MUNDANE HURT: Chapter 5

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The height of Nishizaki’s feelings for Nagano had been during the confession at the park; since then, his emotions had only spiraled downward. By the time he had gone to Nagano’s rundown apartment for dinner, those feelings had hit zero. From there, they only kept plummeting into the negatives. Finding out that Nagano’s father was a criminal was the final straw. After the closing ceremony, Nishizaki was genuinely relieved not to see him for the two-week winter break. Since Nagano didn’t have a phone, there was no way for him to reach out, so Nishizaki could go two full weeks without hearing from him.

But winter break had to end eventually. As soon as school started back up, Nagano clung to him as though trying to make up for lost time. Nishizaki didn’t want to anger him by suddenly ignoring him, so he would respond when Nagano spoke. But in reality, having Nagano close by started to feel deeply uncomfortable.

Slowly, Nishizaki began avoiding him more deliberately. If Nagano suggested they eat lunch together, Nishizaki would say, “I didn’t bring a lunch today.” If Nagano offered to walk home with him, he’d make up some excuse about having other plans with friends. Sometimes, he even pretended not to hear when Nagano tried talking to him. Keeping his distance like this, Nishizaki watched Nagano’s face darken a little more each day.

‘Why won’t you be with me?’

‘Why are you ignoring me?’

Nagano’s silent, pitiful expression practically screamed these questions, looking like a stray dog who’d just been abandoned. Nishizaki couldn’t stand it. He had initially liked Nagano’s cool, collected presence—not this miserable, clingy guy. After he had made it so clear that he was trying to create distance, surely Nagano would get the hint. Yet, he just kept coming closer, no matter how many times Nishizaki pushed him away. It was beginning to feel like a one-sided game of cat and mouse.

As classmates shifted their focus to entrance exams after career surveys, the group that had drifted away started to reappear, bored with their studies. One by one, they returned to the usual hangout spots and began gathering around Nishizaki again.

“Hey, didn’t you used to hang out with Nagano? Now you’re completely ignoring him,” a friend asked him one day. Nishizaki didn’t want to discuss it, but saying nothing would be too obvious, so he muttered, “I guess.”

“I thought he’d be different, interesting maybe, but we just didn’t click. There wasn’t anything to talk about,” he added.

His friend chuckled. “Kind of obvious, wasn’t it?”

True enough. But seeing Nagano at the sports festival had clouded Nishizaki’s judgment, making him pursue something he’d later regret. He could only kick himself for it now.

At the end of January, as soon as the dismissal bell rang, Nagano—who usually rushed straight to Nishizaki’s desk—left his bag behind and walked out of the classroom. A teacher had probably called him over. Taking the chance, Nishizaki hurried out of school alone.

Yuzuki, walking home with him, grumbled, “Man, I’m starving,” so they stopped at a burger joint.

“Thanks for always treating me,” Yuzuki said, though his expression clearly said, It’s only natural you’d pay for me. He bit into his burger like it was his birthright.

The burger shop was next to a game center, and the customers were a mix of students from various schools. Nishizaki sipped his cola, watching a guy in a stylish coat walk in. What brand is that coat? he wondered idly.

“Oh, yeah,” Yuzuki said, his face smeared with ketchup. “What’s going on with that thing?”

Nishizaki felt a sinking feeling. “What thing?” he asked cautiously.

“You know, the thing about getting Nagano to fall for you.”

Why can’t he just forget that stupid bet already? Nishizaki thought irritably.

“I’m done. I give up. I’ll introduce you to that big-boobed girl you like whenever you want.”

He thought Yuzuki would be thrilled, but instead, he looked oddly deflated. “Oh. Okay.”

“What?” Nishizaki asked, annoyed.

“You were the one texting me about how close you were to making it happen with him.”

“Look, technically, yeah, I won him over. But now he’s so hung up on me, practically a stalker. It’s honestly exhausting.”

Yuzuki leaned forward, practically salivating. “Wait… did you and Nagano, like, do it?”

“Hell no. All I did was kiss him, and now he’s totally hooked. It’s ridiculous. Like, what is he, a grade-schooler? Guys who’ve never been in a relationship are the worst—they’re just so painfully clueless.”

Yuzuki laughed, his voice dripping with mockery. “Nagano, of all people, huh?” he said, chuckling deep in his throat.

“If I just suddenly broke things off, he’d probably freak out, so I’m aiming for a slow break up to make it look natural. Honestly, I’ve learned my lesson—if you’re going to mess around, stick to girls. No baggage afterward. I seriously regret this.”

