(V2) Chapter 2: Melting Ice

The night stretched long and silent, the streets almost empty in exception to the occasional hum of passing cars.

I managed to board the last train from Isesaki Line and it took me just a few minutes to reach Hikifune Station.

The breeze’s chill bit cold at my exposed skin, so I pulled my hoodie tighter around me.

That takes me to a thoughtful pause, only late nights and early mornings brought the city into peace. No bustle of people, no crowd. One would love being awake while the city sleeps.

Five minutes into my long march, the convenience store was finally on sight. Its fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow onto the pavement, washing out the colors of the city.

Beneath the bright light was Takamine-san, resting her chin on one hand while fumbling with her phone with another. A dripping sundae sat above her table.

She looked nothing like the girl I had confessed to weeks ago—the one who had turned me down with that elegant poise, as if rejecting me was just another part of her daily routine.

The ‘no’ she mumbled that day still haunts me—a bit.

And tonight, she looked…vulnerable.

Her long black hair was loosely tied back, stray strands falling over her face. She wasn’t wearing her usual pristine, well-thought-out outfits—just a hoodie and sweatpants, almost as if she had rushed out of her house without thinking.

I wondered if that meant anything. She looked ordinary—almost like a stranger.

I shoved my hands deeper into my hoodie pockets, trying to keep my voice neutral. “Late night ditch? Mr. Takamine wouldn’t approve of this.”

She turned at the sound of my voice, and for a split second, something flickered in her blue eyes—relief? Guilt? I couldn’t tell.

“I’m only free when they’re asleep.” she admitted.

Yup, that’s the hard pill to swallow. Being the daughter of the top dogs in the country would come at a cost.

“I’m surprised you came,” she followed up, offering a small, hesitant smile.

“I almost didn’t,” I replied honestly. “But I figured you wouldn’t call me out here for nothing. Tell me, is this about Arata?”

“No. I just…I wanted to talk. About what happened. About the things I said.”

My chest tightened briefly.

I leaned against the vending machine beside her, keeping a noticeable distance. “You already said sorry.”

“I know. But I feel like it wasn’t enough.”

I sighed, tilting my head back and staring at the dark, empty sky. “It doesn’t change anything, Takamine-san. You rejected me. I got over it. That’s how these things work.”

I heard her shift beside me. “Did you, though?”

I turned to look at her. “What?”

She was already watching me, searching for something in my expression. “Did you really get over it? Or are you just pretending to?”

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. “What difference does it make, Takamine-san? With hundreds of boys pouring their hearts at you, I don’t think my own feelings would shake you up at all. I’m almost a stranger to you, if we were not in the same room.”

“It makes a difference to me. Because I didn’t reject you for the reasons you think.”

I frowned.

“Then why did you? Is it because you still love Arata?”

“This is not about him. We’re just friends, and I don’t prefer running back into exes—if that assures you.”

“I don’t need reassurance. I just need reasons why you dumped me.”

But does it even matter right now? If she hadn’t opened this one up, I would never bother myself to ask.

She hesitated, fingers curling into the hem of her hoodie. “Because I didn’t know what to do with feelings like that. I’ve always had control. You... you made that impossible. And I was scared of what would change.”

I laughed dryly, shaking my head. “Well, you got your wish. Things changed anyway.”

She flinched at that, looking down at her shoes. “I know.”

Silence stretched between us. I could feel the weight of it pressing down on me, filling the gaps between the things we didn’t say.

I sighed, breaking the silence. “Why are you bringing this up now?”

“Because I can’t stop thinking about what I heard today.”

“Is that even a thing of concern? I mean—”

She cut me off mid-sentence.

“It does. You gave up everything—your money, your comfort—just to help someone else. I never thought you were that kind of person, Ishida-kun.”

Something in my chest twisted. “Yeah, well, people change.”

Impasse once more. This time, it was something that humbled us, and maybe, pulled us further away.

“Who was it?”

I didn't reply at first. She noticed.

“The person you saved. Who was worth throwing everything away for?”

I turned away, staring at the vending machine like it held all the answers. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does. I didn’t realize how much that meant until now.”

I forced out a breath, willing my hands to stay steady in my pockets. “Too late for that, isn’t it? I'll be forever invisible if not only you heard that rumor, no?”

Silence.

“And I wonder if you’re going to ignore me again in the next PE classes..” I added.

