A week after our vacation, the school days flowed by like usual. Honestly, I'm just a regular high schooler, but now I have a gal girlfriend. Who would've thought?
"Good morning," I greeted her with a smile.
"Good morning, Yukito." She replied, returning my smile as she twirled a lock of her hair between her fingers.
I took my seat next to her, casually pulling out my phone. As usual, I started scrolling through social media, looking at some funny videos. Shuuta never fails to send me the weirdest, yet most hilarious clips.
While I was chuckling to myself, Hinata scooted her chair closer to my desk, her expression soft but serious.
"Yukito..." she called softly.
I glanced up at her, tilting my head in curiosity. "What's up?"
She hesitated, biting her lower lip like she was holding something back. "There's something I want to ask for your help with..."
"Go on, I'm listening," I said, putting my phone down, fully giving her my attention.
She was about to say something when—
Slide
The door to our classroom swung open, and a figure sauntered in, catching everyone's attention. It was a gal with short hair, a confident smirk playing on her lips. She locked eyes with us, and for some reason, I could feel the tension rising beside me. Hinata's uneasiness was almost palpable.
The gal walked straight up to our desks, pointing directly at me.
"You," she said, voice full of mischief.
"Me?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yeah, you. Aki Yukito." She smirked. "Let's go out as a couple."
The entire class went dead silent. I could feel dozens of eyes on me, all waiting for my reaction. Wait, what?!
"W-wait... I don't even know you," I stammered, caught completely off guard.
She raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Sakurai Ohtani. Now you know me."
She extended her hand with the same bold smirk, as if this whole thing was some casual transaction. I blinked, unsure of how to react. Just as I reached out to take her hand, Hinata's hand shot out, gripping Ohtani's before I could.
"Nice to meet you, Ohtani-chan..." Hinata said with a sweet smile, though I knew well enough it wasn't a pleasant one. The edge in her voice was subtle, but unmistakable.
"Ara, Hinata-chan, is that you?" Ohtani's smile only grew wider, but her eyes gleamed with something sharp.
"Yes, it's me. Futaba Hinata," Hinata said, tightening her grip on Ohtani's hand. I could see a small twitch in Ohtani's brow.
"Got a problem?" Ohtani challenged, her smirk unwavering.
"Not at all. It's just... Yukito *already* has a girlfriend." Hinata's voice was sickly sweet, but her eyes bore into Ohtani's with the intensity of someone marking their territory. It was as if an invisible line had been drawn between the two.
Ohtani didn't back down, maintaining her confident smirk. "Oh? I wasn't asking for permission, though."
Before I could say anything to defuse the situation, I felt the tension crackling in the air. The entire class was holding their breath, watching as these two gal powerhouses faced off.
"Hinata..." I whispered, gently placing my hand on her shoulder. Her tense posture softened slightly, but her eyes never left Ohtani's.
"I see. So you're serious about him, huh?" Ohtani said, finally breaking the silence, her voice calm but with a challenging undertone. She released Hinata's hand and stepped back, her smirk never faltering.
"Dead serious," Hinata responded, standing her ground.
Ohtani chuckled, stepping away with a playful shrug. "Guess I'll just have to keep an eye on you two, then."
With that, she turned and left the classroom, leaving behind an uncomfortable silence. The class slowly returned to its usual chatter, but I couldn't shake off what just happened.
Hinata let out a small sigh and glanced at me, her expression softening into something more relaxed.
"Yukito, don't get any weird ideas," she warned with a playful pout.
I smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of my head. "I wasn't... but seriously, who *was* that girl?"
Hinata crossed her arms and huffed. "She's from the class next door, and trust me, she's trouble."
I could only nod, still trying to process the bizarre encounter. But in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but feel like this wasn't the last we'd see of Ohtani.
Class had begun like any other day, the teacher's voice drifting in and out of focus as I idly tapped my pen against my notebook. The morning passed in a blur of equations and half-hearted scribbles until finally, the bell rang, signaling break time.
Just as I was about to relax, I noticed a familiar figure approaching from across the room.
"Yahoo, Yukito-kun!" Ohtani called out cheerfully, waving her hand with a bright smile. Her energy seemed boundless, as usual.
"H-Hi...?" I stammered, caught a bit off guard.
I glanced over at Hinata, who sat beside me, arms crossed and lips pursed in a pout. Her usual aura of calm had been replaced by something… prickly. Was it annoyance? Jealousy? I couldn't quite tell.
Ohtani, oblivious to the tension, grinned and leaned over my desk. "Mind if I join you guys?" she asked, her tone as casual as ever.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. I glanced at Hinata again, silently hoping for some kind of guidance.