Nishizaki slurped his cola.

"Getting so serious about you… is Nagano some kind of creepy, obsessed freak?"

"How should I know? Either way, he's just so awkward and lame. Doesn’t watch TV, doesn’t even go online, so we never have anything to talk about."

As he spewed out complaints about Nagano, Nishizaki felt lighter and lighter, as if a weight was lifting from his chest. The excitement he'd once felt over that confession in the park was fading, turning into an embarrassing memory—he now saw Nagano as nothing more than a ridiculous, desperate guy.

"And Nagano’s family is seriously broke."

“Oh yeah, I heard from someone in another class that he’s on a scholarship,” Yuzuki said, resting his chin in his hand. “I also heard he does a newspaper route. Like, how heartwarming is that? A kid working to help support his family.”

Yuzuki dramatically pretended to wipe away a tear with his uniform sleeve, but the smirk tugging at his lips ruined the act. He was clearly mocking Nagano.

"And his dad—" Nishizaki started to say but cut himself off just in time.

"What? What about his dad?" Yuzuki asked, curious.

Nishizaki knew better than to go further. Yuzuki’s lips were looser than air.

"It’s nothing."

"Come on, don’t stop halfway—now you’ve got me curious."

"Drop it. It’s not that big a deal," Nishizaki tried to brush him off, but Yuzuki persisted. "If you’re done with him, just say it. Or are you still loyal to Nagano? Is that, like, love or something? That’s gross."

Even knowing Yuzuki was just trying to provoke him, Nishizaki felt irritated. "No way. As if I owe that guy anything. Alright, but you have to promise you won’t tell anyone."

Yuzuki squinted, his face alight with a fox-like grin. "Whoa, this is starting to sound serious."

"Promise you’ll keep quiet," Nishizaki pressed.

Yuzuki chuckled. "Alright, alright, I won’t say anything."

"...Nagano’s dad is in prison," Nishizaki whispered.

"What?!" Yuzuki practically yelled, then quickly clamped his hands over his mouth.

“Fraud and attempted murder. He divorced Nagano’s mom, but things got too awkward in their hometown, so they moved here.”

“That’s seriously messed up.”

“Tell me about it. I was completely freaked out when I found out.”

"Son of a criminal, huh," Yuzuki said, folding his arms. "What if Nagano’s got a crazy side too? Dude, you might be in danger."

"That’s why you have to keep this quiet. If it gets out, it’ll be me who’s in trouble," Nishizaki said, cautioning him again.

Though Yuzuki wanted to know every detail of how Nagano’s dad had conned people and hurt someone, Nishizaki didn’t have much else to tell. They left the burger shop for the arcade next door, but Yuzuki kept bringing Nagano up. It seemed the revelation that the top student’s father was a criminal had been too juicy for him to forget. Nishizaki kept saying, “Don’t tell anyone, okay?” and each time Yuzuki replied, “Yeah, I got it.”

But by the next day, that promise was already broken.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

Since he stayed up too late, he was in bed until the last possible minute. Especially in the colder months, he hated leaving the warmth of his blankets. He snapped at the housekeeper who came to wake him and then leapt up at the last second, shouting, "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Rush hour was crowded, and even when he was near the school, his taxi got stuck in traffic. Finally, he had no choice but to get out and run. He’d skipped before, blaming it on "being too tired," but now he was cutting it close with too many tardies, and his recommendation status was on the line.

He slipped through the school gates with the warning bell. As long as he reached his classroom before the final bell, he’d be fine. He strolled down the hallway and entered his classroom right as the start bell rang. Usually, the room was buzzing with chatter until the teacher came in, but today it was strangely quiet. He noticed the odd silence as he took his seat. Nagano, who always greeted him every morning whether he replied or not, was silent as well. Nagano didn’t even have his textbook out; he just sat with his head down, staring blankly at his empty desk. It was a strange sight that made Nishizaki wonder if he was sick.

The teacher arrived a few minutes late, and class began as usual. Nishizaki had no idea what had transpired in the classroom before he arrived.

As class ended and the much-anticipated break began, Nishizaki stretched and yawned repeatedly. Just then, a student from the neighboring class, Nikaoka, entered the room. Nikaoka was known for his lack of smarts, lack of looks, and complete lack of style; his only "talent" was that his dad happened to own a stationery company. Nishizaki wasn’t the smartest either—he skipped class and smoked—but he made sure not to push it too far and kept his smoking discreet so he didn’t get into trouble with the teachers. Nikaoka, on the other hand, was careless, constantly getting busted for smoking and cheating. But despite his repeat offenses, he couldn’t be expelled, thanks to the rumored millions his family donated to the school.

