Chapter 36 Shinomiya Saya's Past (3)

Shinomiya Saya’s Past (3)

There was a student council meeting that day.

However, Hagiwara-kun never made contact with me, and I only felt his gaze on me occasionally.

I thought that perhaps my relationship with Hagiwara-kun would gradually fade away without incident and that my fears would disappear.

I was a little sad, but my safety was more important.

After the student council meeting ended, I quickly got up from my seat and grabbed my bag to leave when Hagiwara-kun suddenly approached me. …

“Shinomiya-san, wait a minute…”

“Yes? What?”

“I’d like to talk to you. Just a minute.”

Hagiwara-kun scratched his cheeks and looked a little embarrassed.

I’m not insensitive to such things, and I’m also a middle school student. So, I realized that if I wasn’t so self-conscious, maybe it would be a confession.

I had some free time after this, but what was on my mind was, of course, that woman, Amane Kazusa, and the events that would follow.

After a few seconds of silence, I …

“I have to do something after this. Sorry.”

“Eh, wait, wait a minute…”

Shaking off Hagiwara-kun’s protests, I ran out of the classroom, put on my shoes, and ran home.

As soon as I opened the door to my room, I threw myself onto my bed in my school uniform and buried my face in the pillow.

I didn’t want to think about anything. I didn’t want to know anything. I didn’t want to see what was coming.

I was miserable.

It was painful.

I wanted to escape.

But I don’t want to bother my friends. I don’t want to think about it too much, but I don’t want to talk to my friends about it either, I’m still hesitant to say it, I’m afraid that woman will find out.

“What should I do? …”

If I accepted Hagiwara-kun’s confession, I didn’t know what Amane Kazusa would do to me, and if I refused. …

After that, even though I managed to get through the next few days, there were times when I felt the staring eyes of Amane Kazusa and her friends, and I heard a little voice say, “You know what I mean, don’t you, Shinomiya-san?”

That’s when my impatience reached its peak.

And then, as I was changing into my shoes at the shoebox, Hagiwara-kun appeared in front of me.

“Shinomiya-san…”

“What?”

“That… I thought it might be sudden and embarrassing, but there’s something I’ve always wanted to say.”

His words were like a merciless death sentence.

Please, I beg you. I don’t want you to say anything. Please don’t say that, I beg you. But the reality is really cruel to me…

“I’ve been in love with Shinomiya-san ever since we were in the student council together. Will you go out with me?”

Those words should’ve made me happy.

But now, even this sunset sky made me hate them.

I don’t know how to answer. I knew it was going to be bad no matter how it turned out.

“… I’m sorry. I’m not thinking about going out with you.”

“I see, I see. I’m sorry too. I had a hunch about what was going on. Lately, I thought you were avoiding me. But I thought it was better to tell you than not to tell you. Thank you for answering me.”

Ahh… his fresh smile is probably the most hateful thing I’ve ever seen.

“I’m sorry too.”

I ran away again.

Surely someone would’ve seen this confession.

Maybe by tomorrow it’ll have spread and reached her ears. Or maybe she saw our conversation somewhere. …

He said it was better to say it than not to say it. I’ve been bitter all this time. How selfish.

If I had known this would happen, if I had known that he liked me. I wanted him to leave me alone. I wanted him to stay away. I wouldn’t have wanted him to confess.

… Even though …

I know it wasn’t Hagiwara-kun’s fault. It’s all that evil b🬀🬀ch’s fault. If it weren’t for her, I might’ve gotten along with Hagiwara-kun. …

I went home and threw myself back into bed.

I wrapped myself in blankets to block out all information and closed my eyes.

There was no way I could sleep, but I continued to meditate and somehow let go of my consciousness…