"Do as you please," Hinata muttered, her voice cool, but the slight furrow in her brow gave her away. She wasn't happy. Not one bit.
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly. "W-Well, I guess it's fine…"
Ohtani didn't seem to pick up on the atmosphere and slid into the seat across from us without a second thought. "Great! Thanks, Yukito-kun!"
As Ohtani began chatting away, mostly about the latest school gossip, I could feel the tension between Hinata and her growing, like an invisible string being pulled tighter and tighter. Hinata didn't say much, but the way her gaze flicked between Ohtani and me spoke volumes. I could practically see the gears turning in her head.
Why did it feel like I was stuck between two storms about to collide?
"Hey, Yukito," Ohtani suddenly said, breaking through my thoughts. "Are you coming to the karaoke thing this weekend? A bunch of us are going after class. You should totally join us!"
Just as I was about to reply, a thought hit me. "Ah… actually, I can't go this weekend."
Both Ohtani and Hinata turned to look at me, surprised.
"I've got my part-time job," I explained, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly. "I'm working both Saturday and Sunday, so… yeah."
Ohtani's bright expression faltered slightly. "Oh, I see... That's a shame. I was really looking forward to hanging out like old times."
"Yeah, sorry about that," I mumbled, feeling a little bad for turning her down. But before I could offer to reschedule, something else caught my attention.
"Wait," I said, my brow furrowing. "Hang out like old times? What do you mean by that?"
Ohtani blinked, then smiled a little. "Oh, right, I never mentioned it, did I? Hinata-chan and I went to the same middle school."
I glanced at Hinata, surprised. "Wait, really? She went to the same school like us?"
Hinata crossed her arms and looked away, her expression unreadable. "Yeah, we did."
"You never told me that," I said, still processing the new information. All this time, I'd thought Ohtani and Hinata had only met after starting high school. They barely interacted in class now, and it wasn't like Hinata ever brought up her middle school friends.
Ohtani let out a light laugh. "Yeah, I guess it never came up. We were actually pretty close back then, weren't we, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata didn't answer immediately, her gaze still averted. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet. "That was a long time ago…"
There was a strange tension in the air, one I hadn't noticed before. I glanced between them, trying to make sense of it. They weren't acting like old friends, that was for sure.
Ohtani's smile softened. "Yeah, I guess we drifted apart after middle school."
I couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Ohtani was usually so cheerful, always trying to make friends with everyone. But Hinata? I couldn't picture her hanging out with someone like Ohtani in middle school.
Hinata finally spoke up, her tone flat. "People change."
Her words hung in the air, heavier than they seemed. I glanced at Ohtani, who seemed to pick up on the shift too. She nodded slightly, her usual energetic tone dimming. "Yeah, I guess they do."
An awkward silence followed. I had no idea what to say, or if I should even say anything. It wasn't like Hinata to talk much about her past, but it was clear that something had changed between them.
"Well," Ohtani said, standing up from her seat, "I should get going. It's a shame you can't make it to karaoke, Yukito-kun. Maybe next time?" She smiled, but it seemed a little forced now.
"Yeah, maybe," I replied, feeling uneasy.
Ohtani gave a little wave, her cheerful facade returning as she left. "Take care, Hinata-chan! See you around."
Hinata gave a small nod, but said nothing as Ohtani walked away.
I watched Ohtani leave, then turned to Hinata. "I didn't know you two went to the same school," I said, still trying to piece everything together.
Hinata sighed, leaning back in her chair. "There's a lot you don't know."
Her words stung a little, though I wasn't sure why. "I just didn't expect it, that's all," I said quietly. "You two don't exactly act like old friends."
Hinata's lips tightened into a thin line. "That's because we're not."
I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"We used to hang out in middle school," Hinata said, her eyes distant. "But things… changed when we started high school. We went our separate ways."
I could tell she didn't want to say any more, so I didn't push it. But now, I was left with more questions than answers. What had happened between them? And why did it feel like Hinata didn't want to talk about it?
Hinata stood up suddenly, gathering her things. "I'm going to the vending machine. You want anything?"
I shook my head. "No, I'm good."
Without another word, she walked off, leaving me alone at the table, my thoughts swirling. I hadn't known about her past with Ohtani, and now I couldn't help but wonder what had caused them to drift apart.
Hinata POV
I walked away from the classroom, my footsteps heavy, each step pounding against the dull ache in my chest. The hallway was empty, quiet except for the distant hum of students chatting in other classrooms. It was the kind of silence I liked—one that gave me space to breathe, to think. But today, my thoughts were far from peaceful.
Seeing Ohtani again, hearing her talk like nothing had happened, like we were just old friends, stirred up things I thought I had buried a long time ago.
