Chapter 28 – Just the two of us

The bus ride back should’ve been quiet.

Everyone was tired from the trip, Some people were dozing off with their faces smushed against the window.
Others were poking at snacks or quietly scrolling through their phones, Even Kenta had run out of things to say.

But my mind wouldn’t stop spinning.

I could still feel the warmth of her hand.

She was leaning against the window now, watching the scenery go by.
Her short hair moved a little with the wind from the overhead fan, She hadn’t said anything since we got on the bus.

By the time we arrived back in town, the sun was starting to set.
The sky was painted orange and gold, felt like the trip didn’t want to end just yet.

Everyone was getting picked up by their parents.
There were tired goodbyes, lazy waves, and promises to share photos, Daiki fist bumped me on the way out.

“You survived,” he whispered. “This time.”

I didn’t even have the energy to roll my eyes at him.

Airi stood beside me, still holding her bag. Her phone buzzed once, She looked at it but didn’t reply.

“Do you have to go home right away?” she asked.

“…No,” I said. “Why?”

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she started walking.

There was a small festival happening in town.
I remembered seeing the posters before the trip, but I hadn’t thought we’d still be around for it.

It wasn’t a huge event, Just a few food stalls, some lanterns hanged up across the road, and kids running around with cotton candy.
But it had that strange, quiet charm that only summer nights can pull off.

We walked side by side for a while, not saying much.

She bought us two drinks from a vending machine without asking what I wanted. (She got it right anyway. Again.)

We sat down by a stone bench near a small river, the sounds of the festival behind us barely audible now,

Then she finally said something.

“Yuuji.”

I looked at her.

She was staring down at her can of juice, hands curled tightly around it.

“I want to tell you something. And… I’m scared.”

That made me freeze.

Airi? Scared?

She took a deep breath, then let it out.

“I was horrible to you before, wasn’t I?”

I blinked. “Huh?”

“In elementary school,” she said. “Middle school too, I kept bothering you. Teasing you. Being mean for no reason.”

Her voice is shaking.

“I always wanted to talk to you, Always. But I was too embarrassed, I didn’t know how to say the things I wanted to say. Every time I tried, it came out wrong. Or I just made fun of you instead.”

Her head dropped lower.

“I wanted to be close to you, But I was scared you’d hate me if I was honest.”

“I thought... maybe if I kept bothering you, you’d keep noticing me. Even if it wasn’t in a good way. That way I wouldn’t disappear.”

I couldn’t say anything.

Not because I didn’t want to.

But because I was scared if I spoke, the moment might be ruined.

She looked up at me eyes watery.

“I’m sorry, Yuuji.”

And then—

She cried.

Quietly, at first, Then more.

“I’m so sorry for being like that, I didn’t know how to be normal around you. I kept ruining everything. And when I finally tried to change, it got even more confusing. I don't know what I was supposed to do anymore.”

She covered her face with her hands, voice breaking between sobs.

“I’m so, so stupid…”

I sat there, frozen.

Airi.

Crying.

The same Airi who used to steal my umbrella just to watch me get all soaked.
The same Airi who once took my shoes and gave me a pink slippers for a week and pretended it was “a social experiment.”

That Airi—

Was breaking down in front of me.

“…You don’t have to say anything,” she whispered. “I just wanted you to know.”

I looked at her for a long time.

Then finally, I reached out.

And gently placed my hand on top of hers.

She flinched, then slowly relaxed beneath mine.

“…You could’ve just said hi,” I said softly.

She let out a laugh, still sniffling.

“I know…”

We sat like that for a while, Her head leaned gently against my shoulder.
The cold night air brushed past us. Somewhere in the distance, a firework went off just enough to light up the sky for a second.

She closed her eyes.

And eventually, her breathing steadied.

She had fallen asleep.

I stayed still, not wanting to wake her up.

My shoulder was getting a little sore, but I didn’t mind.

Not tonight.

Yuuji’s Mental Diary – Trip Finale Edition
Airi Status: Confessed. Cried. Asleep on my shoulder. I am now a human pillow.
Mental State: Can’t believe that just happened, Still processing.
Shoulder Pain Level: 7/10
Festival Food Rating: Didn’t eat, Too busy crying emotionally.
Emotional Damage: Repaired. With bonus hug energy.
Final Thought:
I never thought Airi would say all that.
But now that she has…
I’m glad I stayed beside her.