Chapter 60 I'll Be the One to Sacrifice...

I’ll Be the One to Sacrifice…

Nakano Yuya’s Perspective

The regular tests were nearing their final stages.

Finally able to return to school, I stepped through the school gates after a long absence.

Placing my shoes in the locker, I quickly walked down the hallway.

Noticing me, my friends turned around, raising their voices in surprise.

“Oh! It’s Yuya!”

“You’re already out of the hospital? Sorry, I couldn’t visit you!”

“It’s… fine. If you were busy, then it couldn’t be helped.”

Of course, deep down, I wished they had come, even if they were busy.

But naturally, I wouldn’t say that to my friends.

I’m not that selfish.

More importantly…

“Hey, Yuya! That’s not the way to our classroom, you know?”

“Did you forget where it was after being hospitalized for so long?”

“I didn’t forget! I just have something to do. Go on ahead without me!”

After saying that, I swiftly climbed the stairs.

Before I knew it, my emotions pushed me forward, and I started taking the stairs two at a time.

…I have to say it.

That thought consumed me, driving me to rush toward that person.

That’s right—I have to be the one to say it.

I have to put it into words, no matter what…!

This isn’t anger.

No, to be honest, I can’t say I’m not angry at all.

But that’s an emotion I should set aside for now.

Forget my own feelings. Everything is for someone else… Yes, for someone else.

There aren’t many people who will point out when something is wrong.

That’s because doing so might make the other person dislike you.

But avoiding the truth doesn’t mean you truly care about them.

If you really care about someone, if you really love them—then, like me, you have to have the courage to be hated and say the things you don’t want to say for their sake!

I reached my destination and peeked into the classroom.

There, surrounded by people as always, was her.

Suppressing all sorts of emotions, I called out.

“Akari…!!!”

Akari turned around and tilted her head in confusion.

“…Yuya?”

I knew it. She still hates me.

It was written all over her face.

But even so, that doesn’t make what she did okay—!

“I need to talk to you. Can you come with me?”

Though confused, Akari nodded at my words.

Changing locations, we arrived at a quiet connecting corridor.

“What’s up? I’m busy since the test is coming up soon.”

“Sorry about that. But there’s something I really need to say.”

“Something you need to say?”

Akari echoed my words.

I took a deep breath before getting to the point.

“…Why didn’t you come?”

“Huh? Come where?”

“…What?”

No way.

She’s pretending not to know even now…?!

“M-My hospital visit…! You knew, didn’t you?! That I hit my head and got hospitalized?!”

“…Huh?”

Once my emotions started pouring out, they wouldn’t stop.

“It’s awful! You never came to visit even once! My head, you know?! I was hospitalized! Normally, a childhood friend would be worried and come, right?!!”

Akari’s eyes widened in shock.

I really don’t want to say this.

Because saying this might make Akari hate me even more.

…But I have to say it. Because that’s what it means to truly care about a childhood friend!

“I know our relationship is complicated right now, and I get that you don’t think well of me. But! You could’ve at least sent me one message! We’re childhood friends, aren’t we?! We’ve spent years together! And yet… this is just too much!!!”

“Yuya…”

“…Akari, you’ve changed. You really have. You used to be kind to everyone, always thinking about others. But lately… you’ve been cold. As someone who’s known you for so long, it hurts to see you like this. It really hurts. What happened to you? What happened to the old Akari?! Please… come back!!!”

I poured out my true feelings with all my might.

When I finished, I realized my hands were trembling.

…Aha-ha, of course.

The truth is, I never wanted to say this.

I don’t want Akari to hate me.

…But I had to say it.

If I didn’t, it wouldn’t help Akari.

This was my role.

I was willing to take on the role of the hated one.

Because I truly cared about Akari.

If this made her realize something, then that was enough for me.

So it didn’t matter if I got hurt.

It didn’t matter if Akari hated me.

No matter what—I would act for Akari’s sake.

Akari lowered her gaze and fell silent.

Ugh, this is painful.

I never wanted to make Akari look this sad.

But this was my duty.

An unavoidable fate as her childhood friend.

Besides, it’s only natural.

What I just said struck at the core of the issue.

It must have been a huge shock for Akari—something that could change her entire outlook on life…

“Um… sorry? But, I didn’t even know you were hospitalized… haha-ha.”

“…Huh?”

She didn’t know I was hospitalized?

She didn’t even know… about me?

“…Huh?”