Ren's pov :
2 years ago...
"Ren-kun!!" a voice calls my name as I turn around.
I was walking to school that day and it was my final year there. "Oh, your late" I said to the girl chasing me. The girl had long black hair and is taller then me in which I'm kinda sad about, but her eyes are black and beautiful and that's one of the reasons why I fell in love with her.
"I'm sorry" She said while out of breath. "Sometimes I just shower slow" She said.
"But seriously Aiko-chan, your never this late when it's school, much less graduation day." I said to her. This is Aiko Nijima, my childhood friend and first crush. We've first met when we were both five and I had a crush on her since we were fourteen. And today I want to confess my love to her right after the graduation ceremony, we both walk home together alot since we are both neighbours, though sometimes I couldn't cause I had other stuff to do and I often turn down her invitation due to reasons.
"S-sorry, yeah I was just thinking about today you know." she said this with the most nicest smile, a smile on why I like her so much. "So, do you already know which school you're going to?" she ask me.
"I'm going to Seicho high, you?" I shoot her the same question. She smiled and said.
"I'm going to Seicho too!" Her answer made me even more happy knowing that we will never be separated, I'm very happy.
We finally made it to school and every single third year students made their way to the ceremony. Boys and girls are sitting on opposite sides girls on the left and boys and the right side.
Then the principal walked up to the stage and announced the top tens that did very well on the exams.
My name was called on the seventh and the person who took the number one spot was non other then.
"Aiko Nijima, congratulations on taking first place in the final year exam!" Said the principal.
Everyone applaud to her and her performance in the exam, it made me very proud to know that she is smarter then I anticipated.
After the ceremony everyone said their goodbyes, I tried to find Aiko in the crowd of people.
In like a couple of minutes I finally found her, it looked like she was looking for someone, I found it cute that she looks so lost and confused, I walked up to her and before long she noticed me and ran up to me.
"Hey, congratulations!" I said while holding her hands, I then blush once I noticed that we are holding hands.
"Thank you, you too." She smiled at me as if she was a girlfriend proud of her boyfriend's achievement.
"I don't think so I did too well to be completely honest. I got seventh place, I did worst then last time." I said while looking down.
"Hehe, don't worry at least you did your best, it's not like you won't get another shot in high school." she comforts me.
I just sigh and gave her a smile. "So, you wana walk home together?" I said and cought her off guard.
"Wait, what... Wow I've never really thought that you want me to walk home with you, that's odd we haven't walked home together in a long time." She said while wondering.
Then a voice called out to us. "Hiyama-senpai, Nijima-senpai!" we both giggled as we turned around and noticed that it's our cute adorable little kouhi.
"Shirogane-chan, you made it!" said Aiko while holding both her hands.
"Yeah sorry, I was held by a teacher telling me that there were things in the storage room that needs to be cleaned, and it took hours" she said as she runs her back.
Shirogane then looks at me and notice my signs saying 'I want to confess to her today. Can you leave us so we can walk home alone today?'
She just nods in understanding? I think?
"Anyways there was a dinosaur restorant that I wanted to visit and..." I face palm due to her idiotic comedy.
"... And?" Aiko asks.
Shirogane notice me face-palming and quickly change again. "Never mind, I meant that I had alot of fun at the zoo when a random monkey just fell down a tree... Or was it a person, I couldn't tell because of his sk-" I shut her mouth before she could continue.
"Huh!?" Aiko said in confusion.
I then wisperd at her and said. "What are you doing?"
"I thought you wanted me to confuse her?" she said whispering.
"No, I said that I wanted you to leave us cause I want to confess to her!" I said while whispering.
We continue to whisper argue for like 2 minutes and Aiko was getting tired.
"Okay you two, are you done?" she said while her arms are crossed.
"Oh yeah we are..." I said and whispered to Shirogane "... Just remember make sure you walk on a different road, okay?"
She nods and dashed off.
"Anyways Nijima-senpai, I best get going first, won't want to ruin a moment here" She said and it made the both of us blush. Then Shirogane left home.
After that me and Aiko looked at each other and just laughs it off.
On our way home, we entered a park so we could avoid going around it and waste more time. But I had another intention.
"Man it's been awhile since we did walk home together." I said whole taking in the scenery.
"Yeah..." Said Aiko while she's in her thoughts. "... Hey Ren-kun." I stopped as I heard her called my name.
"Yes?" I ask.
"Why now?" she question.
"I'm sorry, what?" I shot her a question again.
"We haven't been walking home much eversince you actually got more open and more friends. I'm asking why now would you want to walk home with me?" she asks this question with a sour tone.
'It's now or never Ren, tell her how you feel' I said in my thoughts.
