"Alright, everyone, back to your seats. Class is starting."
As the bell rang, Hiratsuka Shizuka, as always, walked into the classroom wearing a white lab coat over her suit vest, holding her teaching materials.
Hayama Haruto stood up from his seat and asked, "Hiratsuka-sensei, why isn't Ooka here today?"
"He took the day off," Hiratsuka Shizuka waved her hand dismissively. "Aren't you friends? Go ask him yourself."
Hayama Haruto forced a smile. Of course, he had already messaged Ooka, but he hadn't gotten a reply—his messages were still unread.
What happened yesterday had been troubling, and now Ooka was unreachable. It made him worried.
If Ooka had been deeply affected by what happened yesterday and done something impulsive... Hayama Haruto would feel guilty about it for the rest of his life.
While Hiratsuka Shizuka energetically lectured at the front, Hayama Haruto couldn't focus on the lesson. His mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts, and the anxiety was clear on his face.
And Hikigaya Hachiman noticed that anxiety.
"Regret it?"
After class, Hikigaya Hachiman, who usually just sat at his desk staring at his phone or sleeping, rarely interacting with others, unusually approached Hayama and spoke to him.
Noticing that the rest of the class was watching them with confused looks, Hayama Haruto smiled at them before turning to Hikigaya Hachiman and saying, "Let's talk outside."
The two of them left the classroom one after the other. Most of the class didn't pay much attention, since it was Hayama, the school's well-known sunny and caring guy. It was natural for him to look out for those less popular in class.
Except for Yuigahama Yui and Miura Yumiko, there was one girl who started imagining things about their relationship, excitedly whispering to her friends while bleeding from her nose. Her two friends rushed to help her stop the bleeding.
Outside the classroom, Hayama Haruto and Hikigaya Hachiman stood in the hallway. Hayama leaned against the window, with sunlight streaming in, casting light on one part of the room while leaving another in shadow.
Hayama stood in the sunlight, Hikigaya in the shadow—each in what seemed like two different worlds.
Hayama turned around, leaning against the wall, and gave Hikigaya a wry smile. "I don't regret it... but you wouldn't believe me even if I said that, would you?"
"True."
Hikigaya Hachiman nodded.
"If I hadn't asked the Service Club to handle this matter, what would have happened? Is there a better way to solve this? My mind keeps running through these thoughts..."
Hayama Haruto lowered his eyes. "I know Ooka isn't that fragile, but what if? What if he really did something in a moment of impulse that led to irreversible consequences? I don't think I could ever sleep well again."
"If something happens, I'll take responsibility."
Hayama Haruto said.
"Good. If you were about to say something like 'If Yukinoshita hadn't said those things, none of this would have happened,' I'd punch you right in the face."
Hikigaya Hachiman swung his fist in the air.
"...What kind of person do you think I am?"
Hayama Haruto smiled helplessly.
"A hypocrite who likes to play the friend game?"
Hikigaya Hachiman said bluntly, completely unconcerned with how it might affect him.
"That's a harsh way to put it."
Hayama Haruto smiled slightly, as if he had expected Hikigaya's words, his face unchanged as he continued seriously, "But I don't think it's a fake thing, and it's not some 'friend game' like you call it."
He finished speaking and lifted his leg, preparing to leave.
After his conversation with Hikigaya Hachiman, Hayama Hayato completely dismissed the idea of going back to the Service Club for help. He decided to rely on his own strength to rebuild the broken friendship between Ooka and them.
As he brushed past Hikigaya Hachiman, Hayama Hayato's voice came from behind, "Hikigaya, I probably can't be your friend."
"Same here."
Hikigaya Hachiman's voice also reached Hayama Hayato's ears.
He continued walking without stopping, and soon the sounds of him greeting his friends filled the classroom.
Hikigaya Hachiman, hands in his pockets, walked through the sunlight, heading alone towards the vending machines downstairs.
...
...
Hayama was indeed putting effort into maintaining the friendship within their small group.
First, he convinced Tobe and Yamato, hoping they would forgive Ooka for his actions.
"Tch, I'm still not happy about it, but since Hayato said so, if that guy apologizes, I guess we can forgive him."
Tobe said.
"Same here."
Yamato nodded in agreement.
After convincing his two friends, Hayama Hayato went to Hiratsuka Shizuka's office to ask for Ooka's home address.
"By the way, weren't you guys close? How come you don't even know his home address? You never visited his home?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka, with a half-smoked cigarette in her mouth, wrote down Ooka's address on a scrap of paper and handed it to him.
"Ha ha..."
Hayama Hayato could only offer an awkward smile in response to Hiratsuka Shizuka's question. He reached for the paper. "Thanks, Hiratsuka-sensei. This really helps a lot."
"Ugh..."
A thin cloud of smoke escaped from Hiratsuka Shizuka's mouth and drifted into her nose. She tapped the cigarette lightly against the almost full ashtray.
"What's going on?"
She asked.
Hayama Hayato hesitated for a moment, then quickly smiled and shook his head. "It's nothing, Hiratsuka-sensei. I'll be going now."
"I thought you were the type of kid who'd make things easier for me. Go on, go on."
Hiratsuka Shizuka watched him for a while, then, slightly annoyed, pinched the space between her eyebrows and waved her hand to signal that he could leave.
"Students nowadays are more troublesome than the last..."
As Hayama left the office, he could still hear her muttering behind him.
With a slight hint of gloom, Hayama Hayato left the office.
After school, he took some time off from the soccer club and followed the address Hiratsuka-sensei gave him to find Ooka's home—a typical detached house in Japan.
He rang the doorbell, waited two minutes, and then the door opened. Ooka appeared in front of him, dressed in a black shirt and pants.
He looked in poor condition, with his chestnut-colored hair disheveled, heavy dark circles under his eyes, and bloodshot eyes.
"Ooka, listen to me..."
Before Hayama Hayato's smile could fully spread, the door slammed shut with a loud bang.
"Go back."
Hayama Hayato's smile instantly froze on his face.
...
...
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