CH 2

Vol. 1 Chapter 2: Reunion

“Haru… kun?”

“Are you… Usami?”

As I was about to end it all, an old childhood friend appeared in front of me. Her name was Kyou Usami, and we used to play together.

She first moved into my neighborhood back when I was five. At first, she was extremely quiet, but after insisting on playing with her a for while, she gradually opened up. By the time we entered elementary school, we were best friends.

However, we were separated due to family reasons in the second grade of elementary school. I hadn’t seen her since.

My best friend from the past was standing there, right in front of me. It’s been eight years since we last saw each other.

Her previously short hair had grown beautiful, long strands that reached her waist, and all were adjourned by her glistening black hair. She used to be very tomboyish back then, but now she was pretty as a doll.

“H–Hi Usami. Long time no see…”

“Y–Yeah. Long time no see…”

“…”

Silence soon took over, only to be interrupted by the sound of rubber on asphalt below, the ringing of a speeding car.

“Haru-kun… Call me Usa-chan like in the old days, okay?”

“W–We’ve been apart for a long time, so I’m not used to it…”

“…”

Once again, silence befell us.

“W–Well, see you later, Usami. I’ve got some urgent business to attend to, so…”

“O–Okay…”

I tried to end the conversation quickly, forcing an excuse. Just as I think she’s leaving, Usami stops beside me and peers into my eyes.

“Haru, you don’t look well. What’s wrong?”

Her words made me nervous, and I tried my best to excuse myself from that situation, hoping she wouldn’t understand what I was trying to do.

“A–Ah, I have some very important things to do, so that’s why I’m in a hurry.”

“You’re lying! You say you’re in a hurry, but you’re not moving at all. Something’s fishy, Haru.”

Usami’s sound argument shakes me, my heart ramping up with anxiety.

“T–That’s none of your business! Just leave me alone already, okay?!”

“Haru-kun…”

My rational thinking no longer could control the words coming out of my mouth, which starts moving on its own.

“It’s been sooo long since we’ve seen each other, and yet you’re poking your nose in my business! You’re annoying me! Of course, you’d betray me too anyway! So just leave me alone already—!”

“—!”

Oh, I said it…

What did I just tell a childhood friend I haven’t seen in so long? No! No! No! No! No! No! I hate this, I hate myself!

I can’t wait to just disappear…

Usami then digests my words, backs up a little, and slowly walks past me… Finally, it’s over. After she’s gone, I’ll jump off the bridge and that’s it.

Suddenly, her footsteps fell silent, and a tender warmth spreads across my back. I didn’t understand what was happening, but soon it clicked. She was hugging me from behind.

“I won’t betray you, even if you’re hated by everyone in Japan, even if you’re considered an enemy by every single person walking on this earth. I’ll believe in you until the very end.”

As her words reach me, I feel tears welling up in my eyes.

“Haru, you’ve saved me. I believe in you.”

I cried uncontrollably, droplets of water streaming down my face as I crashed down. No one believed my words, no one would listen to my side of the story.

Hopelessness, disappointment, regret. All my breaking heart longed for was to be believed in. I just wanted someone, anyone to tell me “I believe in you.”

I don’t remember much after I broke down. I was crying, and I think I started laughing in sadness.

After all my tears dried up, Usami and I walked to a vacant lot near my house, a place we used to play in a lot back when we were little.

We sat together on a bench just amidst the clearing. She just stayed snugly beside me until I opened my mouth, and she heard every word I said.

“I… I don’t know what to do…”

The sun was setting, and the blue hue of dusk took over the flaming orange of an ending day. My mouth was dry from all the talking.

“Haru-kun… Would you like to come to my house?”

“Eh?”

I raised my voice dumbly at her suggestion, but my confusion was met by a warm smile.

“If you don’t have anywhere to go, why don’t you come to my house? We have a lot of guest rooms unused, so one more person wouldn’t be a problem, okay?”

“B–But I have my own house, and my mother…”

“I’ll convince your mom for you… Besides, I’m actually rich. It’s no biggie supporting you alone, Haru-kun. Hey! What do you think?”

I was definitely crazy back then. Was it my broken mental state? Or was it her strong perseverance? Maybe both, even.

“… Let’s get along with each other.”

I accepted her proposal.