Letting Go

Just a few days before the festival was set to happen, I went around the festival grounds with Haruto, helping out wherever needed.

Near the commons was where the festival was being set up. Already, stalls upon stalls lined a long path towards the center of campus.

"This place looks better and better every time I come," I said.

"Right? It's starting to feel like a real festival ground now, maybe even better than last year. I forgot; did you go last year?"

"Nah. That was around the time that Junko and I 'took a break' after a childish argument, so I was a depressed slug for a week or two."

"Damn. She really wasn't a good match for you. I mean, I called it a long time ago. I remember sitting down with Kanon — first year biology class — wondering why the hell you were with someone like her."

"Hmm... In hindsight, I'm not sure. In the beginning, we hit it off pretty well. At least, I thought so. I guess she had other plans. With other guys, I should add."

"I wish I had found out sooner. Could've saved you a massive headache."

"Don't worry about that, Haruto. Not your responsibility to look out for me."

"But I do it anyway because I wanna, and unfortunately for you, it's gonna take a lot more than your words for me to stop."

"Hah... Thanks."

He lightly smacked my shoulder.

"I got you, brother. And you know what? It's a good thing you ended it with Junko now rather than later — or even sooner."

"Yeah? And why's that?"

Before he could reply, someone shouted my name from before.

"Kinoshita!"

We turned around to see Chihara, along with a small group of her friends, approaching us with boxes in their arms.

"Hey, President!"

"Yo," Haruto grinned, putting up the peace sign.

"And good afternoon, Kinoshita. Are you also helping out with the festival?"

"Mhm," I replied. "Haruto and I are testing the route and making sure the layout and signs make sense."

"Oh~ Looks like we're both in for a busy day, huh?"

"Not as busy as our shopping spree, that's for sure. But, when it comes to me, it's definitely high up there."

"Haha! I sometimes forget that you're a homebody, Kinoshita."

Hearing her laugh makes me want to hold her for no reason. I knew I had already fallen for her, but this is just crazy.

"What's that you got there?" I asked.

"Oh, this? I was helping out to make some paper flowers. Look! Aren't they so cute?"

I plucked a red one out of the box.

"Whoa. How did you get them to be so detailed?"

"Online tutorials!"

"Pfft... At least you're honest. Anyway, they look good."

"Thanks, Kinoshita. We're gonna finish our delivery now."

"Have fun."

As they walked away, her friends were poking fun at her, while Chihara defended herself, clearly flustered. I could only imagine what they were talking about.

"Remember what we were talking about before?" Haruto asked, resting his elbow on my shoulder.

"Yeah. You said that it was a good thing Junko and I separated now, and I asked why."

"Well, the answer is walking right over there."

My eyes stayed on Chihara until she disappeared around the corner. With a sigh, I glanced up, watching the sunlight bleed through the foliage of maple trees.

"For once... You might be right, Haruto."

"Whoa~ You didn't immediately tell me to shut up this time. That's a first— W-wait... Don't tell me... Are you taking Chihara as your date to the festival?!"

"And now is the time for me to tell you to shut up."

Once I was done with helping Haruto test the festival route, I branched off and made my way over to the gymnasium. By now, the volleyball team should be wrapping up. I would know, because I used to wait here around this time for a certain someone to finish up.

A few minutes later, a group of students spilled out of the double doors, all dressed in athletic clothes. They were chatting, laughing, and patting each other on the backs. Among them... was Kimura Junko. But there was someone else — someone I would've completely missed had I not had the displeasure of meeting him sooner.

Jizou Kenji, Chihara's ex-boyfriend. Bandages dotted his still-swollen face, but other than that, he seemed completely fine. He even had it in him to smile when Junko rested a finger on one of his wounds, her eyes playful yet seductive.

They walked a bit further down the path, and the moment they saw me, it was as if someone had flipped a switch.

Jizou flinched, tilting his head away, almost like he was scared of me. Junko, on the other hand, was a bit more amused. She retracted her finger and smiled at me.

