Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818622170980765407
“Haa… haa…!”
It’s about a fifteen-minute run to the nearest station.
Damn it! I’m out of breath so easily. In the past, I could have run this distance without any trouble, and if it weren’t for my knee, I could have run at full speed!
“Don’t mess with me! I can’t say that!”
I don’t care about my knee. If I don’t run seriously now, what’s the point of having legs?
I don’t take the train very often, so I don’t know the schedule, but fifteen minutes should be manageable! No, please let me make it in time!
If I had known it would come to this, I should have confessed my feelings right there and then. Then I could have answered the former manager’s question about our relationship with confidence…! I made the wrong decision at the last minute. I’m so frustrated with myself for being such an idiot.
“Pant… pant…”
I’m out of breath.
My throat is burning.
My legs feel as heavy as lead.
But I can’t stop now.
Sure, if Asahina manages to make a comeback in the entertainment industry, then maybe my training will be considered a success in the end—
But that’s not possible! I haven’t achieved anything yet! She can’t even tie a tie properly!
All I can think about is Asahina.
Her messy bedhead, her wrinkled uniform, her zombie-like gait.
Damn it! She’s so cute, but all I can remember is her listless state!
I can’t forget the tears she shed when I combed her hair for the first time. I can’t forget the warm tears she shed when I gave her my lunch box for the first time. I can’t forget the tears she shed while cutting onions, looking so miserable. I can’t forget the sad tears she shed during the study session, as if she had entrusted her heart to me.
She’s always crying!
I can’t forget her SSR smile during the cultural festival. I can’t forget her happy smile when we went to the festival.
And I can’t forget her smile as she laughed happily every day we spent together. I can’t forget Asahina’s shy smile as she thanked me.
There’s no way I could forget all of that…!
“I… I love her so much that there’s nothing I can do about it…!”
Finally, I could see the station sign. At that moment, I had the illusion of feeling the wind on my back.
The sound of “Gooooo…” reached my ears. This is bad, the train is coming in. The timing is terrible.
As I turned the last corner, I saw the ticket gate. Beyond the crowd passing by, I spotted a group of people arguing.
“Asahinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
I screamed with all my strength.
“Asahina, don’t go! Stay with me! My training isn’t over yet!”
“Ryo-kun…?”
I couldn’t catch my breath. My forehead and back were drenched in sweat.
But it was okay… I managed to find her. It was the usual Asahina with her messy hair. I made it just in time.
“Pant… pant…”
“Ryo-kun, why are you here…?”
Asahina was just staring in surprise, but gradually tears began to fall from her eyes.
I wanted to rush over to Asahina right away, but there were people I had to deal with first.
Between Asahina and me was the former manager from before.
And next to Asahina was a very beautiful woman with a dignified aura. Her eyes resembled Asahina’s…
I knew instinctively—this was Asahina’s mother.
Asahina was being pulled by her mother’s arm, about to cross the ticket gate. But Asahina seemed to be struggling to stay put.
(Again, about Asahina…)
Watching that scene, something inside me snapped. I started walking toward Asahina’s mother.
“Wait!”
The former manager tried to grab my shoulder, but I roughly shook her off.
“Why doesn’t anyone try to consider Asahina’s feelings?”
I confronted Asahina’s mother. We were given enough time. So, both Asahina and I tried our best to think about it!
“Are you Ryo-kun?”
“Yes!”
“Yamanoe-san said it would be better to contact you…”
Asahina’s mother glared at the former manager in protest. The former manager apologized, saying, “I’m sorry.”
“I thought we should at least let her say goodbye. There was only one person registered in Toka’s cell phone…”
“Hmph.”
Asahina’s mother snorted. She looked more exasperated than angry.
“You’re really desperate, aren’t you?”
Asahina’s mother looked at my disheveled appearance and sighed softly. She stared at me, breathing heavily, as if appraising me.
“What’s so great about Toka that you’d go to such lengths? There were plenty of people who tried to get close to Tohka, the celebrity.”
The words thrown at me were very cold.
“…That’s not it.”
“Huh? Then what is it?”
“I said it’s not like that!”
My voice grew louder and louder.
“I don’t like Asahina the celebrity! I like Asahina who was called a ‘failed to train’! I like Asahina Toka who you all looked down on !”
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