Chapter 4: The Incident

The next day, I went to the mart to pick up supplies for the camping trip. Sachi had already left for dance practice with Hana, and Kenji had some things to attend to.

I grabbed a few packets of snacks, drinks, coal, and a fire starter. We had the rest of what we needed at home.

The familiar beep of the mart doors sounded as they slid shut behind me. I stepped outside — and stopped. A familiar figure had just passed by.

It didn’t take long to place him.

Daiki Matsuda. Seeing him resurfaced memories of the incident that started it all.

* * *

Two and a half years ago, I was in my final year of junior high. Yuki and I were close back then — closer than we’d ever been — and I thought things were on track for us to take our relationship to the next level.

I had liked Yuki for a while. Despite being neighbours, I’d never quite managed to confess. But I had a feeling she felt the same way. I even had it all mapped out: a confession letter, a meetup, the whole thing. Then one day I found a note tucked into my desk drawer at school.

Meet me at the playground after school today. — Yuki

My heart thumped. She was taking the initiative. The moment the bell rang, I packed up and left.

I ran around the corner and into the playground. It was already dusk, the sky painted red and orange. Crows cawed loudly from the trees, their shadows long across the ground.

Where would Yuki-chan be? I scanned the playground. No sign of her. No sign of anyone.

That’s odd. She doesn’t even usually come this way —

"All it took was Yuki-chan's name, and here you are." A voice came from behind me.

I spun around. Daiki Matsuda stood there, flanked by two other boys.

"You make it really easy, Ryo-kun." He smirked. The smile faded as he stepped forward. The two boys behind him stayed quiet.

Daiki had a reputation. He knew how to work around the teachers, and he was smart enough to never get caught.

"Where's Yuki-chan?" I asked, instinctively stepping back. I’d never crossed paths with them directly before, but the rumours were there — Daiki was interested in Yuki too.

"No idea. She’s definitely not here though. In fact, nobody else is." He walked toward me slowly. The smile was gone from his face.

"You wrote the letter?" The realisation was beginning to settle.

"Me? Nah. He did." Daiki jabbed a thumb at one of the boys, who looked away. "His handwriting is really neat. You’d never guess, looking at him." Nobody was enjoying this, I could tell.

"Why? Why did you bring me here?"

Daiki stopped right in front of me. He looked conflicted for a moment, as if reconsidering. Then his face darkened.

"To teach you a lesson." He tried to look menacing, but his voice had a slight shake to it. "Give us your schoolbag."

"What? Why do you need it?" I was getting scared by now.

He paused for a moment, then gestured to his friends. They exchanged a look before running up and grabbing my bag.

"Hey! What did I even do?"

"We’re just borrowing it. You’ll have it back tomorrow." Daiki tried to sound reasonable.

They pulled it off me and ran, disappearing into the setting sun. Daiki was the last to leave.

"Not a word to anyone. Got it? Otherwise…" He turned back once and gave a slow thumbs-down. Then he was gone.

I went home without my schoolbag that day. I acted normal. Nobody suspected anything.

Until the next morning, when Sachi caught me at the door.

"Onii-chan. Where’s your bag?" She squinted at me.

"I left it at school. Easier that way." I smiled unconvincingly.

"Mum said we should bring everything home."

"Yeah… don’t tell mum, okay?"

"If you buy me an ice-cream."

"…Fine. After school."

"Chocolate-flavoured."

I rolled my eyes. Trust Sachi to monetise a crisis. But her breezy casualness helped — it briefly took my mind off the dread of explaining a missing schoolbag to my teachers.

I arrived at school and walked into my classroom. People were already looking at me in a way that felt off.

Are they staring because I have no bag?

A cluster of students had gathered around my desk.

"Hey, let me see."

"Move over a bit…"

"Goodness. I never knew Hayashi-san was like that."

My ears pricked up at my name. Curious, I pushed through.

"He’s here." Hushed voices. Students peeled off and went back to their seats, avoiding my eyes.

"What’s going on? What are you all looking at?"

My books were on the desk. My schoolbag too — I exhaled with relief. Then I looked closer, and my legs went hollow.

The books were open. Words covered the pages — big, angry, scrawled in red. Names of classmates, teachers, people I barely knew. Slander. All of it in books with my name on them.

The classroom door slid open. Kenji appeared in the doorway, breathless.

"Ryo. You didn’t do it. I knew it. You wouldn’t."

He’d run from his own classroom. The books had apparently made their way to other classes too.

I was pulled out to the office. The homeroom teacher asked questions I didn’t answer. The thought of dragging Yuki into it — of Daiki making good on his threat — kept my mouth shut. So I said nothing, which amounted to the same thing as a confession.

With no progress into the investigation, no disciplinary action was taken. The teacher called my mum anyway. She was heartbroken. The adults could tell I hadn’t done it. But something had happened, and they couldn’t prove otherwise.

After that, life got quieter in the worst way. Students kept their distance — as if being near me made you a target. Kenji was the only one who didn’t flinch. I never told him who was behind it, no matter how many times he asked. But he’d worked it out anyway.

Daiki never came near me again. He didn’t need to. I’d already stopped approaching Yuki at school, convinced that if I did, he’d find a way to pull her into it.

Yuki checked on me more than before, to her credit. I brushed her off every time. Smiled when people were watching, kept the rest to myself. Told myself that was what being tough looked like.

* * *

— At home — a month later —

Dad was home for his rare monthly visit.

"How’s Ryo-kun holding up, dear?" he asked.

"He was in quite bad shape last month… but he’s been improving consistently. The shrine priest — Shimizu-san — has been spending time with him."

Dad looked relieved. "I really should thank Shimizu-san… Ryo-kun is graduating soon. It might be worth thinking about a fresh start somewhere. I spoke to my brother in Sendai — he’s happy to take Ryo in."

"Sendai… that’s quite far."

"I moved at his age. The distance is part of the point — new environment, new school, no baggage. I think it’ll do him good."

"I know it would be good for him… and your brother is a kind man. I’d just… miss him."

"A few years, that’s all. And Sachi’s still here." Dad paused. "I’ll tell him myself. He’ll listen."