"Hey," Nikaoka said, standing next to Nagano, who didn’t lift his head. He addressed Nagano’s bowed head directly, his voice filling the silent classroom.

"I heard your dad’s in prison. Is that true?"

Nagano’s head began to tremble slightly. Nikaoka’s mouth twisted into a faint, smug smirk.

"Having a criminal for a father is pretty damn pathetic."

The room was so silent it was as if everyone was holding their breath. Nishizaki’s mind screamed, Stop it, stop it, as he stared at Nikaoka’s smug, unattractive face.

"If it were me, I’d be way too embarrassed to show my face at school."

Nagano shot up from his seat, but instead of confronting Nikaoka, he walked past him, coming straight to Nishizaki. He looked down at him with eyes clouded and dark, like murky sludge.

"Did you… tell anyone?"

The low voice was terrifying. Nagano was radiating an aura of anger so intense it made Nishizaki shrink back.

“N-no, I didn’t say anything. I swear!”

His mind flashed to Yuzuki. It had to be him, no doubt. Despite all those warnings not to say a word… but how did Nikaoka find out? Did Yuzuki spread it on social media? At this point, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was not admitting it was him. He couldn’t. He’d be killed.

“I’d never say anything like that,” he insisted.

Nagano closed his eyes for a moment, then turned away. He walked straight to the seats by the hall and suddenly struck Kitao, sending him flying out of his chair and crashing into the desk in front. The loud thud was followed by a scream from a girl in the room. Clutching his cheek, now bleeding, Kitao looked around in shock.

“W-why are you…?”

As Kitao staggered to his feet, Nagano struck him again.

“Why are you doing this to me?” Kitao shouted.

“Ask yourself,” Nagano spat, then went after Kitao again, attacking him with a fury. The studious, model student had snapped, and the two were locked in a brawl. The boys around them egged them on, while the girls kept their distance, watching in alarm. Students from nearby classes began gathering, and taking advantage of the commotion, Nishizaki slipped out and quietly made his way to the empty stairwell leading to the third floor. On the way, he passed his homeroom teacher, Asakuni, rushing toward the scene.

“Oh god, this is bad, this is so bad,” he muttered to himself. I never should have told Yuzuki. He knew Yuzuki was the type to blab… He was already regretting it, but there was nothing he could do now. At first, Nagano had suspected him of being the one who spread the story about his father. But he’d denied it, and Nagano had believed him, assuming instead that the only other person who knew—Kitao—had told everyone.

If Nagano found out it wasn’t Kitao and tried to track down the real source, he’d probably get to Yuzuki, and Yuzuki would say he’d heard it from Nishizaki. Then what? Would he end up beaten to a pulp like Kitao? The thought terrified him. He couldn’t stand the idea of being hit.

He needed to make sure Yuzuki kept quiet, didn’t spill who’d told him. He couldn’t just rely on Yuzuki’s word anymore; he’d have to pay him off if he had to. That’s what he should’ve done in the first place instead of relying on just a promise. He cursed Yuzuki under his breath, The idiot should just drop dead. If he’s going to cause me all this trouble, he should just kill himself, seriously. Even if Nagano asked him again, or even if Yuzuki admitted it, he’d stick to his story and deny it. Play dumb to the end. That was the safest plan.

He craved a cigarette badly, but his lighter was in his bag, and he didn’t want to go back. Then the bell signaling the start of second period rang. He had to return to class. He didn’t want to, but he knew it would look suspicious if he didn’t.

He slipped back in as the final chime echoed. The desks were back in order, but a tense, unsettled energy filled the room. Nagano and Kitao were nowhere in sight; the two empty seats seemed to loom in his mind, casting a shadow of dread over him.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

The two who had fought returned to class halfway through second period. From a distance, it was clear Kitao’s cheek was red and swollen, and Nagano seemed to be surrounded by a charged, prickly tension. From that day on, Nagano stopped speaking to Kitao entirely. With no “port” for social interaction, the model student was completely isolated. Previously, he’d been alone due to his intelligence and social awkwardness, but now everyone avoided him for a new reason: no one wanted to associate with someone who had a criminal father and a tendency to snap.

