Being Pitied

"So you had to carry her the whole way?!" Yujiro burst into laughter. I had just finished recounting last night's events to Yujiro and Aika as we made our way to the Astronomy club.

"Remind me to never discuss this kind of stuff with you again," I said, flashing a smile.

"Sorry, dude, but that's just hilarious! The first time you two go for a walk together, and she falls asleep!" Yujiro struggled to stifle his laughter, but I couldn't resist giving him a playful punch.

"Why are you acting like we were dating?!" I retorted.

"Should I say it?" Aika chimed in with a mischievous smile. I glared at her, anticipating her teasing.

"You know me better than that," I replied. "When have I ever been a romantic guy?"

Yujiro shrugged. "That's true." I leaned back in my chair, contemplating, "It's going to be tougher than I thought to keep this a secret." I glanced at the door and noticed Ayumi entering.

"I think I'll go hang out with Ayumi instead of you two making jokes about me," I declared, rising from my seat and heading toward her.

"He's definitely into her," I overheard Aika whisper to Yujiro as I walked away. Rolling my eyes, I ignored their comments.

"Hey, Ayumi," I greeted her, raising a hand in acknowledgment.

"Oh, hi, Haruki," she responded, finding a seat at the very back. "Um, thanks again for helping me get home last night." She seemed a bit embarrassed.

Leaning on the table, I smiled. "It was no trouble at all. I have to admit, I almost fell asleep myself." Her embarrassment seemed to fade, and she returned my smile.

"Ayumi!" Aika approached us. "I trust you got home safely?" Her smirk indicated she was teasing Ayumi, who shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"There were no issues," I interjected, stepping in.

Aika looked at me, grinning. "Haruki, let Ayumi speak for herself, please." I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, I arrived home without any problems," Ayumi finally spoke up, looking at Aika. "Nothing eventful occurred." Aika's smile vanished.

"Too bad," she commented. "I thought something interesting might have happened. Like..." Aika pretended to ponder. "Like falling asleep on the train, leaning on Haruki's shoulder!"

Ayumi flinched.

"Leave her alone, Aika," I pushed Aika away.

"No luck?" I heard Yujiro ask.

"Not really," Aika's grin returned. "She's flinching, and that's enough for me."

I glared at Aika and shook my head at her. She simply grinned. Yujiro leaned back in his seat, and I let out a sigh of frustration.

"Well, that's the side of her that comes out naturally," I said, playfully putting an arm around Ayumi and giving her a gentle squeeze. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "Just a bit surprised."

"I apologize for that," I said, taking a seat beside her.

"It's not your fault," she reassured me with a smile. "At least she isn't acting all sweet and nice towards me." I grinned back as Ayumi took out her notebook.

"What's that?" I leaned over, curious.

"My astronomy book," she replied, opening it. Inside, there were captivating pictures of constellations and the night sky.

"Interesting," I remarked.

"Isn't it too unusual?" Ayumi asked. I shook my head. "I find it fascinating to have a notebook filled with things like this."

She flipped to a page displaying pictures of constellations with captions. I read one aloud.

"Orion's Belt. 11:37 PM. December 6, 2015." I glanced at her. "Is this where you document the constellations you've seen?"

She nodded. "I record the new ones I discover in here."

"How many have you seen so far?" I inquired, intrigued. She flipped through the book. "Twenty-two."

Leaning back in my chair, I smiled. "That's impressive. I think I've only spotted, like, two!" Her smile brightened.

"Good afternoon, class!" The teacher entered the room. Strangely, I hadn't seen him before. "Welcome to the first day of the Astronomy club!" I observed him closely.

"Must be a new teacher," I thought. "He looks about twenty-five years old."

The teacher beamed. "Hi, my name is Mr. Izumiya. Feel free to call me Izumi." I glanced at Ayumi, and her expression suggested she already knew who he was.

"I'm also a new teacher," Mr. Izumiya continued. "I hope we can all have fun and enjoy our time here!"

Observing Mr. Izumiya's infectious enthusiasm, I couldn't help but think, "He's so full of joy and excitement, unlike me." However, I quickly dismissed that thought.

"Before we begin, let's go over a few things today," Mr. Izumiya said, grabbing a marker and writing on the board. "I'll start with the basics. Today, we'll explore the fascinating history of astronomy." A few groans filled the room, prompting Mr. Izumiya to glance over his shoulder. "I know it may seem boring, but understanding the history is essential to grasp the subject."

He continued writing. "Don't worry, everyone. There's a silver lining. Once we finish delving into the history, we'll have our first camping trip next Friday! It will start at one in the afternoon and end the next day."

Instantly, people's expressions transformed into smiles. However, I couldn't help but grimace.

"Can Yujiro really manage to cover for me at work?" I pondered. "And who will take care of Sakura and Kaito? Neither Yujiro nor Aika can handle that responsibility. Will they be joining the trip too?" Letting out a sigh, I realized that this class might not work out as planned. I rested my head on my desk.

"What's the matter, Haruki?" Ayumi asked, concerned. "Aren't you excited about the trip?"

I lifted my head and met her gaze. "I am, but I don't think I'll be able to go." She frowned.

"Why not?" Scratching the back of my head, I looked down, searching for a reasonable excuse that wouldn't divulge too much about my personal life.

"Well, I have a job, and it would interfere if I went," I explained. "Even if I had a break for that day, my brother and sister would still need me."

"But can't your parents take care of them?" Ayumi asked, her words catching me off guard. I had been trying to hide the fact that I faced no ordinary challenges in my daily life. And now she was asking this question?

Yujiro seemed to notice my discomfort and walked over, his usual smile replaced by a serious expression. "Haruki's parents... they passed away some time ago," he revealed, surprising me. How could he have just disclosed that information? I stood up abruptly.

"Haruki," Yujiro placed a hand on my shoulder. I shoved it away and hurriedly made my way out of the classroom.

"Does he really think he can just go around sharing whatever he wants about me?!" I seethed in my thoughts. "Whenever people find out about my life, they pity me and think I need their support." Overcome with frustration, I punched the wall.

"I don't want their pity. I just want to be treated like everyone else! And now, with Yujiro's big mouth, Ayumi will treat me differently."

Trying to regain my composure, I glanced at the floor.

"Haruki?" Aika's voice called out. I started walking away. "Wait a second!" She rushed over and blocked my path, extending her arms. I refused to meet her gaze.

"Just listen to me," she pleaded. I remained silent. "Yujiro thought he was doing what was best. He believed that telling her was the right thing to do."

I finally looked at her, anger surging through me.

"Right?" I stared at her intently. "You think it's right to reveal details about my life without my consent?!" She didn't respond. "Everyone who knows what I go through daily pities me and tries to help me!"

Aika lowered her arms. "But isn't that a good thing? You wouldn't have to carry as much burden." I forcefully pushed her towards the wall, positioning my hand close to her face in a clenched fist, standing just inches away from her.

"They don't help me because they think highly of me. They do it because they consider me useless," I retorted, stepping back and walking away. Aika remained frozen in place.