Hara Kaede - II

The classroom was empty. As the golden hues of sundown illuminated the room, Kazuyuki bathed in its warm, ethereal glow, cleansing him of some of the worries that were on his mind. But there was one thing that he couldn’t get out of his head.

Hara Kaede, his childhood best friend, a girl loved by everyone of all ages. While he was sitting in the classroom, she was somewhere else having a serious conversation with her boyfriend. What was happening right now? What were they saying to each other? Would they be able to figure out their problems? It wasn’t his problem, but he couldn’t help. He wanted to go up to them and say something, but that wouldn’t fix anything. She had been keeping everything a secret, perfectly hiding her feelings from the rest. He wished he had realised it sooner.

“Kazuyuki-san?”

Kazuyuki looked up to see Sanderson-sensei in the doorframe.

“What are you doing here? It’s late already.”

He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t tell him the truth, but he didn’t want to lie to his favourite teacher.

“Is something troubling you?”

He needed to think of an excuse. It didn’t have to be a good one, but it had to be believable. “I was waiting for you, Sensei.”

“What do you need?”

“Why did you recommend me to the reporter’s club?”

“I’m sure you already know that answer,” he scoffed.

“You recommended me because I have a history of writing, but that’s not all, is it?”

Sensei laid down the books he was carrying on his desk. “You have talent, and personally, I think you are wasting it.”

“You already know I don’t want to write novels anymore.”

“That is why I thought you should delve into a different form of writing. A change of scenery, you could say.”

Kazuyuki felt a mix of irritation and curiosity. He had already made it clear that he wanted his past to fade away, but Sensei wouldn’t let him forget. He was just reopening old wounds.

“You have this natural inclination for storytelling. I think that you could start small by working on the school newspaper, and maybe you will find the passion to write again.”

“I have no interest in becoming a reporter.”

“I never said you should become a reporter. I just think it could relight the fire in that writer’s heart of yours. Besides, you’re having fun in the club, right?”

Little did he know, Kazuyuki was having fun because it meant he could spend more time with Fuyumi outside of lunchtime. “I guess I am.”

“Then you should continue with it. Trust me, this is good for you.”

Was this what was best for him? If he were to continue contributing to the reporter’s club, would he really find his passion for writing again? Sensei always kept his students’ best interests in mind, so maybe he should listen to him. Could he overwrite his past and create a new story? He wanted to make Sanderson-sensei proud, but the voice of another father figure was still criticising him, causing him to question himself.

His thought process was then distracted by the image of Tachibana Ichiro walking past the classroom. At that moment, he remembered why he was there in the first place.

Rushing out of the classroom, he called out to Ichiro, who simply ignored him.

It must be over. She must have done it. But where was she now?

Without a moment’s hesitation, he propelled himself forward. His heart pounded as he frantically ran through the hallways, desperate and resolute in his pursuit to find his friend.

Kaede was a strong person, able to keep her emotions in check very well. Nevertheless, Kazuyuki was concerned that she would break down very soon. She had always been there for him. But now, she needed him, and he wasn’t going to let her down. He activated his superpower, and as the sounds of different instruments caressed his ear, he began to speed up his search.

From classroom to classroom, he looked for her. He knew he was on a time limit; the pressure was getting to him, but he wouldn’t allow it to stop him. 

He recalled a time in middle school when he had been rejected by his first crush, and her twin brother, who was his best friend at the time, did nothing to comfort him. On a rainy day, he sat alone in the park, wishing that he had never met his first crush. In his moment of despair, Kaede had found him — she had been worried about him, so she looked for him despite the heavy rainfall — and hugged him, telling him he would find someone better than that little miss cruel cockroach. Since their childhood, she has been looking out for him. Today, he would return the favour.

His search ended when Kaede slowly exited a classroom. Her once radiant face was now tinged with a delicate sadness, her eyes reflecting the weight of sorrow that burdened her heart. The soft, flushed hue on her cheeks revealed the emotional release she had just experienced.

She stood still in front of him. Her eyes glistened with remnants of vulnerability, but despite the visible traces of tears on her cheeks, her posture remained intact, displaying a quiet strength that Kazuyuki knew she would have even though she just had her heart broken.

With a voice that once had a cheerful tone, but now carried a hint of fragility, she said his name. 

That prompted him to wrap his arm around his childhood friend. The hug was a gentle yet firm embrace, a physical manifestation of their closeness. But then he heard a faint sniffling sound. He pulled away from her to see her face covered in tears. He couldn’t bear the sight of his friend crying, so he pulled her back in for another hug, but this time it was tighter. He didn’t care if a teacher saw them like this; he only cared about supporting his friend.

At that moment, he swore to himself that he would never leave her side and that he would always be there for her. This oath was locked in by the long, silent hug that spoke a thousand volumes.