As I reached the vending machine, I pulled some coins from my pocket, my fingers trembling slightly as I dropped them into the slot. The clatter of the coins hitting the machine seemed louder than usual, matching the storm brewing inside me.
I pressed the button for water, but before I could grab the bottle, I heard a voice behind me.
"Hinata-chan."
I froze. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
Ohtani was leaning against the wall next to the vending machine, arms crossed, that same fake smile on her face. She'd been waiting for me. Of course she had.
"You didn't really think we were done talking, did you?" she asked, her tone light, but I could hear the edge beneath it.
I ignored her, grabbing the bottle from the tray and twisting the cap open. "What do you want, Ohtani?"
She sighed, pushing herself off the wall. "I just want to talk. We've got a lot to catch up on."
I scoffed. "Catch up? There's nothing to catch up on."
Ohtani's smile didn't falter, but I could see the cracks in it now. "You don't have to be so cold, Hinata-chan. I didn't come here to fight."
"Right." I took a long drink from the water bottle, trying to drown the bitterness in my throat. "Because you're such a good friend, right?"
She flinched at that, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in her eyes—guilt, maybe. But then she quickly masked it with that same, cheerful demeanor she always wore. "Look, I know you're still upset about what happened in middle school, but can we—"
"Upset?" I cut her off, feeling the anger rise in my chest. "You think I'm just *upset*?"
Ohtani didn't say anything, her smile fading as she met my glare.
I clenched the bottle in my hand, trying to keep my voice steady. "You pretended to be my friend. And all the while, you were keeping me away from Yukito."
She didn't deny it. Her silence was answer enough.
Back in middle school, I had always been too shy to approach Yukito directly. He wasn't like the other boys—he was quiet, thoughtful, kind. Someone who stood out without even trying. I had wanted to get closer to him, but every time I tried, something—or rather, *someone*—stood in my way.
Ohtani. She always found a way to insert herself between us. Whether it was "accidentally" pulling Yukito into her group of friends or making sure he never noticed me when I was around, she always found a way to block me. I had trusted her back then, believed her when she said we were friends, when she told me to just "wait for the right moment." But the right moment never came. And Yukito never remembered me.
He never even knew I existed. All because of her.
"I didn't mean for things to happen like that," Ohtani finally said, her voice softer now, almost apologetic. "I just—"
"You just what?" I snapped, my voice harsh. "Wanted him for yourself? Wanted to make sure I stayed in the background, out of the way?"
Ohtani bit her lip, looking away. "It wasn't like that. I wasn't trying to hurt you."
"Maybe not," I said, my tone cold. "But you did."
The betrayal I had felt back then still burned in my chest. She had known how I felt about Yukito, and instead of supporting me, instead of letting me have my chance, she'd kept me on the sidelines, pretending to be my friend while making sure I never got close enough to him. And because of that, Yukito had no reason to remember me when we entered high school.
I was just another face in the crowd. Just someone who never even got a chance.
Ohtani sighed again, but this time it sounded more like defeat. "I didn't think it mattered back then. I thought… I don't know, I thought we'd both move on."
"Move on?" I repeated, my voice quiet but full of disbelief. "You think it's that easy?"
She looked at me, her eyes pleading. "I was stupid, okay? I thought it was just a crush. I didn't realize how much it meant to you."
I shook my head, unable to believe what I was hearing. "It wasn't just a crush, Ohtani. You knew how I felt about him, and you still did everything you could to keep us apart."
She looked down at her feet, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry."
Her apology, while maybe sincere, felt hollow. Too little, too late.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "It doesn't matter anymore. What's done is done."
Ohtani raised her head, her eyes searching mine. "We don't have to keep doing this, you know. We could try to start over. Be friends again."
I laughed bitterly. "Friends? After everything?"
She didn't respond, and for a moment, we stood there in silence. Then she took a step back, her shoulders slumping. "I guess that's a no, then."
I didn't answer. There was nothing more to say. Whatever friendship we had in middle school was over. And it had been for a long time.
Ohtani turned to leave, but before she did, she glanced back at me. "For what it's worth, Yukito likes you now, doesn't he? You got what you wanted in the end."
Her words hung in the air long after she walked away, leaving me standing alone by the vending machine. I stared at the bottle of water in my hand, her last words ringing in my ears.
Yukito likes me now.
But I didn't feel like I'd "won" anything. All I felt was the lingering sting of betrayal.
The past wasn't something you could just walk away from. No matter how hard you tried to bury it, it always had a way of catching up to you.
I sighed, turning the cap on the bottle absentmindedly. Ohtani was wrong. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
And the last thing I wanted was for Yukito to find out about any of it.
I stood frozen, my frustration and hurt simmering beneath the surface, when a familiar voice broke through the tension.