"Well, well," she said. "Doesn't this bring back memories of when you used to pick me up here? Good times, huh?"

"You'd be right about one thing," I scoffed. "It does bring back memories. Would I call them 'good times'? Not necessarily."

"Aw, come on. You have to be kidding, right? I mean, why else would you come here if not to remind yourself of how much you miss me?"

"Hmm... You know what? Maybe I would've if I hadn't seen you flirting with that little fucker over there. And speaking of which..."—I glared at Jizou—"Take a walk, kid. I need to talk to my ex for a minute."

He hesitated at first before stumbling away.

"We're alone now," Junko smirked. "Just like you wanted, right?"

"Hah. I wouldn't get my hopes up. When I said a minute, I meant it literally."

I drew a deep breath.

"Junko. Don't contact me ever again."

At the same time, she unfolded her arms. It seemed like she was finally understanding what this was about.

"...What?"

"You heard me. Don't approach me, call me, or even text me. Likewise, I will do the same for you. As of this moment, you and I are less than strangers."

She spoke, trying to stay calm yet also trying to play it off as a joke.

"Very funny, Kazuha. I almost fell for it."

At this point, I don't even have it in me to feel anything anymore. No sadness or anger. Just disappointed that I let this go on for so long.

With a calm tone that surprised even me, I said, "I'm not kidding, Junko. More than anything, I never wanna see you again. Date whoever you want, sleep with that kid or whoever else, I don't care. Just leave me out of it."

As I turned to walk away, she stopped me. Of course, she did.

"You think you get to decide that on your own...?" she growled.

"Why not? I mean, you obviously know what you did."

"Well, you didn't leave me with much of a choice, did you?! With the deadbeat you turned out to be, I'm honestly surprised that I didn't do it sooner! Yeah, I lost feelings for you, but that's because you lost it first!"

"It's hard to feel something when there was nothing to begin with."

"...Nothing...? Is that really what you think, Kazuha?"

Finally, I turned around to meet her gaze.

"It's not what I think," I muttered. "It's what I know. From the moment we started dating, did you ever look my way with anything but disgust? No, you didn't, because every single moment we spent together — every date and every trip — you were always so distant, sparing not even a glance."

She was taken aback, almost as if she'd been caught red-handed.

"Hmph. If you knew that, then why didn't you break up with me from the get-go?" she asked, dropping the mask entirely. "Oh, that's right. Because you knew that if you ended it with me, there wouldn't be anyone else lined up for you. I was your only option."

"Junko—"

"You wanna know why I cheated on you, Kazuha? Because I knew that a simple breakup wouldn't have been enough. You wouldn't have shed a single tear, and I got fed up with it."

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle, which was probably a mistake. That one struck a nerve.

"That's it, huh? That's why you cheated?"

"Yeah. That's all. I couldn't stand the thought of someone like you acting like you don't give a shit about me. I deserve better. And you... You're nowhere close to that."

"Is that so? Then it shouldn't be an issue that I'm asking you to leave now, right?"

Junko's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms.

Clearly, I'm getting under her skin, but I don't care anymore. She didn't even bother confronting me until two days after she slept with Jizou — only to tell me that it's my fault she did it in the first place.

Not even... She used me as an excuse to cheat. Maybe she thought it'd be thrilling. Or maybe she really was trying to get my attention in some twisted kind of way.

Regardless, I finally understand. She cheated, and that's enough for me to call it quits.

"Two years, gone," she scoffed. "Just like that, huh?"

"If anything, I'm surprised it lasted that long — and even more ashamed at myself for not cutting you off sooner. The thing is, you don't get to say that when you're the one who initiated it."

"That's not—"

"Don't bother trying to make up excuses, Junko. You... cheated... on me. That's all there is to it. I don't care for the reason. You can play the victim all you want, tell your friends whatever you think I did wrong, but at the end of the day, you know what you did. I know what you did. So leave it at that, and get out of my life."