We're Not The Same

As lunch was about to end, I began walking back to our classroom.

"Hey!"

The voice I didn't want to hear called out to me.

"Are you the one who ran out of the classroom?"

Quick! Something to hide my face...

I checked my pockets, but couldn't find anything to cover my face.

Okay, she can't tell if it's me, so I have to play it off.

Turning around, I saw her walking up to me.

"Yes, I had to go to the restroom."

I spoke.

"Oh, alright. I just wanted to know if I caused that."

You did...

She then began to look at my face intently.

"Hm, have we met before? You look familiar..."

Ah, she remembers my face...

"N-No, this is the first time I see you in front of me."

It looked like she didn't believe me.

Okay, change the topic!

"S-So, why did you decide to come here?"

My hands felt sweaty as I kept on speaking.

"Oh, uhm... I was born in this town, so I came to visit my old family house and finish school! I want to live a normal life while I can!"

She had a big smile, as sweat dripped off her forehead. She was lying straight to my face.

"You weren't born here. You were born in Akita."

I froze.

WHAT AM I THINKING?!

Hikari's mouth was slightly agape.

"How did you know? Only my family and-"

She stopped herself and looked at me with wide eyes.

"Wait, what's your name?"

Her gaze on me made me nervous.

"Ah, Shin Seto..."

...

I'm really screwed now... That's my favorite vocalist.

"Huh, I never knew you were a vocalist of Deathz?"

Her eyes narrowed at me.

"N-No! It's not that! I'm just nervous, because you're an idol!"

I started to back away slowly.

"Really, then how did you speak so calmly before? What happened, Matsushita?"

She walked closer to me.

AH! There's no way out!

"Who is this Matsushita? I'm not Matsushita."

Deny it! It's the only option!

"Brother Gina!"

Looking behind me, I saw Konno run up to me.

"Thank you for the sandwiches! They were delicious!"

My face went pale, as Konno spoke.

"N-No problem, Konno... I'm glad you enjoyed them..."

I looked at the wall clock.

There's a minute of lunch left! I can do this!

"Oh my god, is that Okubo?!"

Konno squealed, while Hikari was frozen.

"Yeah, I'm just asking her about her life as an idol!"

"That's nice! I'm jealous that I'm not the same age as you, Okubo! We could have been in the same class!"

Hikari was still shocked. She didn't move an inch.

"Konno! Why don't you go to your classroom? Class is about to start!"

I warn her.

"Fine... See you after school!"

Konno hurries to her next class.

Well, how do I explain this...

"Is it really you, Matsushita?"

Now facing Hikari, I see tears forming in her eyes.

I... I can't lie to her anymore.

"...yes. That's me."

After confirming that, she jumped on me and hugged me.

"Hey! You're an idol! You can't go around jumping on me!"

My cheeks flushed.

"I don't care! I wanted to see you all these years!"

Having no way out, I accepted the hug.

Thank god that the classes already started. 

...

Wait!

I break away from her.

"Okubo, the classes already started!"

My hands motioned over the empty hallway.

"Ah! You're right!"

After our exchange, we went to our classes. The rest of the school day went by normal, until...

"Matsushita! Do you want to walk back home with me like before?"

Hikari stormed into my classroom, unaware of the others inside the classroom.

I forgot... When she's excited, she doesn't pay attention to her surroundings...

"EH?"

Everybody looked at me.

"Uh...okay, I'm coming..."

Picking up my stuff, I walk by my classmates.

"We haven't done this in years. I'm so happy we can walk together again!"

While she reminisced, students from all classes followed us to the school gate.

"Brother, you-"

Konno was standing at the gate, probably waiting for me, before she was frozen in shock.

"Oh yeah, you're a brother now?!"

Hikari asked me, as Konno stood in front of her.

"We're not blood related, but she's still my sister. I care for her!"

"Aw, that's so sweet!"

She gave Konno a big smile.

"I think we have a bigger problem."

My hands pointed around the crowd.

"What? Oh..."

Understanding the situation now, Hikari freezes.

"Well, you got any ideas?"

I get no response from her.

Just great... What should I tell them now?

I racked my brain for a solution...

