations to you too"
Sara didn't make any expression, it was the same expression as she is sixteen years in the future.
"Y-your voice was… amazing"
"Thank you, I was doing my be—"
"—No really, you were amazing"
"...Really?"
"Sorry I had to repeat it twice… your face doesn't give the reaction that I wanted"
"Then, what reaction do you want?"
"Nothing-nothing! You don't need to fulfill my wish, the thank you was fine"
"Why do you look so happy?"
"Huh? My face?"
"Yes, it's been red since the ceremony"
"Y-yeah… it's… nothing out of the ordinary"
"No, you've never smiled for that long"
"Really?"
"Yes, really"
"..."
"..."
Shouta scratched his head. His eyes watching the sky above.
"Seeing you singing made me happy"
"...?"
"You were putting your heart to your singing"
"No, you're wrong"
"Huh?"
Shouta looked down at Sara sitting near the edge of the soccer field. Her knees were blocking her face. To begin with, she was looking down at the ground.
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't put my heart to that song"
"W-what?!"
"I didn't put—"
"—You were great!! Your voice was beautiful!! What do you mean you didn't put your heart into that song?! It was obvious you were doing your best!!"
It was like his voice was trying to encourage Sara but also having a scent of anger behind it. Shouta's feelings were mixed between happiness, jealousy and anger.
"Didn't you see everyone was smiling and clapping for you! They were supporting you!"
A sudden burst of rage came out of Shouta's mouth. The moment Shouta stopped saying words, he immediately regretted it. He felt he couldn't take back those words.
Expecting his friend to say something back.
That expectation wasn't met.
Sara only fell silent.
"Sara?"
"..."
She didn't answer.
"Sara?"
"..."
Shouta slowly walked towards Sara, crouching down on the ground.
"Sara?"
Shouta extended his hand and touched Sara's shoulders.
"..."
She fell asleep.
A feeling struck Shouta.
Possibly, Sara didn't hear any of his ranting. Her face seemed that she fell asleep way before Shouta's rant, and Shouta's rant lasted for ten seconds.