"Aiko-chan, there's something that's been on my mind lately." I said while she looks down, not showing her eyes at all to me. "Aiko-chan... I'm- I'm in love with you" I finally said it to her and she just moved slightly backwards. I gave a smile to show her that I'm telling the truth.
"Liar..." She said in a low tone.
"What?.." I said Suprised by her response.
"Liar... Your not in love with me." she said.
"I am, I'm not lying Ai-" She cuts me off.
"This must be a set up right, for a false Confession just because I got number one on the final exam?" Aiko said.
"What no, that's not true! I'm actually in love with you it's not a se-" Once again I was cut off.
"SHUT UP! I know your lying, you've been hanging out with other people besides me, especially those girls you've been getting along with!" she said with anger in her voice.
"Aiko-chan, there's nothing between me and those girls, those girls are just my friends!" I said.
"How could you do this to me Ren-kun, I've been so lonely for so long and you turned down all of my invitations for more then I could count!" she sounds frustrated. "I'm lonely, but I can't stop forgiving you, I feel so stupid. Your so stupid." She said while looking down, not making eye contact.
I felt like a heart struck by lightning when she said that, its painful, it's something that made me feel like going down on my knees.
"I'm telling you, I don't like those other girls, I love Aiko Nijima, and I'm being honest. I don't have such intentions to make you feel lonely!" I said, attempting to make her realise my true feelings.
"Just stop lying Ren-kun! You turning down my invitations was proof enough that you don't care about me" She said. "You know what, if you always turn down my invitations, then I should turn you down as well." I felt like crying after what she just said.
"How... How could you!" I said while tears roll down my eyes.
"You... You were never really my type anyways, I like the rich, handsome, strong and the ones that has the same acedemic levels as me. You never match any of those, your pathetic, you cry alot and your weak, you'll never be better and you will never have a chance with me, I hate you... Hiyama-kun." her words made her shed a tear that I couldn't notice.
I took off running and bumped into a girl in blonde.
"Sorry!" I said...
And after that evening, I went home and locked myself in my room, food was delivered by my sister and I don't shower as often as I do.
'Why would she do this to me?... What did I ever do to deserve this? Oh wait... I didn't give her the attention she wanted.' I thought.
Then I thought about what she said to me. "Why would she lie about marrying me when we were younger." I curled on my bed and started to cry.
I've been in bed for more days then I could count. It's been like 2 weeks since then. And I'm still not over it, I loved her, but she betrayed me, there was no point in living if she can't love you, regardless if there was others that liked me. I just want to die.
Before I could make a move on my suicide, my sister walked in without knocking.
"Umm.. Ren, have you been doing okay?" Rika ask.
"I'm fine nee-chan, I'm just not in the mood." I said while still in the bed covers.
"Ren, you've been shutting yourself out for far too long, there's definitely something wrong." Rika said.
"There's nothing going on. I'm fine, trust me." I tried to assure her, but she is not buying it.
"Well, Aiko-chan moved out... So I'm wondering if it had anything to do with your mood." she wondered but I just stayed quite. "Aughh! Ren, I can't take this silance anymore, please just tell me!" she groaned and rush toward my bed.
She pulled my blankets off of me and picks my collar and my eyes shows no emotion with rough eye bags under it. Her eyes widen, and her hands were on her mouth covering it in shock.
"Oh my god, you haven't been sleeping all night, haven't you?..." She ask and something came to mind. "No way, please don't tell me... Are you depressed?" she ask worriedly.
"Why are you still here, didn't I tell you that I'm fine." I said.
"Bullshit! Your not fine, you haven't been going outside or eat dinner with me and our parents or even shower. I'm worried Ren, whatever is going on right now! Please! Just please, tell me what's wrong!" She ask desperately.
"Stop worrying, I'm fine." I said, Rika looks down hoping to atleast make me open up to her.
"What ever it is..." She said with a cracking voice. "... Just tell me, I don't want to see my little brother sad and depressed in a cold dark room." she looks down with tears flowing down.
I notice this and mouth the words "Fine, I'll tell you." to her.
Rika just smiles and looks up to me, she then lets go of my collar and backs off a bit sitting right infront of me.
"Okay then, now tell me. Why are you like this?" she asks.
I told her everything up until the harsh rejection. She couldn't believe the words on what I said.
"I don't believe it. There's no way, the innocent Aiko-chan said all of that?!" she said with frustration in her voice. "That bitch!" She yelled while fisting my bed. "How could she say those to you! She was your bestfriend, and she just betrayed you!" She was more angrier then ever.
"Nee-chan, calm down! She's gone now, and there's nothing that you can do. I deserved it anyways." I said.
