Futaba Hinata's POV
I told him…
Ah… I think I'm going to cry…
"I'm sorry, Yukito-kun…"
I walk back home after telling Yukito-kun that I want to break up with him. Once I arrive, I head straight to my room and lock the door. After that, I call her.
"I've done it…" I say.
"Good, that's how it should be, Hinata-chan."
"Don't ever get close to him, please…" I plead with her.
"Don't worry, I'll keep my promise to you. I'll show you what kind of man he is…"
After she ends the call, I put down my phone. Moments later, I hear a notification for a message. Picking up my phone again, I see it's from Yukito-kun.
"Again… and again… and again. I don't think he will forgive me this time…" I say quietly.
I put my phone down and close my eyes.
Aki Yukito's POV
Ah…
"It's cold…"
I'm already on my way home after that fateful moment.
There are things I can't achieve at this age, huh…
Before heading straight home, I stop at a nearby convenience store and buy some ice cream for Yumi. Then, I continue home.
"I'm home…" I announce.
Step-step
"Welcome back, big bro!" Yumi greets me.
"Here's your ice cream…" I say, handing her a plastic bag filled with it.
...
"Big bro? What's wrong…?" Yumi asks.
Of course, she would notice something's off with me…
"Nothing…" I reply, taking off my shoes and heading to my room, but—
"What's wrong…? Yukito-nii?" Yumi grabs my hand, stopping me.
"Let's go to the living room…" I suggest.
After Yumi puts the bag in the fridge, she follows me to the living room, and we sit on the sofa. I tell her about what happened earlier between Hinata and me.
"WHAT?! YOU GUYS BROKE UP?!" Yumi yells as if I told her I dropped out of school.
"Y-yeah…"
"WHY?!"
"I don't know…" I admit.
"Nii-san… why don't you ask her?"
…
"You think I wouldn't ask her that?!"
…
"Sorry…" Yumi says.
…I raised my voice at her. She must be disappointed in me…
I'm a bad big brother.
"I'll talk to Hinata-san," she offers.
"Don't, Yumi. This is between me and her," I say to stop her before she calls Hinata.
"How? How can you do that then? Nii-san, please trust me." Yumi insists.
…
"Alright, I trust you. But do it in your room. I just don't want to think about what happened today…" I say.
"Okay. Lend me your phone, okay?" Yumi says, snatching my phone and running to her room.
"Wh- Yumi, hey!" I call after her, but it's too late.
Futaba Hinata's POV
I lie on my bed, my eyes fixed on the ceiling. My heart aches, and the tears I held back earlier now stream down my face. Suddenly, my phone buzzes again, and I pick it up reluctantly. It's a call from Yumi-chan.
"H-Hinata-san?" Yumi's voice trembles on the other end.
"Yumi-chan… why are you calling me?" I ask, my voice shaky.
"Please, tell me what happened. Why did you break up with my brother?" she pleads.
"It's complicated, Yumi-chan… I can't explain it," I reply, my voice breaking.
"Hinata-san, whatever it is, we can work it out. Nii-san is hurting… and I can tell you are too," she says softly.
I'm silent, unsure of how to respond.
"Please, can we meet? I want to understand," Yumi continues.
"Yumi-chan… I don't know if that's a good idea…"
"Hinata-san, if you care about him even a little, please give me a chance to talk to you," she implores.
Her words hit me hard. I care about Yukito-kun more than anything, but I'm scared of what might happen if I get too close again.
"Alright, Yumi-chan. Let's meet tomorrow," I finally agree, my heart heavy with uncertainty.
As I end the call, I clutch my phone tightly, wondering if I've made the right decision.
Aki Yukito's POV
I sit on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the floor. Yumi took my phone, and now I'm left alone with my thoughts. The weight of Hinata's words presses heavily on my chest, and I can't shake the feeling that there's something more to this than she's letting on.
Why, Hinata…?
My mind drifts back to all the moments we shared—the laughter, the quiet times, the promises we made. It doesn't make sense. I lie back on my bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling a deep sense of loss.
The sound of footsteps approaches, and moments later, Yumi peeks her head into my room.
"Nii-san…" she starts hesitantly.
"Did you talk to her?" I ask, sitting up.
"She agreed to meet me tomorrow," Yumi replies.
I nod, a glimmer of hope sparking within me. "Thank you, Yumi."
She sits down beside me, her eyes filled with concern. "Nii-san, I think there's more going on. I could hear it in her voice. She's hurting too."
"I know," I say quietly. "But if she won't tell me why, how can I fix this?"
"We'll figure it out. Together," Yumi assures me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.
Futaba Hinata's POV
The next day arrives faster than I expected. I spend the morning pacing my room, my heart heavy but resolute. The meeting with Yumi-chan looms ahead, and I know what I need to say.
When I arrive at the café, I spot Yumi sitting at a corner table, her face lighting up when she sees me.
"Hinata-san!" she calls out, waving me over.
I take a deep breath and walk over, forcing a small smile. As I sit down, the weight of my decision settles in my chest, but I remain steadfast.
"Thank you for coming," Yumi says sincerely. "I know this must be hard for you."
I nod slightly, my voice steady. "It is, but I've made my decision."
"Hinata-san, can you tell me why you broke up with Nii-san? I know it's not because you don't care about him," Yumi asks gently, her concern evident.
I look away briefly before meeting her gaze. "Yumi-chan, I had my reasons. I don't want to hurt him anymore, and I believe this is for the best."
Yumi's eyes widen with confusion. "But why? Was it something he did? Someone told you something, didn't they? You can't just walk away without explaining…"
"It's not something I can explain easily," I say firmly. "An old friend warned me about staying with Yukito-kun. She made me see things from a different perspective, and I realized that maybe I'm not the right person for him."
"But Nii-san loves you, Hinata-san. You can't let someone else's words ruin what you have!" Yumi pleads, leaning forward.
I shake my head. "I've made up my mind, Yumi-chan. I believe this is the right choice for both of us. I don't want to reconcile or reopen this chapter. It's over."
Yumi's face falls, her eyes filled with sadness. "But you still care about him, don't you?"
I take a deep breath, my hands trembling slightly. "I do, but sometimes caring means letting go. I won't let anyone change my mind, not even you, Yumi-chan."
Yumi looks down, her voice soft. "I just… I don't want to see Nii-san hurt."
"I understand," I say, my voice calm but resolute. "But please, respect my decision. This is something I need to do."
Yumi nods reluctantly, her expression a mixture of disappointment and understanding. "I won't interfere, Hinata-san. But if you ever change your mind, I'm here for both of you."
"Thank you, Yumi-chan," I say, offering a faint smile. "But I won't change my mind."
As I leave the café, my heart feels heavy, I lie to Yumi-chan…
I made everyone around me hurt…