Ch 37

POV Shinji Makoto

What happened to her? Does she hate me to the point of crying?

"Nakan-"

Before I could call out to her she stood up and left the class.

I slumped back into my seat.

This hurts so much.

Just then a voice from beside me called out to me.

"Makoto kun are you okay?"

It was Nishikawa. I quickly changed my facial expression into my usual smiling one before turning to him.

"Yeah, I\'m fine. Just thinking about something. Anyways Nishikawa, are you ready for an afterschool date?"

At my words his face blushed just as I expected,

"Wh-what are you saying Makoto kun? This is just a birthday celebration."

"Is that so? Don\'t lie to me Nishikawa, have you truly never thought of making this celebration more private? Maybe, with only you and Hiwari san?"

"That\'s nonsense. I ha-have never had any such thoughts."

"Sure. Sure whatever you say." I gave a noncommittal reply.

"Also, even if I do Hiwari san will not want to leave the others to spend time with me."

I don\'t know man. To me it seems she would go on a date with you in a heartbeat if you ask her to.

"How do you know that Nishikawa? Have you asked her that?"

"…"

Although I was failing at my own love, I won\'t let his fail. This is my pride as a supporting character.

Just then Tsukumo san came to me and asked, "Makoto kun where is Akari?"

"Oh. That…" Nakano\'s crying face flashed in my mind. "She went out of the class as soon as the teacher left. I will go look for her."

"Fine. But be quick. Then we will meet at the school gates, okay?"

"Yeah" I nodded and left hurriedly.

.

Only when I was walking in the corridor, I realized I had no way to know where she could be. She might as well have gone home for all I know.

Fortunately, I had one of the most convenient human inventions ever made in my pocket. I took out my phone and dialled her number.

"Ring ring…"

After about half a minute of ringing the call disconnected.

She isn\'t picking up. After what happened I did expect her to not pick up, but even so it felt bad. I miss the days when we could talk normally.

Instead of calling I wrote her a message on LINE,

Makoto: <Where are you Nakano?>

Unexpectedly, it was read as soon as I sent it. But, there was no response,

No problem. The fact that she is reading this is enough. I continuously sent her text after text,

Makoto: <Nakano. Please don\'t do this. Can you forgive me?>

Makoto: <I\'m sorry if I angered you Nakano. Please come back.>

Although the messages were being read, there was no response. Change of strategy. If asking nicely doesn\'t work, you have to take things to the next level.

Makoto: <Nakano don\'t be a baby. You have an appointment to fulfil.>

Makoto: <Come out, Come out wherever you are. I am not in the mood to play hide and seek with you right now Nakano.>

No response again. It seems like angering her isn\'t working either. Fine then. I will use my final trump. How about guilt tripping?

Makoto: <Even if you are angry at me, you shouldn\'t let it affect other people\'s happiness. Think about how Hiwari san would feel if you don\'t go to her celebration.>

Makoto: <How would you feel if this kind of thing happened to you?>

It seems my method finally worked.

Nakano: <Shut up. Shizuo will be fine even if I don\'t come. In fact, won\'t she be happier if only she and Nishikawa are there?>

Unfortunately for you Nakano, it seems you have fallen into my trap. I hurriedly sent my next text.

Makoto: <Is that what you really think about Hiwari san? I didn\'t think your friendship would be so shallow. Maybe I should screenshot this and send this to her.>

Nakano: <Don\'t you dare. Makoto, I swear if you do that I will show you hell.>

Honestly, blackmailing is the easiest way to get someone to listen to you. Of course, you must know your limits with it. But otherwise, it is extremely useful in cases like this.

Makoto: <Then do you want to come out of hiding? Tell me where you are. Or else…>

After a few moments, the answer came.

Nakano: <Rooftop>

Her answer made a chill run down my spine. She was crying in the class just before this, and now she was on the rooftop?

My imagination made several horrifying possibilities pop up and I couldn\'t stop my brain from going to those thoughts even if I wanted it to.

I ran as fast as I could to the rooftop.

Makoto: <Nakano don\'t make any stupid decisions.>

I typed in while running.

With no reply coming I felt even more scared. I regretted sending those messages inflaming her now. If something happened to her I would never be able to forgive myself. I urged my legs to move faster.

The last set of stairs. Go.

I climbed three steps at once, and in less than three seconds I was there.

