[Guide:

"Hi" — Said physically

"Hi" — Said internally (in the head)

Sound effects are stated in this font with one or more periods on either side

Text that looks like this: ...Home.. is an indication of where the scene is]

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In the dead of night, the faint sound of a television reports news of a high-school boy who has taken his life.

Meanwhile, the strokes of a pen is faintly audible in a dimly lit room; the only light shining in that space sources from a lamp.

A click of a pen cues; the supposed writing has stopped. A boy—named Houtaru— holds a letter in his hands.

Houtaru: "Its been a long time since I saw her, but..."

He then reminisces the person in question; an anamnesis of them giving the cold-shoulder to him yesterday- lingers. His enthusiasm drops; he remembers the apparent dislike this person has towards him.

Houtaru: "What if she doesn't want to see me again? Could this be my biggest mistake!?"

Then, an old memory appears of that said person; a recollection of them—that looks like a declaration of a promise these two formed—smothers the previously gloomy memory.

A sea of memories play in his head: giving him clashing thoughts—finding what to make of these. He deeply thinks about the decision to confess.

...drone

Houtaru mutters:"...What did I do wrong?"

*

* ....The Next Day...

*

. ...Birds tweeting..

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Houtaru hesitantly walks to school while discussing the next course of action.

"I give up--" He declares with certainty.

Houtaru: "Why do I even try? Its not like-- she looked like- she didn't want anything to do with me" He suggests with a defeating tone.

...

Houtaru: "I should at least try right-"

He smacks himself—"NO!" He declares,

Houtaru: "But, what if- aaghhhh! I don't really wanna—!" He insists.

. ...footsteps..

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Houtaru: "What happened? Kanade?"

*

*

As he walks towards the school gate, his two friends—Hitoji and Mogatari—greet him.

A girl watches him from above with a worried look whilst he converses with his company.

*

He then walks up the stairs with his two buddies, while contemplating yesterday's events; an anamnesis of a glaring Kanade appears in his mind again.

Houtaru: "She's been like that since our Junior year."

The recollection zooms close to her contemptuous eyes; Houtaru's despair heightens.

"Oi" His friend shouts with a strong tap to his shoulder—"Huh?" He reacts,

Hitoji: "What's with you?- deep in thought so early in the morning?"

Mogatari: "Have a problem with your 7th girlfriend or something? Haha!"

Houtaru grunts—"I'm not like you guys- you know! All about girls!"

...

Hitoji: "Hmm~? You set your sights on someone?"

Houtaru: "... Something like that..."

Houtaru then follows it with a remark—"That someone doesn't feel the same way though!!!" He states with despair.

Mogatari: "So- how's it going?"

Houtaru: "Nothing much.." He sadly expresses.

Hitoji: "You should get a move on- or she'll be taken by someone else~" He teasingly remarks.

Houtaru is saddened by this supposed fact.

Houtaru: "He'd definitely sway her heart."

He then reminisces of a handsome boy. The boy in question is Daeji— a good friend of Kanade.

"I bet she'd go for him." He declares.

Houtaru then recollects moments where he saw Kanade enjoying Daeji's company—a stark contrast on her attitude towards him. The memory perturbs him.

Mogatari: "Seriously though, what's stopping you?"

While Mogatari lists the reasons why he'd succeed with this person, Houtaru takes what Mogatari said to heart—giving thought about his lack of initiative. Then- suddenly, a remark interests him—"You never know until you try" Mogatari advices,

Houtaru: "Oh yeah.. I haven't asked Kanade what bothered her in the first place!" His eyes widen—almost bewildered by the revelation.

...

Hitoji: "Hello? Anyone in there?"

Hitoji waves his hand in front of Houtaru, but to no avail.

Mogatari: "You s*** your pants or something?"

Houtaru triumphs—"I GOT IT!!" He shouts, startling Hitoji and Mogatari.

...

Mogatari: "Huh?"

*

* ...In a restroom somewhere..

. ...drone..

. ..plop

. ...plop

Houtaru hypes himself up; he stares into the love letter he is holding with both hands.

Houtaru: "You can do this. If you do this, you'll finally know what you've done wrong! And finally! Have the courage to be like that with her again! Yeah! If we were like that again, I can confess! I can finally!.. Finally....."

He goes deep in thought.

.

. ...plop..

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He clenches his grip on the letter; tears fall down from his eyes.

Houtaru: "..What took you so long?"

*

*

Houtaru exits the restroom; he acts as he has "done his business". Chatter emanating around-the-corner catches his attention; two girls are discussing about the current news regarding a boy whose taken their life for a reason that interests Houtaru—

Girl 1: "They said it was because of a girl!"

Girl 2: "Poor him, she literally ignored him all the way! I wouldn't blame him!"

Houtaru: "I feel like I heard this somewhere..." He tries to recollect what he heard last night—the news seemed familiar to him.

Girl 1: "Yeah, she brushed off- all of his advances!"

Girl 2: "Cruel!"

Girl 1: "The crazy part is, She. Was. In-- love with him!"

Houtaru notices the similarity with his situation.

Girl 2: "Welp! You reap what you sow!"

While the two girls continue their gossip, Houtaru can't help but dwell on what he heard.

Houtaru slaps back his senses right in his cheeks—"Agh! I'm getting sidetracked!" He declares.

He then forgets what happened and proceeds to his classroom.

As Houtaru walks to the classroom, he imagines himself in the gossiped high-schooler from earlier.

. ....footsteps..

Houtaru: "Huh."

. ...footsteps..

Houtaru: "At this rate..."

. ..step...

Houtaru looks out a window; he squints his eyes with a somber smile—"That might actually happen." He asserts.

But then..

Houtaru returns his view towards the lively hallway; his eyes widen—

Among the crowd, he sees a familiar figure.

His jaw drops.

Kanade greets him with a smile of pure joy.

..To be continued....