AGH... Think harder!

...

AH!

"We're just pretending. Miss Okubo thought if I pretended to be her friend, that I would blend in. I'm actually her new bodyguard."

Everyone was now looking at me with shocked eyes.

"Miss Okubo?!'

"I was taught to treat Miss Okubo with utmost respect. Now that that's out of the way, could you all please refrain from spreading any news about this. We don't want her rivals trying to do any funny business, do we?"

My gaze turned stone-cold, that the crowd of students shivered.

"YES!" 

"Good, now disperse."

The giant crowd that seemed endless, was nowhere to be seen in a few moments.

"Hah... That was close..."

I sighed, feeling all the tension leave my body.

"And you-"

My finger was pointed at Hikari.

"Get a grasp on the situation! You're an idol to the public! Not my childhood friend!"

These words seemed to snap her out of her trance.

"And what about you? Did you keep your promise?"

I can't believe she is still thinking about our promise!

"That was a long time ago! We're not kids anymore! Even if I did try, it's too late for me!"

I just can't describe how defeated I feel.

"Was our friendship for nothing then?!"

Tears started forming in her eyes.

It meant everything to me... But you shouldn't try to hang around me anymore. I'm a waste.

"What about your promise to call occasionally?"

I tried my hardest to hurt her feelings.

If she begins to hate me, she'll avoid me.

"I tried! I tried and tried, but nobody let me call you! My manager said that I would waste time by speaking to some poor kid!"

Why, why do her words hurt me... ?

"Who knows, maybe he was right? "

Hikari started sobbing.

"W-What is wrong with you?"

My mind went blank for a moment.

Seeing her cry like this... It hurts me.

I bit my lip, before continuing.

"I've changed, Okubo. I realized we're not the same. We were just some kids, who met under unexpected circumstances. We shouldn't have even met in the first place."

Trying my hardest not to cry, I turned my gaze away from her.

"What's in the past, is in the past. What's present is now..."

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"We... are currently strangers. Those kids that were best friends are gone."

Dammit! Why is it so hard? I'm trying to make this easier for the both of us!

"Goodbye, Okubo-san."

I slowly started walking away.

"MATSUSHITA!"

After hearing her yell at me, I started running down the street.

Idiot! Just... leave me alone!

"Matsushita!"

Is she running after me?!

Turning my head around, my gaze falls upon a heart-broken Hikari.

Her hair was getting messy and her eyes looked puffy. The skirt of her new school uniform flailed, as she ran, not caring about the stunned passersby.

"Leave me alone! I don't want to be your friend anymore!"

Our friendship was not supposed to work out.

"Matsushita!"

I returned my attention to what was in front of me.

The area of the city we were in now was surrounded with tall buildings and numerous crosswalks. On the road, there were many cars that were going at speeds of 100 km/h, as this road was connected to the freeway. This area of the town is also known as "No Cross Zone".

No! How did I end up in the No Cross Zone?

I quickly looked around for any desolated side street with a crosswalk.

Um... There!

My legs were burning, as I ran towards the crosswalk.

While running, I saw a car coming from afar.

I will make it!

I stepped onto the crosswalk.

Hikari's eyes went wide.

"GINA! STOP!"

I will make it!

Halfway across, a loud honk was heard before-

CRASH

My body went limp as I flied through the air.

"AH! GINA!"

When I harshly landed on the cold concrete, my consciousness started to fade away.

Ahh... my ears... are ringing...

"GINA!"

Hikari ran towards me.

Hikari...? Why... is she... here...?

"GINA! HOLD ON!"

Why... is... she... calling me... by... my name? We... aren't... kids anymore...

She pulled out her phone and dialed the ambulance.

What... is she... doing...?

"GINA! HEY! STAY AWAKE! DON'T YOU DARE FALL ASLEEP!"

Even... though... I made... her cry... she's... still... worried... about me...

"GINA!"

Her phone slipped from her hands.

I... really... am... a... horrible... person...

"STAY AWAKE!"

Her face was stained with tears.

I'm sorry... I... made... you... cry... over me...

Slowly, my eyes closed.

"GINA!"

was the last thing I heard, before losing consciousness.