The faint hum of cicadas buzzed through the summer air, a soothing background to the otherwise typical morning at Hanegawa High. The school gates, adorned with ivy crawling along its aged metal, were bustling with students exchanging greetings and gossip. It was the start of a new semester, one brimming with opportunities—or so Kazuki Hinata told himself.
Kazuki walked through the gates with a practiced calm, his expression neutral as his mind wandered. Tall and lean, with jet-black hair slightly unkempt, he looked like any other ordinary student. But today, his heart was heavier than usual.
For years, Kazuki had cherished his quiet high school life. He wasn't particularly outgoing or popular, but he wasn't an outcast either. He had a small circle of friends, and most importantly, he had her. Aoi Minami, his childhood friend, had been his constant companion since they were six.
Aoi was the kind of girl who turned heads effortlessly. Her chestnut-brown hair was always tied in a neat ponytail, and her smile had a way of warming even the coldest of hearts. She was bubbly, kind, and universally adored by their classmates. To Kazuki, she was more than a friend—she was his everything.
It was unspoken but clear to those who knew them: Kazuki and Aoi had something special. They walked to school together every day, shared lunches, and stayed up late chatting about everything and nothing. Though they had yet to label their relationship, Kazuki had been building up the courage to confess his feelings.
Today was supposed to be that day.
"Kazuki!" A familiar voice called out from behind, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He turned, and there she was. Aoi, with her usual energetic stride, caught up to him. Her bag swung loosely in her hand, and her face was lit with excitement.
"Good morning!" she said brightly.
"Morning," Kazuki replied, trying to keep his voice steady. His heart raced as he glanced at her.
"Did you hear about the festival this weekend?" Aoi asked, falling into step beside him. "They're going to have fireworks this year! You're coming, right?"
Kazuki hesitated. It felt like the perfect opportunity to confess, but he didn't want to rush things. "Yeah, of course," he said, masking his nervousness with a small smile.
As they walked to class, Kazuki felt a glimmer of hope. He imagined the two of them standing under the fireworks, her face glowing in the colorful light, and finally telling her how he felt.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
Lunchtime was always noisy in Class 2-B. The desks were pushed together into small groups, and the chatter filled the room like a symphony of teenage life. Kazuki usually sat with Aoi and a few other friends, but today, something felt off.
Aoi was sitting with someone else.
Ryota Takashi.
Kazuki's stomach tightened at the sight. Ryota was the captain of the basketball team, tall and charismatic with an easygoing charm that made him the center of attention. While Kazuki had always respected him from a distance, he couldn't shake the discomfort creeping into his chest.
Aoi's laughter rang out, clear and unrestrained, as she leaned slightly toward Ryota. The two seemed engrossed in their conversation, oblivious to the world around them.
Kazuki tried to focus on his lunch, but the knot in his chest only tightened. He told himself it was nothing. Aoi was friendly with everyone, after all. There was no reason to overthink it.
But as the days passed, the distance between them grew.
By the time the festival arrived, Kazuki's unease had turned into suspicion. Aoi had been spending more and more time with Ryota. She still smiled at Kazuki, still greeted him warmly, but there was a hesitance in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
Kazuki stood at the festival's entrance, waiting for Aoi. The colorful lights and laughter around him felt distant, drowned out by the pounding of his heart.
Minutes turned into an hour, and still, she didn't show.
He checked his phone repeatedly, but there were no messages. Finally, unable to shake the gnawing feeling in his gut, he decided to look for her.
The festival grounds were crowded, but Kazuki moved through them with purpose. His search led him to the quieter part of the festival, where couples often sought privacy. And that's when he saw them.
Aoi and Ryota, sitting close on a secluded bench, their faces lit by the soft glow of paper lanterns.
Kazuki froze.
He couldn't hear their conversation, but he didn't need to. The way Aoi looked at Ryota, the way she smiled and leaned toward him—it was a look she had never given Kazuki.
And then it happened.
Ryota leaned in, and Aoi didn't pull away. Their lips met, and Kazuki's world shattered.
That night, Kazuki lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind replayed the scene over and over, each time more painful than the last. He felt a storm of emotions—betrayal, anger, sadness, and something darker he couldn't quite name.
He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. The pain grounded him, gave him focus.
Aoi had been his everything. She had been his light, his anchor. And now, she was gone.
But Kazuki wasn't the type to wallow in despair. If Aoi had chosen Ryota, then so be it. But he wouldn't let her forget what they had.
And he wouldn't let Ryota get away with it.
Kazuki's lips curled into a cold, determined smile.
Revenge wasn't something he had ever considered before. But now, it was all he could think about.
This wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.