Chapter 6: Side quest

Aoyama Sora was the kind of guy who’d been born rich and raised with EVERYTHING he could ever imagine.

But did having everything really mean feeling complete?

The warmth was pleasant Summer was just around the corner. Sora looked up at the thin clouds drifting across the sky, Slipped on his stylish sunglasses, and got into his car.

An important investor was arriving at Central Station ad to pick him up.

That was what set the Aoyama Group apart from other companies. The heads didn’t delegate.They handled the most important projects personally.

“Hana really is a sincere girl.” Sora opened the convertible’s roof.

He thought back to the first time he’d met Hana Kobayashi at university. His group of “Friends” had dared him to try hitting on her. None of them had managed to get interested in her.

Sora jumped right in, and before long they were talking and talking.

The more time passed, the more he realized what wonderful person she actually was.

A shy girl, full of ideas. So many thoughts spinning in her head that she’d often get distracted and end up making little messes.

But the thing that surprised Sora most… Was that she didn’t know who he was.

She treated him like a normal person. Not like the rich, handsome guy to latch onto.

Just like an ordinary person, with strengths and flaws.

But by then Sora had already been shaped by that mask.

He always had to be perfect. Always outgoing. And above all, always “Happy.”

Someone who had everything wasn’t allowed to be sad.

During the summer, he invited all his university classmates to his family’s beach villa to party and have fun.

In truth, he wished Hana were the only one there with him.

He wanted to find the right moment to talk to her. To tell her how he felt.

But in the end, the mask couldn’t crack.

And so he ruined everything.

Hana had been looking for him through all the rooms, and when she opened the kitchen door, he was there embracing another girl.

Sora tried to say something, but Hana simply left, apologizing.

“ I’m such an idiot”

By now he had arrived at the station.

The more he thought about past, the harder it was to forgive himself for that mistake.

He and Hana never spoke again.

But one day, an opportunity appeared. The MEGA corporation wanted to collaborate on a project. Sora had been tasked with selecting two other companies to partner with from a list of potential candidates.

He saw Hana’s company name.

He didn’t hesitate for a second. He called them.

He proposed the collaboration, but only on one condition.

The project lead had to be Hana Kobayashi.

Sora leaned against his car and lit the last cigarette in his pack.

He glanced at the time on his watch. He was a few minutes early.

He thought that Okabe Kei was an interesting guy too.

He had no problem saying things straight to people’s faces. Sarcastic, and very intelligent.

Maybe he really was the right guy for Hana.

As Sora walked toward a trash can to throw away his empty cigarette pack, he noticed someone he had met recently.

Kei was there and, looked like he was waiting for someone

Sora started heading toward him,maybe to tease him a little, but he didn’t even make it two steps.

The cigarette fell from his mouth when he saw what happened next.

“Lovelyy!”

A really cute girl, wearing a school uniform,ran and jumped into Kei’s arms, hugging him.

Sora was stunned.

The serious, respectable guy Kei… was dating a high school girl??

He was so absorbed in the scene that he didn’t notice someone calling him.

“Aoyama Sora?”

“Just a second, please.”

“Mr. Aoyama, i’m in a hurry.”

“I said i’d be right..” Sora turned around sharply, irritated.

It was the investor he’d been waiting for.

“My apologies for keeping you waiting. Please ,get in the car.” Sora opened the door for him.

He glanced one last time in Kei’s direction.

But Kei was already gone.