The next morning, Yuuto Kisaragi walked into class with a hollow feeling in his chest. The classroom buzzed with the usual morning chatter, students laughing, sharing notes, and making plans for the weekend. But for Yuuto, it all felt distant, like watching a scene from behind glass.
He slumped into his seat by the window, letting his bag drop carelessly to the floor. His eyes wandered to the empty desk where Reina Sugihara usually sat. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if she'd even thought about their conversation the day before. Did she regret her words? Did she care?
"Yo, Yuuto!" Kenta Matsuo's voice pulled him back to reality. Kenta plopped down in the seat beside him, a can of coffee in hand. "How're you holding up?"
Yuuto shrugged, avoiding his friend's gaze. "I'm fine."
"You don't look fine," Kenta said, cracking open the can. "You look like someone ran over your dog."
Yuuto forced a weak laugh. "It's nothing. Really."
Kenta frowned, but he didn't press the issue. He knew Yuuto well enough to understand when to back off. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, glancing around the room.
"Hey, Reina's not here yet," Kenta said. "Maybe she's skipping today."
Yuuto stiffened. He didn't want to talk about Reina. He didn't even want to hear her name.
But fate had other plans.
Moments later, Reina walked into the classroom, her presence as commanding as ever. Her friends flocked to her immediately, their voices rising in cheerful greetings. She smiled at them, her expression warm and radiant—the complete opposite of the coldness she'd shown Yuuto the day before.
Yuuto turned his gaze to the window, trying to block out the sound of her laughter.
"Forget about her," Kenta said quietly, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "She's not worth it, man."
Yuuto didn't respond. He knew Kenta was right, but the ache in his chest wouldn't go away.
---
The day dragged on, each class blending into the next. By lunchtime, Yuuto had all but given up on pretending to pay attention. He excused himself from Kenta and wandered the school hallways, searching for a quiet place to think.
He ended up on the rooftop, a place he rarely visited. The air was crisp, the city skyline stretching out before him. For a brief moment, the weight in his chest felt a little lighter.
But his peace didn't last long.
"Skipping lunch, are we?"
Yuuto turned to see a girl standing by the doorway. She was petite, with short, choppy hair dyed a bright shade of red. Her uniform was slightly disheveled, her tie loose and her sleeves rolled up. She had an air of casual rebellion, like she didn't care what anyone thought of her.
"I didn't feel like eating," Yuuto said, turning back to the skyline.
The girl walked over and leaned against the railing beside him. She pulled out a pack of gum, popping a piece into her mouth before offering him one.
Yuuto shook his head.
"Suit yourself," she said, chewing lazily. "You're Yuuto Kisaragi, right? The guy who confessed to Reina yesterday?"
Yuuto's heart sank. "How do you know about that?"
The girl smirked. "Everyone knows. Word travels fast around here."
Yuuto groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just what I needed."
"Relax," she said. "It's not like you're the first guy she's turned down."
Her words stung, but Yuuto couldn't deny the truth in them.
"Who are you, anyway?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"Rika Aikawa," she said, offering a mock salute. "Third year, class 3-B. Resident troublemaker, according to most teachers."
Yuuto raised an eyebrow. "Why are you here?"
Rika shrugged. "I like rooftops. Good place to think. Plus, it's quieter up here than in the cafeteria."
They stood in silence for a moment, the sound of the wind filling the gap between them.
"So," Rika said, breaking the silence. "What are you gonna do now?"
Yuuto frowned. "What do you mean?"
"About Reina," she said. "You gonna mope around forever, or are you gonna move on?"
Yuuto didn't know how to answer. He didn't want to admit how much Reina's rejection had hurt him.
"I don't know," he said finally.
Rika sighed, crossing her arms. "Look, I don't know you that well, but here's some free advice: don't waste your time on people who don't care about you. It's not worth it."
Yuuto glanced at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
"Don't mention it," Rika said, flashing him a grin. "Anyway, I've got to get back before someone rats me out for skipping class. See you around, Kisaragi."
She turned and walked away, leaving Yuuto alone with his thoughts.
---
Over the next few days, Yuuto found himself thinking about Rika more than he expected. She was nothing like Reina—rough around the edges, outspoken, and unapologetically herself. But there was something refreshing about her blunt honesty.
They ran into each other a few more times on the rooftop, and each time, their conversations grew a little longer, a little more personal. Rika was easy to talk to in a way that Reina never had been.
For the first time in weeks, Yuuto felt like he could breathe again.
But just as he started to believe things might get better, the past came back to haunt him.
---
It happened on a Friday afternoon. Yuuto was packing his bag, getting ready to leave, when Reina approached him.
"Yuuto," she said, her tone soft.
He froze, his heart racing. He hadn't spoken to her since his confession, and he wasn't sure he wanted to now.
"What is it?" he asked, keeping his voice neutral.
"I wanted to apologize," she said, her expression earnest. "For the way I spoke to you the other day. It was rude, and I'm sorry."
Yuuto stared at her, unsure of how to respond. Part of him wanted to believe her, but another part—the part that still ached from her rejection—couldn't trust her words.
"It's fine," he said finally.
Reina hesitated, as if she wanted to say more, but instead, she simply nodded and walked away.
Yuuto watched her go, his emotions a tangled mess.
---
That evening, Yuuto sat on the rooftop again, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He thought about Reina's apology, about Rika's advice, about everything that had happened over the past week.
He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: he couldn't keep living in the shadow of his heartbreak.
For better or worse, it was time to move forward.
And maybe, just maybe, Rika was right.
Maybe love wasn't worth the pain.
Not yet, anyway.