"Senpai! There you are—I've been looking all over for you."
I turned to see Suzune approaching, her usual bright smile lighting up the hallway. Her carefree energy felt like a sharp contrast to the suffocating atmosphere between Ohtani and me. Without missing a beat, Suzune slid up beside me, completely ignoring Ohtani's presence.
"Suzune…" I murmured, surprised but thankful.
"Senpai, I need your help with something," she said quickly, looping her arm through mine as if it were a lifeline. Her grip was firm but gentle, a silent invitation for me to leave the conversation behind. There was no mistaking her intention—she was here to rescue me.
Ohtani crossed her arms, her eyes flicking to Suzune with thinly veiled annoyance. "I didn't realize you had kouhais coming to your rescue now, Hinata."
Suzune glanced briefly at Ohtani, her expression polite but unyielding. "I don't think Senpai needs any rescuing," she said lightly, though her words carried a sharpness Ohtani couldn't ignore. "But I do think she's done with this conversation."
I could feel the tension rise again, but Suzune was having none of it. She gently tugged at my arm, pulling me away from the vending machine. "Come on, Senpai. You promised you'd help me, remember?"
As we walked, I forced myself to keep my head held high, even though I felt the sting of tears threatening to spill over. Each step away from Ohtani felt like a small relief, but the ache in my chest remained, heavy and unresolved. I could still hear her words echoing in my mind, a haunting reminder of betrayal.
"Thanks, Suzune," I whispered as we rounded the corner, finally out of sight of Ohtani.
Suzune gave me a reassuring smile, her eyes warm. "No problem, Senpai. I could see things were getting a little... intense back there."
I sighed, rubbing my temple as I tried to gather myself. "You have no idea."
"Maybe not," Suzune said with a shrug, "but whatever it was, I'm here if you need me."
I appreciated her presence more than I could express. But the truth was, as we walked away, I could feel the tears threatening to spill, an overwhelming wave of emotions crashing over me. I blinked rapidly, fighting to keep my composure, but the weight of everything was suffocating.
I didn't want to cry—not here, not now. But the memories of middle school, the hurtful betrayal, and the fear of losing Yukito again clawed at my heart. I took a shaky breath, reminding myself that I had to be strong.
But strength felt so far away in that moment. I swallowed hard, forcing a smile for Suzune, who was looking at me with concern. "I'm fine," I lied, my voice betraying me just a little.
Yukito POV
I was waiting for Hinata in the classroom when Shuuta walked over to me, curiosity etched on his face. "What just happened?" he asked.
"It was just a misunderstanding," I replied, hesitating for a moment before adding, "Actually, Hinata and Ohtani are old acquaintances."
"Whoa, that was intense," Shuuta said, a grin spreading across his face.
"I know, right…" I mumbled, still feeling the weight of the earlier confrontation.
Not long after, Hinata returned, Suzune by her side. Suzune walked up to me and said, "Senpai, you gotta take care of Hinata-senpai carefully." Her tone was serious, and I couldn't help but wonder what she meant by that.
I glanced at Hinata, noticing that her eyes were moist, glistening under the fluorescent lights. My heart sank.
Shuuta, sensing the mood, got up from his seat and moved back, giving us some space.
"Hinata, what's wrong?" I asked softly, my concern growing.
"No… nothing happened," she replied, though her voice wavered.
"You know I can tell when you're lying, right?" I said, crossing my arms.
She looked down, her expression clouded with emotions. After a moment of silence, she sighed. "It's about middle school."
"What about it?" I prompted, feeling the tension in the air.
"You remember that time when you rejected me in middle school?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah, and?"
"That was the hardest time of my life," she admitted, her voice breaking slightly.
My heart tightened. I hadn't realized the impact my words had on her.
"My friends teased me mercilessly because I got rejected by you. Whenever I tried to catch your attention, they would hold me back, making sure I didn't get close to you. That's why you don't remember how we never talked back then," she continued, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"That's… I'm sorry…" I managed to say, regret washing over me. I hadn't known the extent of her pain.
Silence enveloped us as I absorbed her words. The classroom felt smaller, the air heavier. I never imagined that a simple rejection could leave such a mark on her heart.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," I added, my voice steady but filled with remorse. "I was just a stupid kid, caught up in my own world."
Hinata finally met my gaze, her expression shifting. "You don't have to apologize. It was a long time ago."
"But it clearly affected you," I insisted, wanting her to understand.
She took a deep breath, as if summoning her strength. "Yeah, but I've moved on. I mean, I'm here now, aren't I?"
"Still, it doesn't change what happened," I said, unable to shake the feeling that I owed her something more.
Like the day that have passed, today was somewhat gloomier than any other day.