Apology from a Junior Club Member
Hayashi-san… her worried expression unchanged, stepped in front of me and cast her eyes down.
“Hayashi-san, you have something to say, right?”
Ichijo-san nudged her gently, and she nodded. She must have helped Ichijo-san retrieve my manuscript. Loosening the tense expression I wore earlier, I decided to treat her like a friend.
Seeing my relaxed demeanor, she seemed a little relieved. Then, in a voice trembling as if she were about to cry, she began to speak.
“I’m sorry, Aono-senpai!”
She bowed deeply—so forcefully I worried her forehead might hit the ground. She remained in that position.
“You were always so kind to me during club activities, Senpai. But I was too afraid to trust you, swept up by everyone else. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect your precious manuscript like Ichijo-san did. I should’ve helped you… I’m so sorry I didn’t.”
Though her face wasn’t clear from this angle, I could see tears streaming down her cheeks.
The droplets fell onto the concrete, creating fleeting, dark spots.
“I’m the worst. I knew you’d never do the things those rumors said, but I was too scared to stand alone against the group.”
Her shaking voice and trembling form were painful to witness.
She hadn’t directly attacked me, unlike the manager. When I checked SNS earlier, I noticed she was the only member of the Literature Club who hadn’t blocked me.
She wasn’t the one who needed to apologize. I wished those who had truly hurt me would show the same sincerity she did. Though, even if they did apologize, forgiving them wouldn’t come easily.
For now, I simply wanted to hear what she had to say.
“Raise your head, Hayashi-san. You didn’t do anything to me directly. Besides, you helped Ichijo-san get my manuscript back.”
“But…”
Reality is cruel. Those who are honest often suffer the most, while the dishonest live carefree lives.
Judging from her personality, even if I forgave her, she wouldn’t forgive herself. She’d carry this pain for a long time, though she was never the main culprit—merely caught up in it all. So, I decided to speak clearly.
“You’ve apologized properly, Hayashi-san. That means a lot to me. Aside from Ichijo-san, my friend Satoshi, my parents, and my teachers, you’re the first person to show you believe in me. Knowing that so many people support me is enough to make me happy. So please, forgive yourself.”
At my words, her tears began to flow again. Panicking, Ichijo-san quickly wrapped her arms around her, steadying her. Truly, she’s so kind—the idol of our school.
“It’s okay, Hayashi-san. Your sincerity has reached Senpai,” Ichijo-san reassured her. “I’m his best friend, so trust me on this.”
She gently patted Hayashi-san’s head and held her trembling form tenderly. She looked like a holy mother. The scene was so beautiful.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Through her sobs, she apologized repeatedly.
Once Hayashi-san finally stopped crying, we said our goodbyes and headed home together.
By the third day, people no longer gave us strange looks. It’s unsettling how quickly people adapt.
“I think Hayashi-san wants to quit the Literature Club.”
“Huh? I see…”
Hearing this, I felt somewhat relieved. Staying in that club would’ve been dangerous for her.
“Thank you for everything. Why are you being so kind?”
I really owed Ichijo-san a debt of gratitude.
“That goes for you too. That day on the rooftop, you risked your life to save someone—a junior you barely knew. You got soaked in the process. Anyone trying to stop someone in a moment like that could’ve fallen themselves.”
“It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
“Still, it’s something most people wouldn’t do. I was desperate then, but now I’m truly grateful to be alive. And it’s all because of you.”
“You’re even helping… Hayashi-san and me?”
To be honest, I’d received so much kindness from her, more than I deserved. It felt like I’d spend the rest of my life repaying her.
“I know you’ve lost a lot because of this incident. It’s not my place to say this, but not everything is gone. There are people like Hayashi-san who still believe in you. I just wanted Senpai to remember that.”
She smiled shyly, her expression radiant. The sight of her against the setting sun was so beautiful I couldn’t look directly at her.
“But the best thing about this whole ordeal is that I met you, Ichijo-san.”
Blushing slightly, I spoke my thoughts aloud. She mumbled back, flustered,
“That’s not fair, Senpai…baka.”
Seeing her embarrassment made me feel genuinely happy.
Miyuki’s PoV
What should I do? What should I do? My mother found out about my arrest. I hate this. I hate it so much!
What could I even tell her? Not just about Eiji—I’d betrayed my own mother.
As I sat trembling, pale-faced, the moment of judgment arrived.
“Amada-san, your mother is here,” a policeman called softly.
When the door opened, her expression was blank as she looked at me.
“…”
I’ll never forget that face. This is divine punishment.
“Miyuki? Why are you here? I’ve been searching desperately since yesterday. I even took the day off work. Why aren’t you with Eiji-kun? Who’s the boy you were arrested with? What kind of relationship do you have with him?”
Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotion I’d ever heard from her before.
“I… uh…”
I was on the verge of tears. Even as I tried to speak, my voice…
“I… I went to Aono-san’s house last night, you know?!”
But Mom cut me off with words filled with despair.