The Beginning of the Following Day

The next day.

Gradually, I began to wake up.

My body was tired, but my mind was even worse.

(Yesterday was a very busy day…) — I thought.

I stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.

(I think yesterday had the same intensity as the most difficult play I've ever performed… “The Madman Who Loves”.) — I thought, still exhausted.

I sighed.

I picked up my cell phone and checked the time.

(Damn... it's already breakfast time.) — I thought desperately.

I got up quickly.

(If I don't run, I'll be late for university.) — I thought , afraid I wouldn't arrive at university on time.

I changed quickly and left the room, heading straight to the dining room.

The table was set as always.

Flawless.

Akane was there.

"Good morning, Riku-sama, " he greeted . Akane .

"Good morning, Akane-san ," I greeted her back.

She was tidying up a few details on the table.

"Your mother sent word that she'll be supporting Hana today . She shouldn't be back until the afternoon or evening," she informed.

"I understand," I said.

I sat down.

I picked up the chopsticks .

But before I started eating, I noticed something.

I looked around.

" Himari ...?" I asked.

Akane replied , matter-of-factly.

(She was alone with Kanzaki yesterday. I need to know what they talked about.) — I thought.

"I understand," I said.

I ate quickly.

I brushed my teeth.

I went back to the room.

I packed my backpack.

Everything in less than five minutes.

(Maybe I'll stop by the maids' room... Himari 's probably already awake.) — I thought, wanting to know what happened yesterday.

I left the room and went to the door of the maids' room.

I tapped lightly.

No response.

When I touched it… the door opened by itself.

(It wasn't locked... just ajar.) — I noticed.

I stepped in.

And I froze.

Himari was fast asleep.

I was wearing a shirt that was too light for that morning, which made it clear that I shouldn't be there.

My face instantly flushed.

(Damn it… get out of here now.) — I thought after seeing Himari in a see-through shirt.

I immediately turned my face away, took two steps back, and closed the door as carefully as possible.

My heart was racing.

(What am I doing…) — I thought, confused.

I grabbed my backpack.

I left home.

Along the way, I noticed something unsettling.

Some people followed me.

Cell phones in hand.

—Aoyama​ Riku !

Can you talk about the new project?!

I ignored it.

I quickened my pace.

I finally arrived at the gate of Meisei University .

I breathed a sigh of relief.

As always, I ran into Haruto and Kenta .

— Yo . — he said Kenta .

" You look like you spent the whole night thinking about drama," he continued.

— Heh … — I replied.

We entered the campus chatting.

"Man, I wanted to live in a romantic comedy with ecchi ." he said . Kenta .

Haruto laughed.

"You just want a girl to rub her breasts or her butt against you," he said . Haruto, in an ironic way.

"Hey, maybe you should go to the shrine and pray. They say wishes come true," I said .

"You bastards..." Kenta grumbled .

Haruto glanced at me sideways.

"By the way, Riku ... you're super popular, but you've never had a girlfriend," he said . Haruto .

"I don't like worrying about that," I replied.

That's when something caught my attention.

A girl walked past us.

Hair tied up.

Glasses.

Discreet posture.

My heart skipped a beat.

(Hey… that girl…) — I thought.

It was her.

Kanzaki Mio.

And, for the first time since yesterday…

I didn't know if I should call her.

I saw her before anything else.

Hair tied up.

Glasses.

Simple clothes.

Kanzaki Mio.

She saw me too.

For a second.

Just one.

Her eyes widened slightly… and then she looked away.

— Ah … good morning—

She walked past me.

Too fast.

- There is ?

He didn't even slow down.

Hey, wait—

She started running.

— HUH?!

I stood still.

"What was that just now?" Kenta asked.

"Do you know her?" Haruto added.

— N-no . I've never seen it. — I replied too quickly.

"Seriously?" Kenta laughed.

"Then why did she run away like that?" Kenta asked.

"Maybe he fell in love at first sight and panicked," Haruto teased.

"Shut up," I retorted, feeling my face grow hot.

We look to the future.

Mio had already disappeared among the buildings.

"Well, everyone to their own building?" Haruto shrugged.

"See you later," Kenta waved.

— See you later. — I replied.

They went their separate ways.

I was left alone.

(What was that…?) — I thought, confused.

I took a deep breath and started walking.

It was when—

Hey.

My shirt was pulled forcefully.

— Huh?!

Before I understood what was happening, I was dragged aside and pressed against a wall between two buildings.

"Speak quietly!" she whispered.

Kanzaki Mio.

Very close.

"What was that?! Why did you run away?!" I asked , nervously.

"Because you were about to draw attention to yourself," she replied curtly.

"People were watching," she continued.

"I just said good morning!" I said.

"This is already too much here," she said.

She stared at me.

"You're famous. I'm not," she explained.

"How was I supposed to know that just saying 'good morning' would cause such a fuss?!" I asked angrily.

"And don't blame me," he retorted.

I clenched my teeth.

"Don't you think you're exaggerating?!" I asked.

