Turning Point

Shuugo Arisugawa does not believe in love.

As someone who stood by his side for a long time, I have known this fact since our childhood.

Being aware of love and believing in it are two different things.

Due to Shuugo’s family circumstances, he hasn’t received love prior to our meeting.

His situation is not something that a plain child who came from a normal family like me could understand. Being brought up in that kind of household must be lonely.

I could care less about other people. As a child, I was already uninterested with anything.

Still, when I saw the face that he was making back then, I thought… “Ah, that’s not a face that a child of that age should make.” I know that I couldn’t just leave him alone.

With the little ounce of social ability that I have, I chose to stand by his side as his friend ever since then.

I have witnessed how devastated he was, how much he wanted to hold himself back from crying, how much his situation broke him apart. For such a child to suffer that way, I didn’t know what I should do, I just remained beside him without overstepping anything.

Even so, I was glad when that child eventually smiled as brightly as the sun.

Shuugo may no longer be that unsociable child from the past, he may have grown taller, become more cheerful, but no amount of change can easily heal emotional wounds as if it was nothing.

That kind of pain is not something that can be easily forgotten. His past is still taunting him even at present.

Shuugo loves Yamazono-san. Just by looking at him, anyone could tell that at a glance.

When I said that Shuugo does not believe in love, I didn’t mean to claim that Shuugo’s love for Yamazono-san is just shallow infatuation.

When I asked him back then, he answered truthfully and sincerely. He’s confident that it is love that he is feeling. That was enough of a confirmation already.

However, things are not as simple as that.

Despite being aware that he’s in love… Shuugo does not have faith in the love that he has for Yamazono-san.

“Shuugo, can you hear me out for a while?”

I am prepared to handle anything that will come my way. Even if I ended up being hated, I will still continue doing things like what I’ve been doing so far.

“Eichi, man, w-what’s with the sudden seriousness?” Shuugo’s voice faltered.

I bit my lips in frustration. Why am I hesitating now? I have been working on making plans to help Shuugo behind the scenes. I have used underhanded tactics before, but then I realized… I’m not really good with confrontations.

I could hear my heart thumping loudly.

My mind went blank.

I don’t know what to say next.

No, I have to say something.

“Shuugo.”

“Yes, Eichi?”

As if signaling something ominous to happen, the skies suddenly get darker.

“Eichi, we should hurry home. I think it’s about to rain.”

Shuugo walked ahead of me but when he noticed that I’m not following, he turned back.

“If you get together with Yamazono-san, will that make you happy?”

“Eichi, what are you—”

“Just answer me!”

I didn’t mean to raise my voice but even I could tell that I did it harshly. Shuugo even flinched at the sudden outburst.

Ah, I’m really the worst.

He’s aware of where I’m going with this conversation. Judging by the fear in his eyes, I could tell that he doesn’t want to talk about it.

“Shuugo… whenever you talked to me about Yamazono-san, you were always smiling.”

“Eh?”

“You have this gentle look on your face every time you mention her name. It might just come off naturally for you but… I’m really glad whenever I see you cheerfully talking about what you feel.”

“Eichi…”

“That’s why…!” I looked down and clenched my fists on my side. “I was really frustrated knowing that you can’t believe in those feelings because the past is still taunting you up until the present!”

“I… didn't know that you think that way…”

“Now you know!” I blurted out.

What the hell… I could feel something wet in my eyes. Oh, I’m crying, right…?

I haven’t felt something this strong for a while now. My chest hurts. As expected, this is so overwhelming that I can’t hold back my tears.

I could only be thankful to the skies for making the first drops of rain fall.

“You see, when you first told me that you fell in love with Yamazono-san, I wanted to knock some sense into you. I have known you for a long time and I know that ‘love’ has never meant positively to you. It will just hurt you in the end just like before… but maybe deep inside me, I am wishing that Yamazono-san is different.”

The rain is falling hard.

I lifted my face and stared at him.

“I… just want you to be happy, Shuugo.” I smiled at him. “Do you think being with Yamazono-san will bring you happiness?”

If you said yes, I will make it come true no matter what it takes. If you answered no, I will put an end to this charade before you can get hurt badly.

However, he did not answer my question.

“Geez, Eichi! Can’t you wait until we get to your home before asking that?”

He grabbed my arm and dragged me with him.

“Come on, let’s take shelter over there.”

It’s obvious that he’s avoiding the conversation. I can’t let it end like this.