"I don't believe that it's your fault, it's her fault to not accept that you have other business to attend to, she's just selfish." Rika said.
"Maybe..." I said with a pause for a moment. "... But what she said might be true." I said.
"What... Is it about your looks and physique?" she asks while I just nod.
"She's right. I'm not rich, I'm not handsome, or even strong. I'm just a nerd that everyone gets along or hate, a typical teenager." I said.
"Lies..." Rika said. I just had a surprised look and listen close to her. "... Your actually cute without those glasses, and if you showed more of your eyes then you look very handsome." She said hoping to cure my insecurities.
"You think so?" I ask.
"I know so... Plus, even though she was your first love, doesn't mean she's your last, so just cheer up, okay?" she said. "I'm always here, for you. I love you, Ren." she suddenly pulled me into a warm embrace.
I hug back and said "I love you too, Onee-chan."
After all of that, I took her advice. I work on my hair style and decided to use contact lenses. Before I could attend high school, I need to gain muscles, and also learn how to defend myself. I took martial arts class since most movies I've seen so far are martial arts, it took me a month to actually get better thanks to my trainer. If it wasn't for her, then my whole body would just be fragile.
April 4th...
On the day of the entrance ceremony, I've decided I change my hairstyle to a more calming curtain style like hairstyle. And on this day, I've been waiting to actually make friends since I'm new here.
"Excuse me! I need to see the board please." I ask the two girls that was blocking my path to the hallway of the school.
They turned around and is in awe when they saw me.
I quickly remember what Aiko-chan said.
"... you've been hanging out with other people besides me, especially those girls you've been getting along with!" Aiko voice echo through my head like a memory that will never be forgotten.
I moved passed the to awed girls and ignore their calls.
"We... Wanted to ask your... Name." the two girls said.
I made my way to the school board to see what class I will be in.
"let's see..." I skim through the names until I stumble upon a name that starts with the word Hiyama. "... Ah there you are, hm... Class 1-B. Makes sense, I mean like I didn't even did that bad or too well during the entrance exam, I've been depressed so I couldn't study much." I stop muttering to myself and walked to class.
'hm... 1-B, where is it?' I stop and finally reach to my class.
I slowly open the door, and enter. Everyone was seated or stayed by the window and chatted. When I enter the room, everyone had their eyes on me. There was a moment of silance in the room, but I could tell that everyone was only in silance because.... Of how nice and neat the chalk board is, wow!
"Yeah... That's actually a nice board, is it new?" I said. But then I heard someone burst through the door.
"Please, please, please, please." The boy in white hair prayed.
As he walked in a redheaded 5'4 girl walked up and hits his head.
"Really! Your in this class Sho-kun!" the read head girl sounded dissapointed.
"Hey, its not my fault that I'm in a class with you! You bro-con obsessed bitch!" The boy said while pointing.
"Why you!!!" The girl then rushed to him. But before they could clash, I open my mouth.
"Um... Excuse me" I said, grabbing the attention of the both of them.
"Huh?" the two of them said.
"Listen, I don't know what's your relationship, but I'm guessing that you two are friends?" I ask assuming that they are by the way of how they treat each other.
"Huh?! Me friends with him!" She said.
"Yeah, we are childhood friends. And I hate it if we fight all the time!" the white haired boy said.
I made a deadpan expression. 'Doesn't that mean that you guys are friends.' I thought.
'But then again, they somehow could be great couples.' I take another look at them.
The two friends gave stares to each other that resembles hate.
'Or maybe not.' I thought.
"Anyways, can we just forget about what happend during that day." the boy said.
She just nods in agreement.
The girl sighs and face me "Anyways, what's your name, you don't look like someone we know, a different middle school?" she ask.
"Yeah, I've never seen you guys before, or anyone here to be honest." I said while looking down.
"Well, if you want..." the boy walked up to me and offer his hand. "... Wanna be friends with me?" he ask.
"Hey! Don't forget about me!" the girl walked up to me and offer her a hand.
"Fine whatever. Anyways, my name is Shota Yuki." He introduced.
"And I'm Milika Minabe, Nice to meetcha!" She said.
"Milika? That doesn't sound Japanese, are you foreign?" I ask.
"My dad is, but my mom is Japanese." She said.
"Oh that's cool." I said.
"You think she's cool? Dude, she has brother complex." Shota said.
"That's it!" She then attacked Shota. I don't know why but suddenly I'm laughing to their shenanigans.
Everything will be fine now, she's gone, she will never break me now. I am my own person now, I won't let other people force me into anything anymore. I'll be better then before, she will never.... Ruin me.