The Stories That Don't Match (POV Sakura)

After dinner, I went home alone.

The silence in the house seemed greater than usual.

My mother was at the hospital, helping my grandfather with whatever he needed.

I already knew that… but even so, I went straight to my room.

I sat on the bed and picked up my cell phone.

I dialed.

"Hello, Sakura ?" my mother's voice came from the other end of the line .

— Hi, Mom — I replied.

"I just wanted to know if Grandpa had improved at all," I continued .

"Not as many as we'd like," Hana said .

"But his condition hasn't worsened much either," she continued.

I sighed with relief.

"The doctors are doing everything they can, right?" I asked, worried.

"Yes. I believe Hirotsu will get better soon," she replied .

There was a short pause.

"I'm going to hang up now, I'll be home around 10:30 PM. You'll probably already be asleep," she continued.

"That's right," I said.

The call ended.

I dropped my phone next to me on the bed.

"Oh my goodness..." I murmured.

Good thing I called first.

If I didn't know that Grandpa was stable, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything else.

Kurokawa girl appeared out of nowhere in Riku 's life .

I looked at the ceiling.

Grandpa always said I had a talent for writing screenplays.

That I knew how to build characters, conflicts, plot twists.

Once, a friend of his asked him to write a screenplay.

Grandpa asked me to write for him, as a test.

He said he would evaluate it.

He liked it.

He sent it to his friend.

The friend loved it.

I looked away from the ceiling and stared at the room, letting a small smile appear on my face.

— At least… I got something good out of it. — I murmured with a smile on my face.

I sighed.

For some reason, that Kurokawa wanted to play the perfect girlfriend.

Discreet.

Calm.

Correct.

As if she were the protagonist of a well-written story.

My smile widened a little.

"But protagonists can fall too," I murmured confidently .

I grabbed the notepad that was next to me on the bed.

"Besides... aren't there stories where the villains are the protagonists and are genuinely evil?" I murmured.

I opened the notebook.

— I know. — I murmured ,

I tilted my head slightly.

"I'm going to be the villain in my own story. And I'm going to take down Kurokawa ," she said , laughing.

I closed the notebook for a moment.

— But for that to happen… I can't lose control like I did at dinner tonight. — I thought .

I picked up my phone again and opened the gallery.

An old photo appeared on the screen.

Me and Riku .

Elementary education.

He smiled in that awkward way he always did.

I ran my finger across the screen.

" Riku ... why didn't you wait for me?" I murmured .

My chest tightened.

"I love you," I murmured .

I placed my cell phone and notepad on the small table next to the bed.

I turned off the light.

I lay down.

The next day.

I woke up before the alarm went off.

The sky was still dark when I went down to the kitchen.

It was 6:30 AM.

My mother was already awake.

Hana was sitting at the table, with a cup of coffee in her hands and her cell phone propped up beside her, as if she were expecting a call at any moment.

"Good morning," I said, sitting down across from her.

"Good morning, Sakura ," he replied with a tired smile.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked me.

"I slept... more or less," I replied.

There was a brief silence.

"Mom, before I go to university... can I stop by the hospital to see Grandpa?" I began .

She looked at me for a few seconds.

He seemed to be pondering.

"You have class early today, don't you?" she asked.

"I have it," I replied.

"But I promise I won't be long," I continued.

Hana sighed.

" Okay," he said finally.

"Let's go together," she said with a sigh.

The drive to the hospital was silent.

When we arrived, the hallway was still calm . Few footsteps, few voices.

Hirotsu was sleeping.

The devices beside the bed kept a steady rhythm.

I stood still for a few seconds before approaching.

He seemed... smaller.

More fragile than I ever imagined.

— Grandpa… — I murmured softly.

I held his hand carefully.

— Get well soon… okay ? — I murmured very softly .

I swallowed hard.

"I love you very much," I murmured.

I stood there for a few moments, watching her calm breathing.

The clock read 7:10 when I let go of her hand.

"I need to go now," she said, even though she knew he couldn't hear her.

"I'll come back another day," I continued.

I left the room with a tight chest.

In the hallway, I said goodbye to my mother and headed towards the exit.

That's when I saw someone familiar.

— Sakura-chan ?

I turned my face away.

Aoyama Ayane was there.

Elegant as always.

— Ayane-san . Good morning. — I replied, tilting my head slightly.

"Good morning," she said.

"I came to see Hirotsu . How is he?" she asked.

"He's stable. He's still sleeping," I replied .

"That's good..." he murmured.

I hesitated for a moment.

But I decided to ask.

" Ayane-san ... can I ask you something? " I began.

"Of course," she replied.

"How did Riku and Kurokawa-san meet?" I asked.

She blinked, surprised by the question, but answered without hesitation.

"Oh, that? She mentioned seeing a play by Riku . After that, they ended up getting closer," he said .

I felt a slight shock run through my body.

(A play…?) — I found it strange.

Smile.

"I understand," I said.

"Thank you so much for telling me," I said.

"I was just curious to know how Riku met her," I continued .

"Curiosity is normal," Ayane replied, her gaze too intently.

I took a step back.

"I need to go now," he said.

"I'm late for university," she said hurriedly.

"See you later, Sakura-chan ," said Ayane .

"See you later, Ayane-san ," I said.

I left the hospital.

The morning air brushed against my face.

As I walked towards the station, only one thing kept echoing in my mind.

(Yesterday… she told a different version.) — I thought.

I paused for a moment on the sidewalk.

"That's strange..." I murmured.

Perhaps it was just a detail.

Or perhaps…

Riku 's relationship with Kurokawa wasn't exactly what it seemed.

I kept walking.

But from that moment on, I knew:

Something was wrong.