After dinner… well, not exactly dinner—just a cup of ramen—I came to my room and slammed my head into the pillow. I was exhausted from traveling all day. And tomorrow? My first day at college. But the most surprising thing of all? Akari, my childhood crush, is my roommate. The same girl I fell for years ago.
7 Years Ago
Kazuma and Akari were in their final year of elementary school. As always, Akari was the top student, while Kazuma was the shortest kid in the whole class—but more mature than most of the students. Still, he wasn't a good student himself. But back then, Kazuma had a huge crush on Akari.
He used to imagine her all the time. Watch her all the time.
Kazuma was sitting at the back bench, in between his two friends, staring at Akari, who sat at the front. He wasn't staring like a creep—more like he was watching a movie. Okay, maybe that was kinda creepy.
One of his friends, sitting to his right, noticed him looking and then glanced at Akari before speaking.
— "Staring at Akari again? Come on, man. She's way out of your league."
The friend on his left chimed in.
— "Why don't you just tell her about your feelings, man?"
— "I think our Kazu is just scared of getting rejected," the friend on the right added.
— "You know how badly she'd reject him? Practically everyone in the school has a crush on her," the friend on the left said.
— "I heard she rejected a first-year middle schooler last month."
— "Even a senior couldn't get her. I don't think you have a chance, Kazu."
I stopped staring at Akari and looked at both of them before saying:
— "Scared of rejection, you guys say? You know, I could just tell her about it, and she'd gladly accept me."
— "No, she won't." Both of them replied instantly.
— "Well, of course not, but that's not the main problem. I'm just afraid she'll distance herself from me. She talks to me somewhat, but if I confess, she might stop altogether… I'm just afraid of losing."
— "Losing what? You don't have anything with her. If she rejects you, that means she doesn't want you. It's clear. Then you'll just move on," the friend on the right said.
— "But I love her. I don't want to move on."
— "Man, you've got money. You could get girls easily."
— "I don't want girls who fall for my money. I want someone who loves me for me. And Akari… she doesn't care about money. That's why I want her to love me."
Kazuma's eyes drifted to Akari, sitting at the front, laughing and chatting with her friends.
— "You're too innocent, Kazu. But from the way you talk, it's obvious you like her way too much. So here's my advice, Kazu—buy the cake before someone else orders it."
— "Why should I buy a cake?" I asked, confused.
— "See? You're too damn innocent." He laughed while saying it.
— "How are Akari and cake related?"
— "Oh, man… stop. You're making me laugh."
— "You stop laughing, or I'll punch your face."
Back to the Present
— "Now I get what they were trying to say that day… but I still don't know if the cake is ordered or not. Or maybe it's already eaten." I shook my head. "Okay, now I'm thinking way too far. But man, those memories were good."
I muttered to myself again.
From the other room, Akari shouted.
— "Why are you talking so loudly? Who the hell are you talking to this late?"
Shit. I really need to fix this habit of talking to myself.
— "My bad!" I called back.
— "Can't you just sleep, you idiot?"
— "I'm trying to."
— "Do whatever you want. It's not like I care about you. Just don't annoy me."
Ugh. She's so annoying. She's nothing like the girl I fell for… nothing.
8 Years Ago
Back in second grade, during lunchtime, Kazuma was sitting alone, staring out the window, when Akari suddenly walked up to him.
— "Oh, hey Akari… what's up?"
— "Nothing. Just wanted to ask… did you do the math homework?"
I blinked at her, wide-eyed.
— "We had math today? Oh no, I'm screwed!"
She giggled.
— "You don't wanna get punished again, do you?"
I shuddered, remembering the punishment from last week's math class.
— "I never wanna go through that again."
— "Then copy mine. We still have forty minutes before class."
— "That'd help a lot… but what do you want in return?"
— "Haha, you got me! Nothing much, just the new chocolate cake from the cafeteria."
— "How much is it?"
— "Fifty yen, I guess."
— "Alright, let's go."
But when we got there…
— "Huh?! It's a hundred yen now?" Akari frowned.
— "Well, you said it was popular. Makes sense for a price hike."
— "Whatever. You can still copy my homework. And don't worry about the cake—you can get me one another day. It's not like the world is ending tomorrow."
— "Did I say I wasn't buying it?" I raised an eyebrow.
— "Wait, no! I don't want you to waste your money on me—"
— "I don't mind. I promised, and I don't break promises."
— "If you say so…"
I bought the cake and handed it to her.
— "Try it."
She took a bite, then smiled at me.
— "It's delicious."
That was the moment I fell for Akari. A girl with no greed. So sweet. So cute.
Back to the Present
— "That was the Akari I loved… not this one. She's way too rude. What could have changed her so much?"
Oh shit, I'm talking to myself again. But it looks like she's already asleep.I may as well go to sleep it's already 12am..
Just as I was about to go to bed, I heard the door to Akari's room creak open.
What's she doing up this late? Should I check? My heart says yes.
I went outside the my room and I saw Akari casually standing at the kitchen staring at something...
And that was the night I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life