Before My Memories With You Melt Away in Tears - Episode 6

At Harugaoka High School, the first-year classrooms are on the second floor, and the second-year classrooms are on the third.

“Well then, I’ll go this way…”

“Okay, got it. Oh, wait.”

As Ayaka was about to turn down the hallway, Kyoya stopped her with a call.

“I’ll come pick you up at lunch, so let’s eat together.”

“Eh, um, that is…”

If Kyoya came to pick me up in the classroom, the other girls would definitely make a big fuss. I wanted to avoid turning the classroom into an uncomfortable space. Not that it wasn’t already uncomfortable, but making it even worse on purpose would be a bit much.

While Ayaka tried to figure out what to say to politely decline without hurting Kyoya, he waved and said, “Okay, I’ll see you at lunch,” and started heading up the stairs.

“Eh, Kyoya ? Wait, I… he’s already gone…”

Before Ayaka could stop him, Kyoya had disappeared up the stairs in the blink of an eye.

“Sigh…”

Ayaka knew well that her tendency to second-guess others and not say what she really felt was one of her bad habits. But even knowing that, there were plenty of things she just couldn’t help.

What if I make a bad impression? What if they think I’m overly self-conscious? I never meant to come across like that. Why do I always think that way? I’m afraid of how others might feel about what I say. In that case, it’s easier to just swallow my feelings, smile, and say “It’s fine,” so that everything can go smoothly.

That’s how I’ve lived up until now. And yet…

Standing alone in front of the classroom, Ayaka’s heart pounded uncomfortably. What would happen if she opened the door? What would people say?

I don’t want to do this… I want to run away.

“Okamoto? What are you doing standing here?”

“Eh, oh, sensei…”

It was her math teacher calling from behind. Oh, right, today’s first period was math.

“Don’t just stand around, go to class already. Hmm? Are you late? You just get here?”

“Um… I wasn’t feeling well on the train, so…”

“I see. Are you feeling better now? You should let your homeroom teacher know.”

“Yes, I will.”

As Ayaka replied, the math teacher opened the classroom door. In an instant, she felt the eyes of everyone in the room turn toward her.

“Okay, let’s begin class. What’s all the noise? Okamoto, sit down already.”

“Y-yes.”

The other girls clearly had something they wanted to say to Ayaka, but once the class started, they couldn’t show it.

Thanks to that, Ayaka made it through the lesson without anyone saying anything.

—During the lesson, at least.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Normally, everyone would chat or head to the bathroom, but today, everyone stayed where they were, glancing at Ayaka as though waiting for something.

“Ayaka, good morning!”

“Good morning! We were worried since you were late!”

“Fujino, Shuri, good morning! I wasn’t feeling well on the train, so I was a little late.”

Ayaka laughed awkwardly, using the same excuse she gave her math teacher earlier.

“I guess it was because I overslept and didn’t have breakfast.”

“Geez, Ayaka.”

“Why didn’t you just message us to let us know?”

“Sorry! I’ll do that next time!”

She joined her hands together and apologized to them. It wasn’t entirely true, but it wasn’t all a lie either. She couldn’t tell them the real reason she had been late, so all she could do was smile apologetically.

The two of them exchanged a look and then lowered their voices.

“Speaking of messages!”

“We still haven’t heard from you about something!”

“Eh?”

Ayaka was momentarily confused, not understanding what they were talking about. But as soon as the two of them saw her clueless reaction, a frustrated atmosphere seemed to hang in the air.

“About Ikeda-senpai!”

“Ah…”

Oh no. As friends, I should have told them about it. I knew they’d be upset if I didn’t, but I’d been so caught up in things last night that I hadn’t contacted them.

“Last night, a friend from another class messaged me about it, and I was really shocked! But I thought you’d tell us, so I waited to hear from you.”

“I saw you with Ikeda-senpai on the field during club activities, and I thought, ‘No way!’ But when we didn’t hear anything, I figured I was wrong…”

The two of them launched into a rapid-fire explanation of how shocked they had been. All Ayaka could do was apologize.

“S-sorry! I was really confused, and I had no idea what was going on. Of course, I wanted to talk to you both about it as soon as I got to school. But last night, I was really caught up in everything.”

“So you were too excited about your thing with Ikeda-senpai to contact us?”

“Sigh, so even though we’re friends, we’re just not that important to you, huh?”

Even though Ayaka apologized over and over, her words didn’t seem to reach them. In fact, it felt like her apology was only making them more upset.

What should I do… this is bad…

“Alright, alright, don’t be too hard on my girlfriend.”

Hearing that voice, Ayaka looked up to see Kyoya leaning against the classroom door, smiling awkwardly with his brows furrowed.