Chapter 4 Even the Sun Sets

Even the Sun Sets

Irara and Nakano locked eyes in the hallway.

Everyone knew about their breakup, and a tense silence filled the space.

But I was the only one who knew the truth—

The real reason they broke up was Nakano’s “cheating”.

“Oh, long time no see, Yuya.”

“It’s been a while, Akari. How have you been?”

“I-I’m fine, totally fine! Wait, it hasn’t even been that long since we last saw each other!”

“Haha, you’re right about that.”

The awkwardness in their conversation was something unimaginable just a short while ago.

It was clear that they had really broken up.

“…”

“…”

Silence hung in the air.

Everyone around them seemed to pick up on the mood and fell silent, while Irara hastily spoke up to break it.

“S-So! Have you been okay recently? You haven’t forgotten your textbooks or anything, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve been fine. You scolded me enough to drill it into my head.”

“Huh? I yelled at you ‘that’ much?!”

“It was more like you lectured me.”

“Oh, I see… Well, that’s your fault for forgetting your textbook, isn’t it?”

When Irara said that, Nakano laughed softly.

“Yuya?”

“I was just thinking I’m glad to see you’re doing okay, Akari. I was a little worried about you.”

“…!”

…What the hell.

Why does he get to act like he cares about her?

“If anything ever happens, you can always talk to me, okay? I’m not your boyfriend anymore, but I’m still your childhood friend.”

“…Yeah. Ehehe, thanks.”

Irara smiled faintly.

Satisfied, Nakano nodded and walked past her with his group of friends.

“So, you two are still pretty close, huh.”

“Looks like you two had a clean breakup~!”

“Yuya, you’re such a good guy!”

“Haha, no, it’s nothing like that.”

Their voices faded as they walked off.

Irara stood in place for a moment before turning on her heel and heading back the way she came.

—And that’s when it happened.

She met my gaze as I stood there, frozen.

“…Ahaha.”

Irara looked at me and let out a weak laugh before quickly walking away.

Her expression in that brief moment stuck in my mind and wouldn’t leave.

“…‘Doing okay,’ my a🬀s. That was such a lie.”

The words I muttered to myself were swallowed up by the hallway’s noise.

Lunch break.

I made my way toward the far end of the school building, trying to escape the noise.

I still ate lunch, of course, but sitting in the classroom just made everyone uncomfortable.

Not to mention, seats in the classroom were always a battle for space, yet no one ever sat near me. It was as if I occupied way too much room.

I’m like one of those monster cards in a trading game that costs a ridiculous amount to play.

Okay, that’s a bad analogy.

Anyway, to avoid feeling miserable, I always went to my secret spot where no one else was around.

It was a staircase next to the secondary bike parking area, the furthest point from the classrooms.

“…Huh?”

But today, I saw someone sitting there.

I thought this place was unknown to everyone else… I guess it can’t be helped. Today, I’ll go to my backup spot—

“…Irara?”

“…Ah, Kyogoku-kun.”

Why the hell am I talking to her again?

If anything, me speaking to her probably just annoys her…

I should leave right now.

That’s what I thought, but—

“…Huh.”

I noticed it.

A faint glimmer of tears at the corner of Irara’s eyes.

“Ah! T-This isn’t what it looks like! Um, it’s just… Oh, right! We had Modern Japanese Literature class earlier, right? That passage was just so moving that I got emotional…!!!”

“The topic was about AI development, wasn’t it…?”

“I-I just have a really sensitive soul, y-you know?!”

There’s a limit to being sensitive.

As I stared at her, Irara eventually gave up and looked down.

“…Well, you already know, Kyogoku-kun, so there’s no point hiding it. You saw me crying the other day, too.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine, really! Besides… I can’t exactly talk to anyone else about this.”

Irara’s expression darkened.

Watching her like that, a mix of emotions stirred inside me.

“I kept telling myself I’d do my best, but… it’s harder than I thought. Haha…”

Irara let out a hollow laugh.

But that faint smile quickly vanished.

Irara wasn’t at fault. She really wasn’t…

“You’re amazing, Irara.”

“…Huh?”

The words slipped out before I knew it.

By the time I realized what I said, it was too late. Irara looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

“I mean… You didn’t say anything about Nakano cheating. You’ve been acting cheerful so no one worries about you. That’s not something just anyone can do… Uh, not that hearing this from someone like me makes you feel any better. Sorry, just forget I—”

“…Thank you, Kyogoku-kun.”

“Huh?”

I wasn’t expecting gratitude, so a weird noise escaped my throat.

Irara’s shoulders began trembling.

“Somehow, I feel like crying again. Ehehe, even though I already cried so much.”

Slowly, tears began to fall from her eyes.

“Ah, wait! I didn’t mean to make you cry! Is it… is it my scary face? I know it is. Sorry for talking to you! I’ll leave right now, so just—”

—Gyuu.

Irara grabbed onto the sleeve of my shirt.

“I’m sorry, Kyogoku-kun. Can we… stay like this for just a little while?”

“…Yeah, sure.”

When I answered, Irara pressed her face against my arm.

Her small sobs grew louder, and soon she was crying in earnest.

She’d been putting on a brave face, so now all those pent-up tears were finally coming out.

I stayed silent, looking up at the sky and praying that no one would come here.

The sun shone brilliantly overhead.

But even the sun, eventually, has to set.

That simple truth came back to me only now, after all this time.