Nagano would often glance over at Nishizaki. He no longer tried to talk, but Nishizaki frequently caught his gaze. Those eyes seemed to have something they wanted to say, which was unsettling, so Nishizaki ignored him, pretending not to notice.

The day before the final exams, someone had shoved a pair of toy handcuffs into Nagano’s desk. It was an immature prank, the kind you’d expect in middle school, but Nagano’s face turned pale when he pulled them out, and he began trembling. Quiet whispers spread across the classroom.

“Whose are these?” Nagano held the handcuffs up, his voice low and strained.

“Your dad’s, right?” someone heckled, and the class burst out laughing. Nagano’s face twisted, as though he was about to cry, and he threw the handcuffs out the window. Though a girl said, “Just stop this already,” the quiet laughter lingered.

“That look on Nagano’s face when he saw the handcuffs? Priceless,” Yuzuki smirked as he popped a tomato from the day’s special lunch into his mouth. Only the select few with a VIP pass could access the second floor of the cafeteria, and today they were there.

“It was Kamiya who first thought of stuffing his desk with handcuffs, saying it’d be hilarious. So we all went to the dollar store, and there they were, a pair of toy cuffs,” he explained.

Nishizaki had been there when the prank unfolded, and, truthfully, he hadn’t found it amusing at all. But he knew that voicing that would just make him the butt of jokes, with accusations of “bad vibes” or lingering “feelings” for Nagano. So he forced a laugh and let it pass.

“Have your fun, but don’t go too far. That guy’s got a dangerous side when he snaps,” Nishizaki suggested cautiously. Yuzuki just snorted.

“If he goes for me, I’ll just sue him. He’s got a scholarship, so bad behavior would mean instant expulsion, right? Asakuni-sensei managed to smooth over that fight with Kitao somehow, but if he totally lost it and put someone in the hospital, maybe he’d even end up in juvie. That’d be a laugh.”

Yuzuki clearly didn’t see himself as a potential “someone” on the receiving end of Nagano’s fists.

“So, what, you really hate Nagano?” Nishizaki asked.

“Nah, hate’s too strong. He’s just a rare source of drama, really,” Yuzuki replied, smirking up at Nishizaki. “What’s this? You’re not feeling sorry for him, are you?”

“As if,” Nishizaki replied, taking a sip of water.

“Still, you did go out with him, right?”

“That was just a game for a new pair of shoes.”

“But, you know, Nagano still keeps looking at you. I think he’s got some lingering feelings—totally creepy from the sidelines.”

The irritation bubbled up, and Nishizaki shot Yuzuki a glare. “Trust me, it’s a pain for me, too. You’re the one who blabbed about his dad’s past when I told you not to.”

“I didn’t tell anyone directly,” Yuzuki scoffed. “Just dropped a little hint on social media, and people went wild for it.”

It was the same thing, whether he’d said it directly or posted it online, but Nishizaki was too tired to point it out.

“If Nagano finds out I’m the one who spilled about his dad, he’ll seriously kill me,” he muttered. Yuzuki just laughed.

“Don’t kid yourself—Nagano probably already knows.”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“Come on, if he thinks about it for two seconds, he’d figure out it came from you.”

“But…”

Nagano had asked him once, directly, and he’d denied it. After that, he hadn’t brought it up again.

“There’s only about a month left with this class anyway,” Yuzuki shrugged. “Just ignore him. If his grades tank in the final exam, his scholarship is gone, and they’ll probably expel him. Maybe he’ll lose it, stab you out of spite or something.”

Yuzuki mimed being stabbed in the gut, then pretended to collapse, groaning. It sent a real chill down Nishizaki’s spine.

“Cut it out. He’s the son of a criminal; it’s not a joke,” he snapped.

There was a loud scraping as someone’s chair was pushed back abruptly. Nishizaki and Yuzuki both turned, finding Nagano standing by the window seat. Nishizaki felt his heart stop. How was Nagano, with neither money nor connections, up here in the VIP room?

Nagano slowly approached. Behind him, Asakuni called, “Hey, Nagano,” trying to stop him, but Nagano didn’t seem to hear. With his blank expression, he looked less like himself and more like some unknown creature. Fear rooted Nishizaki to the spot, unable to move. The image of being grabbed by the collar and punched like Kitao flashed in his mind, and reflexively, he squeezed his eyes shut.

A faint breeze brushed past him. When he cautiously reopened his eyes, Nagano was gone. Turning around, he spotted him just exiting the cafeteria. Relief washed over Nishizaki as he realized he hadn’t been hit, but at the same time, his entire body felt drained of strength.

