Chapter 12: My Childhood Friends Don’t Want to Go

My Childhood Friends Don’t Want to Go

After the mock exam ended, I, Oohina Nagisa, came down with something and ended up missing two more days of school. In total, I’d been absent for a full week just for that exam.

As for the mock exam itself, if I assume Satoshi will definitely place within the top 500, then I might just barely manage to catch up.

Considering how little time I had, I think I did pretty well.

But the cost of that effort was far too great for me.

The day after the exam, I turned on my phone for the first time in days and saw nearly a hundred messages waiting for me.

Most were from the classmates I usually hung out with, but something about them felt a little… off.

That was because fewer than ten percent came from Yuito and Mia, the leaders of our group, while the rest were from everyone else.

I knew the Hayasaka siblings cared deeply about their friends and always showed concern when someone was sick or unwell, so it struck me as strange.

Wanting to understand what lay behind that odd feeling, I started reading through the messages… I was left speechless.

Just as I’d expected, the ones from the Hayasaka siblings were kind and considerate, showing concern for my health in their usual warm way. The only odd thing was that Mia hadn’t messaged me even once since she’d come to my house.

The remaining ninety percent of the messages said, in short, that from now on they wanted me to stop associating with the Hayasaka siblings and stick with them instead.

Not knowing what on earth had happened, I hurried to ask the other members. They replied, voices tinged with anger, that the two of them had chosen Satoshi over the rest of us.

That alone didn’t give me the full picture, so I reached out to Mia too. But all she said was that they’d severed ties because we had treated Satoshi poorly…

What I was able to gather was that our group had splintered over Satoshi, and now the Hayasaka siblings were close to him instead.

What am I supposed to do now?

At this point, I have no choice but to pick one side or the other. Ideally, the group would go back to how it was, but that’s probably not going to happen.

Ugh… I really don’t want to go to school.

Now that I’m feeling better, I let out a heavy sigh as I get ready for the day.

I’ve spent the past two days seriously thinking about everything, but I still haven’t found an answer. Honestly, I’d rather keep skipping school for a while longer.

But that’s not something I can do. If I kept missing classes, Satoshi would probably end up blaming himself for suggesting the mock exam competition in the first place.

“I’m heading out.”

Steeling myself, I leave the house.

Satoshi isn’t on the usual path I can see right after stepping outside. I deliberately left later than usual today, letting him go on ahead. And then…

“Good morning, Koriyama-san.”

“Good morning, Oohina-san. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yeah. Thanks for the other day.”

I meet Koriyama-san at the usual fork in the road.

I’d promised to walk to school with her today, because I knew I might turn back if I went alone.

She’s helped me out not only today but also on the day of the mock exam. I need to find a way to return the favor. Maybe I’ll treat her to a dessert buffet sometime.

“Well then, shall we go?”

“Yeah.”

The two of us make our way to school, chatting about how the mock exam went and what class life’s been like lately…

“See you later, Oohina-san.”

“Yeah. See you.”

After Koriyama-san heads into the classroom ahead of me, I’m left alone and my feet suddenly feel heavy.

But I don’t let that stop me. Bit by bit, I move forward until I’m standing just outside the classroom. And then…

“No way, Satoshi-cchi, is that for real?”

“Yeah, it totally is.”

From inside, I hear Mia and Satoshi talking.

That’s when it really hits me. Our group has truly changed.

And at the same time, a sharp pain pierces my heart.

I really don’t want to go in. If I do, I’ll end up seeing a scene I know I can’t be part of, no matter what.

As I stand frozen there, lost in thought, someone gently taps me on the shoulder. This feeling…

“Yuito?”

“Nagisa, are you feeling better now?”

I turn around to see Yuito, wearing the same kind smile as always.

I give him a small nod, and he continues, his smile still warm.

“Well, as you can see, things are a bit of a mess. I’m sorry it turned out this way, Nagisa.”

Th-That’s not…

“That’s why, Nagisa, I want you to make a choice you won’t regret. I’ll respect whatever you decide. And if there’s anything I can do to help, I will.”

Leaving behind words that carried both kindness and firmness, Yuito walks into the classroom, and once again, I’m alone.

But strangely, my feet feel a little lighter than before. Maybe it’s because Yuito’s smile gave me courage, even though he was probably hurting even more than I was.

I take a step forward without thinking and walk into the classroom… what I see is…

Satoshi, happily chatting with the Hayasaka siblings.

And in that moment, all the hesitation I’d been carrying vanished.

I walk straight ahead…

“Good morning, everyone.”

I greet the group standing on the opposite side of the room from Satoshi, smiling as I speak. Because I knew that if I went to him, his smile would disappear.