As our conversation continued, I ended up pulling her to the benches near the entrance. I knew I was running out of ti but… I just couldn't leave her.
I did think I liked her before and perhaps I still do today. Otherwise, I wouldn't easily recognize her after four years.
In any case, as our conversation progressed, it was easy to notice that she already moved on from what happened to us.
Well, there's just that thing. She couldn't hold prolonged eye contact with .
Her na is Shigeno Hifumi. When we graduated from grade school, she's the most outstanding student. It's as expected. Even if I sohow corrupted her to the point that there were tis when we would be skipping a class, she remained the one on top.
When I cut her off the sa way I did with Chii, this girl didn't have that strong of a reaction but she was certainly dejected and saddened.
At that ti, she ran excitedly to co and et instead of her 'supposed boyfriend'. Perhaps hoping I would also congratulate her for the honor she got. Instead of doing that, I heartlessly cut her off before leaving her all alone and never looked back
After that day, I never heard from her again. Until today.
"Oh. Look at the ti. You will be late, Ruki. Un. You can go now. This ti, for real. Straighten your face, that's so not like you, you know? I still rember that cold-faced Ruki and comparing you to that one in my mory, that's too drastic a change. But hey, even though that one made a mark on , I'm liking how you are this ti. You now exuded that warmth openly."
After blurting all that out without letting interject at all, Hifumi bead a smile before turning around, quickly exiting the station.
Even if I thought of chasing after her to at least say goodbye, she already disappeared among the crowd.
In the end, I had no choice but to continue on my way.
When I boarded the train and found a seat for , I began contemplating her words.
There's no indication of her hate for . She had really moved on from what I did.
I guess I should just stop thinking about how I could make it right or that might just turn worse.
Although I probably didn't hurt her like how I hurt those I stole during middle school… eting her this ti was probably a sign for to stop thinking about and stop unconsciously looking for those who didn't chase after .
Right. I was unconsciously thinking about them. That at any ti, there's always the possibility of running into them.
Perhaps that's also the reason why I instantly rembered Hifumi. Unlike Chii, there's no drastic change in her. Perhaps except how she was even more diligent with her studies. For sure, she would top the midterms and final exams for this sester. That's good for her then.
As long as she's fine then there's no reason for to ddle with her life again.
I had my girls to think about.
Starting today, I would restrain myself unconsciously thinking about those girls I already let go of.
Well, that's hard of course. How can one restrain one's unconscious action? Either way, that's what I had to do.
Taking out my phone, I stopped thinking about Hifumi and just checked on my girls' ssages.
In this way, the train ride passed and I arrived at school barely in ti before Eguchi-sensei lined up the latecors.
When she saw , one of her eyebrows raised again, intrigued that these past three days, I ca late once and barely on ti twice.
Since she had a job to do, Eguchi-sensei didn't stop but at least, I bowed towards her which returned with a nod.
When I entered the room, I went straight to my seat.
Naturally, I scanned my gaze first and found out that I wasn't the last to arrive.
A few seats behind Nami, Ogawa who should've been there already was absent.
That coward. Is he running late? Or is he not going to show up today?
Looking at the direction of Nami, there's a trace of slight concern in her eyes. And that's even more apparent in Hina's eyes.
Before Shio arrived, I asked the two if sothing's wrong.
Nami instantly replied that Ogawa's not going to school.
Hina then deliberated whether to tell or not what happened but in the end, she chose to tell .
"Ruki, Kazuo. He fell sick today. I checked on him this morning because his sister knocked on our door to ask if we had spare fever dicine."
That's right. Instead of Nami, that guy is a next-door neighbor of Hina.
"I see. He fell sick. Do you think we pushed him to the point that he ended up sick?"
While I sent my reply to Hina, I also inford Nami what I heard from her.
"Maybe. But, it serves him right! Even when I knocked on the door of his room, he was still refusing to et .."
"Don't get worked up too much. Despite what he did, you already expressed your concern to him. That guy, although this might sound like I'm destroying his image, it would be a miracle if he changed. Let's focus on school for today."
I refrained from telling her that she needed to think about her choice first. Well, I didn't need to pressure her. Sooner or later, she would make a decision. In the end, she couldn't be like , she had to make a choice if she wanted to continue chasing after Ogawa or be completely mine.
As we continued our conversation through ssenger, Nami then told that her period had already arrived this morning. As for her concern over Ogawa falling sick… it's not the sa reaction as what Hina showed. In the end, that's the difference between the two girls for now. Hina was still sowhat hung up with her affection for Ogawa while Nami already put that guy down on her priority list.
After a while, Shio entered the room to begin the horoom. Naturally, she scanned her gaze to check if everyone already arrived.
She knew I was about to run late again so after seeing in my site, my adorable Shio slightly curved her kips
None picked that up because of her stern eyes that could probably make another student tremble in fright.
"Eyes front. Class Representative, please."
Doing the daily routine, Kanzaki stood up and headed the opening of the day.
"Rise. Bow. Sit."
After that bow, Shio began her class.
"Hmm. Ogawa-kun's sister called and told the school that he's sick. Those close to Ogawa-kun, do take a note for him."
Shio then turned around and began writing on the board in huge font. Usually, that ans she's announcing sothing.
Everyone waited until she finished to read what's that about.
A few seconds later, she stepped to the side to let us read it before going back to her podium
"As you can see. This Sunday. We will have an extra-curricular activity at the nearby river. It's part of our school's program. This class is assigned to one area to do a clean-up drive. Do mark your calendar and I expect to see all of you. Understand?"
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