“...Do you think he overheard us?” Yuzuki asked. The bravado he’d shown moments earlier had vanished, leaving his face pale.

“He must’ve heard. That’s why he left,” Nishizaki replied.

Yuzuki hugged his shoulders, trembling slightly. “Not saying anything is what’s really scary,” he muttered. “We’d better make sure not to be alone as much as possible.”

Nishizaki thought the same thing. In his current mood, the idea of being alone was unbearable.

After that incident, Nishizaki found himself flinching every time Nagano came into view, but the feared punch never came. Their eyes never met, and, of course, Nagano never spoke to him. It was as if the days when they had eaten lunch together and even kissed had been a lie. There was no longer any connection between them.

Nagano did nothing. Had he overheard Yuzuki’s conversation and felt so disgusted, so disillusioned, that he no longer cared? Probably. That’s definitely it. Once Nishizaki convinced himself of this, the burden on his chest lightened, if only a little.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

For the final exams of the third term, Nagano ranked seventh. Although still in the upper tier, it was a far cry from the illustrious first-place finish he once held. His drop in rank was likely due to other students stepping up their game in preparation for university entrance exams, but perhaps this was closer to Nagano’s true level all along.

"After studying that much and only getting this? Maybe Nagano’s just average after all,” Yuzuki sneered in the hallway outside the teachers’ room where the ranking results were posted. Nishizaki, knowing Nagano was nearby, felt a chill run down his spine. Nagano, however, said nothing and quietly slipped away, as if retreating.

As the tension of the third term ended and spring break began, Nishizaki was relieved. He had already mentioned to his uncle how difficult it was to get along with a certain classmate, and in the third year, he and Nagano were finally placed in different classes. Even their classrooms were on different floors, and they no longer crossed paths.

The third semester of his second year had been a nightmare, thanks to the constant pressure Nagano’s presence had brought. The rest of my school life should be fun. That means I need love and sex to make it worthwhile. With that resolve, Nishizaki set his sights on a beautiful first-year girl who had become the talk of the school. She already had a boyfriend, but that only made the chase more thrilling.

His aggressive approach paid off, and by early summer, the first-year beauty had fallen for him. Nishizaki had assumed she wasn’t new to this, given her boyfriend, but when he discovered she was a virgin, his excitement skyrocketed. His studies became a secondary priority as he spent the summer indulging in a relationship with her. By the time the new term rolled around, however, her clingy “girlfriend act” became unbearably irritating. He broke things off cleanly and even handed her off to Yuzuki, partly because she had a nice chest.

Around that time, Nishizaki also secured a recommendation for admission to a private university. While his classmates buried themselves in exam prep, he spent a leisurely New Year’s break, skipping school just enough to avoid attendance penalties. He even started frequenting a café near the arcade, where he flirted with a university student three years his senior who worked there part-time.

On a chilly, overcast day in March—far colder than it should’ve been—Nishizaki walked through the front gate, past a sign that read "Graduation Ceremony." Inside the classroom, the blackboard was decorated with artificial flowers and paper streamers, with a large “Congratulations on Your Graduation” message in the center. Though he’d never felt much attachment to the school, the occasion stirred a strange sense of nostalgia. I can’t believe I put up with this prison of boredom for three whole years. I deserve a pat on the back.

As he stared at the blackboard, Yuzuki approached him. The guy had somehow managed to secure a spot at the same university through general admission, despite being woefully underqualified. He’d scraped through as an alternate candidate, luckier than he deserved.

“Hey, remember Nagano from our class last year? Heard anything about him?”

The name tugged at Nishizaki’s memory, bringing an inexplicable flicker of unease.

“No, what about him?”

“Seems like he didn’t get into any university.”

“What?”

“Yeah, apparently the guidance counselor’s pulling his hair out. Guess the guy really cracked under pressure. All that smug studying, even during breaks, and this is where it got him. Hilarious, right?”

Yuzuki shook with restrained laughter.

“They said he’d definitely get into K University, and now, look at him,” Yuzuki scoffed.

After their classes had separated in third year, the only time Nishizaki thought of Nagano was when he saw the exam rankings posted outside the teacher’s room. By then, Nagano had reclaimed first place and maintained a solitary lead. But it seemed he hadn’t secured any recommendations. Probably because those slots went to “donors’ kids” like me. It was a fact of life: having wealthy parents with the means to make hefty donations was a talent in its own right and using it to secure an easier path was perfectly fair.

