After that day, everything changed.
Airi stopped coming to school.
No messages.
No explanations.
No appearances.
It was as if she had disappeared from the world.
And Miko…
Miko stopped looking at Tenkei.
She no longer waited for him in the mornings. She no longer sat beside him. She no longer spoke to him. When their eyes accidentally met, she would quickly turn away, as if she had seen something painful.
For Tenkei, that hurt more than anything.
Every day, he walked into class feeling like he didn't belong there anymore. Students stared at him. Some whispered. Some pointed. Some looked at him with disappointment. Some looked at him with disgust. No one asked for his side of the story.
He wanted to explain.
He wanted to shout.
"I didn't do anything."
"I was unconscious."
"I would never hurt her."
"Please believe me."
But every time he tried to speak, his throat closed. His voice disappeared. His courage vanished.
The three boys began bothering him again.
They pushed him in the hallway.
They hid his shoes.
They laughed behind his back.
"So, hero," one of them sneered, "how does it feel to be exposed?"
Tenkei lowered his head and said nothing.
Inside, he was breaking.
Even teachers looked at him differently.
One afternoon, he was called to the staff room.
They didn't shout.
They didn't accuse.
They only looked disappointed.
"Tenkei," a teacher said gently, "we're worried about you. Your behavior, your grades, your condition… everything is getting worse."
He stood there silently.
His hands were shaking.
"I'm… sorry," he whispered.
That was all he could say.
When he left the room, his legs felt weak. The hallway felt endless. The noise felt distant. It was like he was walking in a dream he couldn't wake up from.
That evening, he went home alone.
No Miko waiting.
No warm voice.
No smile.
Only silence.
He entered his room and closed the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if he was afraid the world might enter and hurt him again.
He sat on his bed and stared at the wall for a long time.
"I tried…" he whispered. "I really tried…"
Tears fell.
One by one.
Then he took out a notebook.
And started writing.
One-chan…
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for everything.
I know I couldn't become like you. I couldn't be strong like you.
Since childhood, I always followed you. You protected me. You saved me. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself.
I promised you that I would marry you. I promised I would stay by your side forever.
But I couldn't keep that promise.
I'm weak. I'm scared. I'm broken.
Even now, I love you more than anyone in this world.
That will never change.
Please forgive me.
Please live happily.
You don't need to remember me like this.
Just remember me smiling once.
That's enough.
Your little brother,
Tenkei
When he finished, his hands were trembling.
He folded the letter carefully and placed it on his desk.
Then he took out an old photo album.
Inside were pictures of his parents.
Smiling.
Laughing.
Holding him.
And pictures with Miko and her family.
Happy days.
Warm memories.
A world that felt so far away now.
He hugged the album tightly to his chest.
Like a child.
Like someone who was afraid to be alone.
"Oka-san… Tou-san…" he whispered. "I'm tired…"
His voice cracked.
"I'm coming… I want to see you…"
He curled up on his bed, holding the photos, crying silently until his body became weak and exhausted. His heart felt heavy. His thoughts were messy. His breathing became slow and uneven.
That night, he didn't sleep peacefully.
But fate was not done with him yet.
Because somewhere, at that same time, someone was reading his letter.
And running.
As fast as they could.
With tears in their eyes.