Once we got shelter in a nearby shed, I was about to speak when he beat me into it.

“Sorry for making you worry, Eichi.”

What’s with that smile? I’m sure that what I said earlier hurt him… why in the world are you smiling?

“Eichi, thank you for being my friend.”

“...”

“You probably knew this already but I wanted to tell you again. My parents don't love each other, it was just a marriage of convenience for both of their families. In the first place, I came from a loveless family.”

I knew all about it. I was there with him when he cried after the realization of his broken family hit him.

“To be honest, I’m still afraid until today. You can probably tell that the reason why I stopped visiting the Tomoru’s home was because I felt like I’m trespassing a boundary that I shouldn’t belong in the first place.”

You idiot…! That doesn’t matter! You’re already like a family to us!

“Compared to other people, my capacity to love is faulty. This is what’s worrying you, right?”

“Un…”

“Hehe, I didn’t know Eichi could get frustrated like this. It feels like I achieved something amazing,” he giggled out of nowhere.

“Don’t make fun of me! You’re seriously pissing me off!”

I landed a punch in his arm.

“Ow! Stop! Haha, sorry, sorry. I’m just relieved, that’s all.”

“Relieved?”

“Yes. Ever since we’re kids, you barely showed any interest in your surroundings. The other kids are also afraid of you because they said they couldn’t tell what you’re thinking at all.”

I mean why would others bother with me? Just leave me alone instead of talking about me behind my back.

“Also, do you remember when we fought in middle school? I was really immature back then and I took it out on you, but you never got mad at me. You just consoled me without saying anything.”

Ah, that fight. That was quite a big fight but it’s irrelevant now so it’s best to let bygones be bygones.

“Eichi has always been mature and rational like an older brother. Others don't really pay attention to you but since we’re best friends, I know all of your good points.”

“What are you on now?”

“I want to be a better person. I love Yamazono-san. The me right now is still a failure, sure. But I feel like if I end up together with Yamazono-san, I will be the happiest man on Earth. I want you to continue supporting me, Eichi.”

“What’s with that confession-sounding request? You idiot! Save those sweet words for the actual thing!” I said with a huff.

Well, if he said so then that’s it. I will continue supporting him just like before.

He puffed his chest proudly in front of me and grinned.

“If I get to marry Yamazono-san, Eichi will be my best man!”

“Big words, coming from you.” I squinted my eyes at him.

“Haha, that’s more like Eichi.”

I think all’s well that ends well.

The rain finally stopped. And I felt like the sky was more beautiful than ever.

“You know, it would be nice if Eichi can find happiness as well. I’ll support you too!”

I don’t think there’s a need for that but at that moment… I didn’t deny Shuugo’s words.

My happiness, huh…

____

The next day, the school was in uproar after Shuugo showed up in the class next door and started a conversation with Yamazono-san.

No one actually knows what they talked about since everyone was still entranced by the fact that the most popular guy and the prettiest girl are talking with each other so they didn’t pay attention to what the two are talking about.

As the perpetrator, I know what’s going on.

“Tomoru-kun, what kind of magic did you pull to make this happen?”

Once the classes were over, I dragged Yuuno-san with me to follow those two somewhere with less people. Of course, I also told Shuugo about the place.

“Yuuno-san, I’m not a magician.” I answered her while we’re on our way there.

“You definitely did something.”

“That I did~”

“Fufu, I think so. You’re in a good mood, Tomoru-kun.”

Once we got there, we hid in a nearby place that was not that close and not that far so we could still hear what they’re talking about.

“Uhm… Yamazono-san…”

Shuugo and Yamazono-san are having a talk out of people’s eyes. This feels like they're having a secret after-school rendezvous.

“There it is!” Yuuno-san whisper-yelled once Shuugo finally made a move.

“A friend of mine gave me some tickets to an amusement park… uhm… if you’re fine with it…”

“Uwah! I heard that it was hard getting a hold of tickets from that park!” Yamazono-san commented in awe.

Good, Yamazono-san seems to be considering it positively.

“Then… uhm… would you like to go together?”

Nice one, Shuugo!

“Oh… if you’re fine with it then, please take care of me, Arisugawa-san.”

Those two looked timid around each other but they finally made progress. I’m so proud of you, Shuugo.

Once the event was over, Yuuno-san and I finally went out of our hiding place.

“We did it!”

The two of us cheered.

The plan is finally moving in the right direction!