Nagano, meanwhile, had been on a scholarship. Can he even afford to attend a cram school now? Maybe he’ll just get a job. Whatever. Not my problem. Life wasn’t fair, and hard work rarely paid off.

“What a waste,” Nishizaki muttered under his breath.

“Feeling sorry for him? Wow, spoken like a true ex-boyfriend,” Yuzuki teased.

“It’s his own fault,” Nishizaki shot back, genuinely convinced. Nagano had studied, but his inability to handle pressure had sabotaged him. It was no one’s responsibility but his own. Nishizaki’s mind wandered briefly to an image of Nagano sprinting across the track during their second-year sports festival, but the memory dissolved when a passing classmate called his name.

After the ceremony ended, Nishizaki was about to head home when his mother interjected. “Let’s take a photo in front of the main gate,” she suggested, oblivious to how lame it sounded.

He resisted, but her pleas of “It’s a keepsake!” wore him down, and he reluctantly followed her to the gate. While looking around for someone to take their picture, he noticed Nagano and his mother walking out side by side. Panic set in as he quickly turned his back on them.

“Excuse me, would you mind taking a photo for us?” his mother called out.

Nishizaki froze, his stomach sinking as he realized who she had asked. Turning to confirm, his fears were realized—she had spoken directly to Nagano’s mother.

"Oh, yes, yes, of course!" she replied cheerfully, wearing an ill-fitting, all-purpose black dress and a thick layer of foundation that looked chalky under the sunlight. Nishizaki silently prayed she wouldn’t recognize him, but Nagano’s mother said, “Oh, you’re Nishizaki-kun, aren’t you?” remembering his name from a single meeting over a year ago.

"Thank you for being such a good friend to Masayuki."

I want nothing more to do with your son, Nishizaki thought but forced a strained smile and replied, "Oh, it’s nothing."

"Is he a friend of yours, Tatsuya?" his own mother asked, beaming.

"We were in the same class in our second year. Actually, I’m kind of in a rush—I promised to meet up with some friends later..." Nishizaki attempted to gently hasten things, hoping to escape quickly.

Nagano’s mother snapped two photos of Nishizaki and his mother in front of the school gate. After returning the camera, Nishizaki’s mother turned to him. "Why not take a photo with your friend too, Tatsuya?"

"That’s not really necessary..."

But before Nishizaki could finish, his mother addressed Nagano directly. "Would you like to take a picture with Tatsuya?"

No! Refuse! Nishizaki pleaded silently, but Nagano’s mother interjected with enthusiasm. "Oh, what a great idea! Go on, you two, take one together!" She gave her son a gentle push toward Nishizaki.

It felt pointless to argue over a single photo, and refusing outright would only seem odd. Reluctantly, Nishizaki lined up beside Nagano in front of the gate. Nagano’s mother, abnormally cheerful, called out loudly, "Alright, both of you, a big smile now!" Her booming voice drew stares from nearby passersby.

Why does this feel like a punishment game on my last day here? Nishizaki struggled to muster a smile, painfully aware of how awkward the situation was.

Finally, the ordeal was over. "Well, I’ve got to get going," Nishizaki muttered, ready to bolt.

Just as he was turning away, he heard his name. "Nishizaki."

He reflexively looked back.

"Goodbye."

Nagano’s voice was soft, almost like a whisper. His face betrayed no clear emotion—not anger, not sadness.

"Uh, yeah," Nishizaki replied, quickly averting his gaze. He walked briskly toward the gate, eager to escape.

Even as he left, he could feel eyes on his back. Turning for a moment, he saw that Nagano was still watching him. It wasn’t until the school was far behind him, almost out of sight, that Nishizaki finally felt a weight lift from his shoulders. His body relaxed for the first time that day, as if he had been carrying an invisible burden.

His phone buzzed with a message from Yuzuki: “Meet up at Orekara!”

High school is over, Nishizaki reminded himself. Whether Nagano would repeat a year or get a job, it didn’t matter anymore. They’d never cross paths again. And, in the end, Nishizaki wasn’t to blame. Relationships were a matter of choice, after all. No one could accuse him of being in the wrong. And really, I didn’t want to know about his father being a criminal, but he was the one who said it. If you tell someone, you have to expect it might spread. That’s not on me. That’s on him.

Convincing himself, he typed a reply: "On my way now."

I’ll forget. Just like I’ve forgotten before. It’ll be easy once I stop seeing his face.

And he did forget—completely.

…Until the day he saw Nagano’s name again.

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