Finally... I got into the same High school as her.
Today, I'm going to confess to her.
I'll tell her how i feel.
Pure and simple, I'll completely Blurt out what I've been feeling for her the past 10 years.
Yes, There's a women I've loved since childhood and yes, she's my childhood friend.
Airi Tachibana.
And i am Takada Kazuhiko, her childhood friend and her most precious person.
I know... I've read a lot of novels and manga and i for sure know based on the way she behaves around me.
She too likes me.
I was scared of telling her how i feel but... Truly, we are very close and if i Don't do it someone else will NTR me and I'll be dead and buried.
That's why, even if she rejects me, I won't atleast regret it.
And so i resolved myself.
The women i've been in love with for since i was 5 years old.
I'll tell her.
Today, I'll do it.
Because, I'm sure she'll say yes too.
...
"I'm sorry, I've never once seen you as a man before. I only thought of you as a friend. I'm sorry if i made you have the wrong idea. But, i already have someone i like."
She seemed regretful. As if she's lost someone yet again.
Aah... she's had people tell her they liked her since childhood and a lot of them were her friends aswell.
I... was the only one who wasn't presumptuous enough to tell her my feelings.
So, she probably thought i didn't harbour any feelings for her.
Her rejection seemeed cold and distant.
As if she... lost trust in people.
"I... I'm sorry."
I blurted out.
How pathetic, Apologising for confessing to someone.
Truly pathetic.
"... No, Maybe i was too friendly with you. I sometimes forget how popular i am."
Damn...
"No... i shouldn't have gotten the wrong idea. All this could have been avoided if i weren't as presumptuous."
Somehow, My normal personality of a worthless loser was coming out.
As i started blurting out self deprivating stuff.
"... Forget it, It doesn't matter."
"Can... we just stay friends? Yo-"
I stopped myself from saying those last words.
I didn't wanna start playing the Sympathy games.
I knew myself better than anyone. That answer was calculated Sympathy.
I'm trying to control her with Sympathy, so she'd be chained down to me.
"I'm sorry, I Don't think i can stay friends with a guy who likes me. It'll be way too uncomfortable."
Expected.
"... I see... Can you atleast tell me who it is you like?"
"... It's Hinata Kamado, from class D."
Ha... I see, It's that popular guy.
Figures... He's handsome, good at athletics, Has a baby like face.
Also, He's got a future waiting for him, He's rich too.
Maybe, she who's poor like me and him who's rich would make a good couple.
Considering... they are both the most handsome and beautiful people in the entire 1st year.
I even heard people shipping them.
"I see... You guys wpuld make a great couple. I really hope it goes well for you."
"..."
As much as i hated it, i knew her situation. and, i know she doesn't like him because he's rich.
She just genuinely likes him.
That's the kind of a girl she is.
Even if she's thinking about his rich background, she won't talk about it unless she's absolutely convinced that she likes them.
"... Well, if that's all than I'm leaving."
"Don't forget to concentrate on your studies aswell. Don't abandon your future while chasing Love."
Somehow that hit me more than it should have hit her.
I wonder why...
"I will, I can't really rely on another person to take care of me now can i. You too, Don't fall into depression because i rejected you."
"Here's the thing... I'm already over you."
"That's good than."
For some reason, Even though the atmosphere was nowhere near our 'Normal'.
It still didn't feel as suffocating as it did when i told her i liked her.
But, this is probably the last time we'll ever talk so... Let's just forget about her.
I hope a prosperous future greets you someday. Farewell Airi.
...
Even though... it was a rejection.
I didn't feel all that suffocated about it.
But... how is it that I'm able to compare?
I've never confessed to anyone before.
Aah! What's that?
A memory?
...
"I'm sorry what? You? Like me? And what made you think... I'll ever accept a piece of trash like you?"
"You... have been exiled."
What is this?
"Requirements not met, You have been exiled."
"Requirements not met, You have been exiled."
"Requirements not met, You have been exiled."
"Requirements not met, You have been exiled."
...
"Aaahhhhhhhhh"
"Aah... Aah... Aah..."
What... was that?
Why am i sweating so badly because of it?
...
"Son... Son! Are you alright? I heard a scream? Son? Son?"
"Aah... Mom, I'm fine. It's nothing that bad. I just had a nightmare."
"I see... Come down, breakfast is ready."
"Yes mom. I'll fresh up and come."
...
"Aah... What is this feast?"
"Huh? It's your birthday today isn't it?"
"Aah..."
I forgot. Today, the 10th of June is my birthday.
Has it already been a month, since she rejected me?
Feels so surreal, She hasn't greeeted me after that.
Whenever she talks to my mother she seems obligated to act normal with me.
I feel... embarissed to tell my parents, who considered her like a daughter
That i confessed to her and got rejected.
They'd probably call me foolish.
And, I probably was.
What was i doing? Telling her how i felt, the chances of rejection were very high.
We may have been close but... Honestly, There was nothing, absolutely nothing to like about me.
I don't even have any friends except for her.
And, honestly she has a lot of friends. A very lot of them.
I... was just one of those freinds.
She has many other childhood friends aswell.
I again, am just another one of them.
Maybe... the only reason she even was friends with me was probably because she didn't want me telling anyone about her financial condition.
She hatesit, when someone talks about her financial condition.
I know though... she isn't ashamed of her financial condition.
She doesn't like it when her parents are criticized apon for not being able to raise their family alone.
She has a dad, her mom... ran away with her lover.
So, she's been very defensive when it comes to her dad.
She doesn't mind it when she's criticized but... if her dad were to be criticized, she wouldn't be able to take it.
I on the other hand... Have a mother and a sister.
My father... he divorced her, And is living with his lover.
We while in similar conditions have complete opposite Parents.
Funny enough... her father obviously likes my mother.
But, he isn't in a situation where he can tell her how he feels.
And, My mother aswell... she feels very happy whenever he's around but... she doesn't wanna be a burden since she has 2 kids.
It'd only add to his burden.
I'm sure, he's probably ready to take us 2 in, Essentially probably with the condition of her working aswell.
And, my mother would be more than haply enough to accept it.
I thought... in the back of my mind that... if we both got together, we could get them together aswell.
There's no rule that suggests that just because two people come together, their kids should the accept the status of Son in law and daughter in law.
"Damn, I'm Humgry."
"Hey... son."
"Aah, I didn't wanna see your ugly face so early in the morning."
"... Sis, You don't have to be that harsh."
"Whatever, I'm leaving mom."
Maybe because i was rejected by my childhood friend... The way my sister behaves around me... It increasingly stings me.
I wouldn't have bothered before. But, now... Her cold behaviour has been more or less hurtful.
She used to be so nice to me when we were children...