I pushed the door open.

"NAKANO!"

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POV Kei Shimabukuro

*Rewind to the time the classes ended*

What happened to Onii san?

I saw him rushing out of the classroom after talking to Hiwari san\'s friend. I think her name was Tsukumo san?

"Shimabukuro san, let\'s go." Hiwari san said from behind me.

"What is this Shizuo, you invited Shimabukuro san as well?"

"Yeah. I forgot to tell you. I invited her today."

Tsukumo san eyed me up and down.

I expected as much. Obviously people will feel dissatisfied if a stranger joins you. I knew I shouldn\'t have come. However, her next words surprised me,

"Well, it\'s your birthday, so do what you want." Then extending a hand towards me, she said, "Nice to meet you Shimabukuro san, I am Hinata Tsukumo."

"Ah." It took me some time to realize she was greeting me. "I am Kei Shimabukuro. Nice to meet you too."

"Then you all go. I will bring Suzuki kun."

"Alright." Hiwari san replied.

After she left I asked Hiwari san the question plaguing me, "Umm. Do you know why oni-. I mean, Makoto kun left the class in such a hurry?"

"He went to find Akari. She went somewhere without telling us as soon as the class ended."

She was the person who got scolded with onii san in class today. If I remember correctly this Nakano person is quite close to onii san, right? Could it be that they are really lovers like the teacher said?

"Are those two a couple?" I finally asked unable to hide my curiosity.

"Not yet."

She said yet. That means they like each other? Or is it one sided? Maybe I can help him today then, just like he helped me. This was a perfect opportunity for repaying him.

"That reminds me Shimabukuro san, you are Makoto kun\'s neighbour, aren\'t you?"

"Yes."

At this point the whole school probably knows about it so it was not a surprise to me when people asked me about this anymore.

"Then do you know if Makoto kun likes Akari?"

"I haven\'t really asked him about that."

Maybe it is really one sided. She said \'not yet\' and asked me about onii san\'s feelings. Doesn\'t it mean Nakano san likes him?

"Oh sorry. I thought you knew his crush, seeing that he knew who you liked."

The person I liked? Ah. She was talking about the thing that happened yesterday. Although Onii san only said I loved somebody, Hiwari san probably knew who he was talking about. It\'s kind of awkward liking the same person as your friend, even more so knowing about it.

"Shall we go then?" I finally said trying to escape this awkwardness,

"Yes. Let\'s go."

Just then Ha chan walked up to us,

"I didn\'t wish you until now, but Happy birthday Hiwari san."

"Thank you. Are you going to come with us?"

"Of course, I said so yesterday, didn\'t I?"

"That\'s good, I was afraid you had some previous appointments."

"How can I not come if you invite me?"

At those words both me and Hiwari san blushed furiously.

"Wh-what are you saying Ha chan?"

"That\'s right. How can you nonchalantly say something like that?"

But Ha chan only turned to look at is with a confused face? "What is wrong with what I said? Even if you are the one who invites me, there is no way I am not going to come."

My heart almost burst from the embarrassing things he was saying out loud. Hiwari san would have collapsed if I didn\'t hold her up. This is deadly. It seems he doesn\'t realize the gravity of the words he is saying.

"Hiwari san get up. You can\'t fall now. Not like this."

"Hehe. This is the best birthday~" she mumbled softly. I wouldn\'t have been able to hear her if I didn\'t put my ear next to her mouth.

Oh no. She has lost her sanity due to the shock.

Seeing Hiwari san like that Ha chan said, "Is she fine? Maybe we should cancel the plans if she isn\'t feeling well."

"Shut up Ha chan. This is your fault."

Luckily, Hiwari san regained her mental faculties soon enough.

"Um. Sorry. I couldn\'t handle it."

"Don\'t apologize it\'s his fault for saying thoughtless thoughts anyways."

After walking together in silence for some time Ha chan opened his mouth again. "Kei chan is also coming with us?"

"Yeah." Hiwari san replied in a subdued voice. It seems like she still hadn\'t gotten over the previous event.

"That\'s great. I thought she wasn\'t fitting well with the people after she transferred, but it seems like my worries were unfounded. I didn\'t expect you both to be so close."

Ha chan was worried about me? Just that sentence made my heart fill up with sweetness.

"We are good friends though." Hiwari san said as she grabbed my arm.

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