Chapter 78: Love is Blind

Love is Blind

Nakano Yuya’s Perspective

Akari is walking away.

No… No way… No way…

She doesn’t notice me? That’s a lie!

We’ve been childhood friends for over ten years!

Until just recently, we were even dating!

And now she doesn’t even acknowledge me? That can’t be real!

This doesn’t make sense… This can’t make sense!!!

“Aka…ri…?”

I stare at Akari’s shrinking figure.

Am I really that meaningless to her now?

She did say she never wanted to see me again. I did hurt her. That much, I can’t deny.

But to not even see me? To act like I don’t exist? That’s just impossible.

No… Something’s off. Something is definitely off!

And I know how selfish this sounds, but… I just wanted to make Manami-chan happy too!

I explained my reasons!

I tried to be as fair as possible to Akari!

And yet… and yet… this is the price I pay?!

“This isn’t right…!”

And now, I finally understand.

The one who’s wrong… isn’t me. It’s Akari.

“I’ll tell her… I’ll make her understand—clearly…!”

I leap to my feet and take off after her.

“Akari…!”

Irara Akari’s Perspective

My heart won’t stop racing.

It’s been so long since I’ve felt this excited about something.

I’m meeting Arata-kun today… for a date.

Just the two of us. A special date, like something out of a romance novel.

And it’s happening in the summer of our second year of high school—right in the heart of our youth…!

“Ehehe… I can’t wait!”

My imagination runs wild.

We’ll go to the aquarium and marvel at the same sights together.

The atmosphere will turn romantic, our eyes will meet…

Before I know it, we’ll be holding hands, and by nighttime, maybe even—k-kissing…

“W-Wait! That’s way too bold!!”

No, no, I can’t let my thoughts go there!

I’m still just a high school girl, and this is my first-ever date…!

“But still… ehehe.”

I can’t help it—just thinking about it makes me grin.

Yeah, it’s only natural, right?

I glance at my phone.

“Ah! Look at the time!”

If I don’t hurry, I’m going to be late!

Panicking, I break into a run.

Rushing to the person I like, who’s waiting for me.

“…Ehehe!”

Nakano Yuya’s Perspective

W-Wait, what?!

Akari just took off running?!

The moment I chased after her, she bolted—like she had been waiting for that exact moment?!

And she’s moving fast, almost like she’s desperate to get away!

“Wait…! Could it be…?”

It’s not that she didn’t notice me.

She did—and she chose to ignore me?!

And now that I’m chasing her, she’s running?!

That explains everything…

“No way!”

Does she hate the idea of talking to me that much?!

And she’s all dressed up, like she put in effort for someone…!

“Wait…!”

My breath catches.

The heat is unbearable.

My body refuses to move the way I want it to.

“Aka…!”

No matter how hard I push myself, I can’t catch up to her.

No—she’s getting farther and farther away.

Akari’s figure grows smaller and smaller.

“Wait… Akari…!”

Don’t go…!

If this keeps up, she’ll disappear.

Everything will disappear.

Akari is my childhood friend.

The girl who was always by my side, always on my side…

And yet…

“Guh!”

I trip and crash onto the ground.

My knee scrapes against the pavement, burning with pain.

“Akari…!”

I stretch my hand forward.

But she’s already nothing more than a tiny speck in the distance.

I’ll never catch up.

She’s already…

“Akariiiii!!!”

Ugh… Akari…

Irara Akari’s Perspective

“…iiiii!!!”

Hm?

I think I just heard something behind me.

“…Oh well!”

More importantly, it’s time for my date with Arata-kun!

“Ehehe, I can’t wait!”

My steps feel light as I head toward the station.

All for the sake of meeting the one I love.

And at that moment, I realize—

Every girl who runs… is running because she can’t wait to see the person she loves.

“Arata-kun!”

As I wait at the station, I hear a familiar voice.

I turn toward the sound and see Akari running toward me, her face lit up with a radiant smile.

She comes to a stop right in front of me, slightly out of breath.

“Good morning, Arata-kun!”

“O-Oh, morning, Akari. Uh… why are you so out of breath?”

“That’s because… I’m a girl, obviously!”

“…Huh?”

I have no idea what she means, but she says it so confidently that I just let it slide.

“Ehehe, did you wait long?”

“Nah, I just got here myself.”

“Oh… I see. That’s a relief.”

She murmurs as she smooths out her bangs.

Looking at her now—flustered, but trying to keep cool—I can’t help but notice how much effort she’s put into her appearance today.

“…!!!”

Anyone could tell at a glance—she dressed up just for this.

My eyes are glued to her before I even realize it, and then—

“…!!! S-So, um… how do I look?”

“Uh… w-well… I think… you look cute.”

“…Ah!!! …Th-Thanks…”

Akari mumbles, her voice barely audible.

My face burns.

I can’t even look straight at her.

But from the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of her overjoyed expression—and it’s so ridiculously cute that I’d regret not looking.

“S-Shall we go?”

“Y-Yeah!”

Desperately trying to keep my thundering heartbeat in check, I start walking toward the station with her.