Her gaze hardened.

"Having you around is already a problem," she replied.

She took a deep breath.

"And if her childhood crush finds out about us, they'll both be in trouble. She'll think, 'The boy I rejected in elementary school had to rent a girlfriend because he couldn't move on ,'" she explained .

My chest tightened.

(So Himari told Kanzaki about Sakura …) — I thought.

"If you say anything about me, I won't forgive you," he continued .

Himari and I know your secret!" I said quickly.

She closed her eyes for a moment.

"Then keep it that way," she said.

"Even if someone else knows, I don't care... Yukino seems trustworthy," she continued.

He took a step back.

"I don't intend to stop my work because of you," she said firmly.

I swallowed hard.

She adjusted the bag on her shoulder.

"I hope you understand and never ask for my services again," he said , turning away.

She left.

This time, walking.

I stayed there.

Alone.

(Don't worry, Kanzaki ... I won't bother you anymore. I'll tell my family and Sakura that we're over. That way... I can finally be with the person I've always loved.) — I thought angrily and determinedly.

But even thinking that, my chest remained heavy.

I entered the classroom for the Communication and Arts course.

As always, I became the center of attention.

Whispers.

Gazes that linger too long.

Cell phones discreetly pointed.

Some girls whispered amongst themselves, others pretended not to look… and looked even more.

— …

I sat in my seat.

The class started.

(Focus. Just focus.) — I thought.

I wrote everything down.

I paid attention.

I answered when I was called.

Even with my head full, I was still able to study in that automatic way I'd learned from a young age.

But this is tiring.

Very.

When the professor ended the class, I felt my whole body grow heavy.

Interval.

(My head is going to explode…) — I thought, mentally exhausted.

I looked around searching for Haruto and Kenta .

I didn't see either of them.

It was when—

— Riku .

The voice.

I recognized that voice.

I looked up.

Midorikawa Sakura was sitting at one of the tables in the inner courtyard, watching me with a calm smile.

"Come here ," she said.

( Sakura is calling me…) — I thought.

My heart was beating faster.

(If I sit down with her… in the end I'll tell her I broke up with Kurokawa . Nobody will find out. And I can finally move on.) — I thought with a sense of relief.

I went there.

I sat next to her.

(I'm at university... sitting next to the girl who rejected me in elementary school. And who yesterday said she loves me.) — I thought, afraid of what would happen.

"By the way, do you still watch anime?" Sakura asked casually.

"Yes, I'm watching, " I replied .

"I try to keep up with the ones from this season. Due to lack of time, I usually watch about four... when I'm on vacation, I can watch about eleven per season or catch up on the ones I'm behind on," I continued.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"I understand. I still watch them too. I can keep up with about nine at most. I mostly like mystery, romance, and horror," Sakura said.

She smiled.

Smile back.

"Mine are romantic comedies, action, and mystery," I said.

That's when two shadows stopped in front of us.

"Hey! So you're Sakura from elementary school?" Haruto said.

"How long has it been?" Kenta finished.

Sakura tilted her head slightly.

" Haruto ... Kenta ... so it's you two," he said . Sakura .

"She still remembers us!" Kenta laughed.

Sakura crossed her hands on the table.

"I know! How about we have dinner together tonight? There's a nice restaurant nearby," she said excitedly.

"It's perfect," I replied too quickly.

She turned her face towards me.

"By the way, Riku ... bring your girlfriend too," she said.

— ?!

Haruto and Kenta froze.

"Hey! Don't say that so loud! If someone hears, it'll be a huge problem," I said quietly.

Haruto put his hand on my shoulder, laughing.

"Dude, doesn't she have a friend? Or a sister?" Haruto asked.

"No," I replied curtly.

(She's a rental girlfriend. I only spent one day with her. I don't know anything about her life.) — I thought.

"But you still haven't said if you're going to bring her," Kenta insisted.

(What a mess… I can't tell the truth. Me, of all people… a promising actor… with this stain.) — I thought desperately.

I took a deep breath.

"Of course I'll bring her. We love each other very much... and she'll definitely come," I lied.

As soon as I spoke, I realized I had made a mistake.

I looked at Sakura .

She was visibly shocked.

(I just made a huge mistake.) — I noticed Sakura looked annoyed.

"Okay. Then I'll see you tonight," she said, regaining her smile.

Sakura got up... and left.

(My chances of having a real girlfriend are dwindling…) — I thought.

"Don't tell me you were shaken to see Sakura after all these years," Haruto teased.

(No… what shook me was what she said yesterday.) — I thought about what she told me yesterday.

"A little," I replied.

The halftime alarm rang.

The students began to return to their classrooms.

It was when—

I saw her.

Kanzaki Mio.

Walking briskly across campus.

(I need to talk to her.) — I thought desperately.

I ran.

—Kanzaki !​ — I shouted .

She stopped.

He turned slowly.

"Didn't we talk earlier?" she asked coldly.

"I need to tell you something," I replied.

Silence fell between us.

Heavy.

Suffocating.