She remained shut for a long moment. Probably my words hit the right spot, as her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“That’s not tru—”

“Entirely true,” I cut in, voice sharper than usual, making her blink. “Can we cut to the chase already? Just spill your reason why you called me here.”

She tensed, possibly mustering her courage.

Then, finally, she spoke. “I want to help you.”

I blinked, turning to her. “What?”

“I can give you everything you need to get back on your feet. You don’t have to do this alone.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Yeah, and what? Have everyone at school whispered about how I’m living off my ex-crush’s pity money? No thanks.”

She frowned. “It’s not pity. It’s just—”

“No.” My voice was firmer this time. “I appreciate it, but no. I made this mess. I’ll fix it myself.”

Takamine-san's disappointment flickered in her expression. “You’re really stubborn.”

“Or maybe I just don’t want to owe anyone anything.”

She let out a small, breathy laugh, shaking her head. “You really are different now.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Ishida-kun I knew long ago…he looked at me like I was the most important thing in the world.”

Something sharp twisted in my chest. How the hell can she bring that one up, knowing the situation’s already chippy?

“And now?” I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“Now, you barely look at me at all.”

The air between us grew heavier, and I knew she wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t the same guy who had stood in front of her weeks ago, heart pounding, hoping for something that was never meant to be.

I imagined that life could be a romantic novel for a moment, and there will be miracles—the man at the bottom wins.

But she destroyed those dreams on a whim.

For years, I became just a fan, watching a long time love interest fall with other boys, and heck it crushed me whole.

And she was right. And I hated that she was right. That Haruki was gone. I already melted him through the harsh liquors I took back then.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t have time to be that guy anymore, Takamine-san. I have other priorities now. Rent, food, school—things that actually matter.”

She studied me for a long moment before she smiled, but it wasn’t the usual bright, confident smile she always wore. This one was smaller, softer. It was the kind of smile you wear when you realize you’ve lost something you didn’t even know you wanted.

“I get it. I won’t bother you anymore.”

As Takamine-san turned to leave, something inside me pounded—I thought I had buried it along with my feelings for her. I watched her take a few steps, her hands tucked into her hoodie pockets, her shoulders slightly hunched against the cold.

“Takamine-san.”

She stopped but didn’t turn around immediately. When she did, her expression was unreadable. “Yeah?”

She blinked rapidly, probably trying to hide the sheen of tears. But under the fluorescent lights, it was impossible not to notice.

“T…” I hesitated, the words stuck in my throat. I didn’t know why I stopped her. Maybe I just wasn’t ready to let her walk away like that. Maybe some part of me wanted to hold onto whatever this was, even if I knew it wouldn’t change anything.

“…Thanks,” I finally said. “For coming here. For…offering to help, and pushing through your own risks.”

She let out a quiet breath, her lips twitching upward, but there was a sadness in her eyes. “You’re thanking me for something you didn’t accept?”

“I’m thanking you for thinking about me, even if I can’t take it.”

She stared for a second longer before shaking her head with a soft chuckle. “You really are an idiot, Ishida-kun.”

I smirked faintly. “Didn’t need you to tell me that.”

“I presumed that you just called me out just to ask where I got your contact.”

“Must be Saori herself. She’s the kind of person that doesn’t say no to anyone.”

She sighed, stepping back slightly, but she didn’t turn away just yet. “Even if you don’t need my help…you know you can talk to me, right? I know you take me like a Madonna in school but no, I’m still your classmate and your friend.”

I shoved my hands deeper into my hoodie pockets. “Not everything needs to be talked about.”

“You’re really shutting me out, huh?”

“I’m just trying to figure things out. You’re still our class rep—our shoulders to cling to.”

“…Alright.” She took another step back. “Sorry for bothering you.”

She looked like wanted to say something more but decided against it.

She turned for real, walking away without hesitation.

I watched her go, her figure growing smaller in the dim streetlight. And for a moment, I thought about calling her back. About telling her the truth.

That I wasn’t shutting her out.

That I wasn’t pushing her away because I wanted to.

But because no matter how much I wanted to hold onto something familiar, something safe…

There was another face lingering in my mind.

A bruised girl with desperate eyes and nowhere to go.

Ayase.

I could never save myself, so I saved her instead.

The thought of her burned through me, pushing everything else away.

So I let Takamine-san walk away.

And I told myself I didn’t care.

Even though, deep down…I wasn’t sure if that was true.