The morning sun poured into the classroom, casting golden streaks across the polished floor. The breeze fluttered through the open windows, carrying the scent of fresh-cut grass and the hum of a new school day.
Hikari walked into Class 1-B, her heart beating just a bit faster than usual.
She'd worn her favorite lip gloss, brushed her hair twice, and even added a small ribbon to her bag — all because today she was going to talk to Yuuto and apologize properly.
Her eyes darted toward the back corner of the classroom.
Empty.
His seat was still vacant.
She blinked. "Maybe he's running late," she whispered to herself, sliding into her seat but keeping her gaze fixed on the doorway.
She rested her chin on her hand, not taking her eyes off the hall for a moment. Every time she heard footsteps from outside, her heart leaped - but sank again.
Minutes passed. Students filtered in, laughing, chatting, and clattering books onto desks.
But not him.
Homeroom started. The teacher walked in, adjusted his glasses, and began calling attendance.
"Yuuto Kurokawa."
Silence.
Hikari sat up a little straighter. Her hands tightened in her lap.
"Absent?" the teacher muttered, ticking his pen against the paper and moving on.
Hikari bit her lip.
Absent? No, that couldn't be right. He never took a holiday
.
Her fingers itched toward her phone. She glanced around, then subtly opened her bag and pulled it out under the desk.
Hikari:Hey… are you okay? You didn't come to school.
Hikari:Yuuto? Please reply.
No reply. No blue ticks.
She stared at the screen. Waited.
Still nothing.
She called him. Once. Twice.
Voicemail.
"Yuuto…" she whispered, a cold wave creeping into her chest.
Behind her, someone snickered, and a couple of students nearby whispered loudly enough to be heard.
"Did you see Amamiya-chan and Toma-senpai yesterday?"
"They looked so good together. Like a model couple under the fireworks."
"They were glowing."
"Bet her boyfriend couldn't keep up."
Hikari froze. Her nails dug into her palm. Her chest tightened like someone had tied a string around her heart and started pulling.
"No... no, it wasn't like that," she muttered, mostly to herself.
"Hikari?"
She turned around quickly. Rika had just slipped into the seat beside her, eyes soft with concern. Ren followed, settling into his chair and shooting Hikari a look.
"You okay?" Rika asked gently.
"I… have you guys seen Yuuto?" Hikari asked, her voice low, almost trembling.
"Nope. Thought he'd be here," Ren said. "He left the group chat after the festival, didn't he?"
"What?" Hikari's eyes widened. She hadn't even noticed. She quickly opened the group chat. Ren was right.
Yuuto has left the group.
A lump formed in her throat.
Rika leaned closer. "What happened last night, Hikari?"
"I…" Hikari swallowed. "I didn't mean to leave him alone. Toma-senpai was just… there. People were around. I thought Yuuto was nearby. I was going to go to him right after the photo, but he disappeared…"
Her voice cracked.
"I tried looking for him. I ran through the crowd, I swear. But he was gone. And now he's not even answering…"
Ren let out a soft sigh. "Honestly, Hikari… from a guy's perspective, I'd say he looked pretty down the whole evening. He was quiet, withdrawn. You didn't notice?"
"I did! I mean— I thought he was just… shy or overwhelmed. But I should've—" She cut herself off, gripping her desk tightly. "I should've stayed with him. I should've held his hand or said something. I was right there, and I still made him feel like a stranger…"
Rika frowned, reaching over to squeeze Hikari's arm. "You didn't mean to hurt him. But maybe he doesn't know that."
"I just wanted him to have fun," Hikari whispered. "But instead, I made him feel small. Invisible."
Ren scratched the back of his neck. "If I were him, I'd be feeling like the third wheel. You and Toma-senpai were… well, kinda glowing like those kids said."
Hikari shut her eyes.
Those words stabbed deeper now. Glowing.
Was that what Yuuto saw?
Her laughing beside another guy, sharing food. Holding a stupid teddy bear.
While the boy who held her heart stood alone in the dark.
"I was so stupid…" she whispered. "He looked so sad during the fireworks. I saw him. I tried to go to him. But Toma called me, and I thought, 'Just a photo.' Just a moment. He'll wait. He'll understand."
Rika exhaled. "But he didn't. And maybe he's thinking you wouldn't have even noticed if he never came back."
The thought shattered something inside Hikari. She clutched her phone again.
Hikari:Yuuto, I'm sorry. Please talk to me.
Still nothing.
The teacher continued lecturing at the front, his voice like a buzz behind the storm in her head.
Beside her, Yuuto's seat remained painfully empty. A quiet void that no one else noticed, but to Hikari, it screamed.
She rested her head on the desk, blinking back tears.
"I miss him," she whispered.
Rika placed a gentle hand on her back.
Ren stayed quiet for once.
The morning dragged on. Every laugh, every whispered conversation, every empty glance toward the classroom door — all of it echoed the same aching truth:
Yuuto wasn't there.
And Hikari couldn't stop thinking that maybe…
She'd driven him away.
[Evening — Outside Yuuto's Apartment]
Hikari stood outside the door, her knuckles hovering mid-air.
She had pressed the doorbell once. Then twice. No response.
But she knew he was inside.
She could hear soft footsteps… a slight rustle… and then stillness.
"Yuuto…" she whispered. "I know you're in there."
Silence.
"I… I just wanted to make sure you're okay. You didn't come to school. You didn't text anyone. You didn't text me…"
Her voice cracked.
"I was really worried, you idiot."
Still, no answer.
She waited. Ten minutes passed. The hallway grew cold.
Finally, she stepped back, blinking away tears.
"I'll wait," she said softly, placing a small packet — warm rice balls that she made herself near the door.
"And even if you don't open the door… I'll still be here tomorrow. And the next day."
She turned and walked away.
Inside, Yuuto stood still, back against the door, fists clenched.
His heart ached.
But his fear was louder than her voice.
To be continued...