When I reunited with my arrogant childhood friend, she had become a talented and beautiful girl – Even though she has probably forgotten about me and I don’t want to be toyed with, for some reason she keeps getting involved with me!?

[Hiyori Fumiko POV]

***

“Hiyori, you must excel in every aspect to be a member of the Fumiko family. Wealth, pedigree, looks, and talent. You must have all of these.”

My father used to say that to me like a catchphrase.

I’ve been trying hard to live up to those words.

Even when I sat for the entrance exams for the primary and middle schools of the prestigious Aorei Academy, known for its difficult admission, I passed with top honors.

Other kids were praised by their parents just for passing, but it was different for me.

“It’s nothing. It’s only natural that you could do that.”

That’s how he dismissed it.

Even though I wanted to accomplish something and be praised by someone, even though I wanted to be acknowledged, I swallowed it all.

But I didn’t rank first in the end-of-term exam in my first year of middle school.

In the Fumiko family, ranking first was taken for granted… For me, this was my first setback.

After that day, I stopped hearing my father’s catchphrase entirely.

I could feel his interest in me fading.

I was disgusted with everything, feeling like I was needed by no one.

I, who am not the best, am worthless.

Once I started thinking that, everything else became irrelevant.

I started skipping classes, my words and behavior grew rough like a delinquent student, and I eventually scored a failing grade in the end-of-year exam, leading to remedial classes during the spring break.

I didn’t really want to go, but being at home was even worse, so I walked to Sakurazaka.

But I couldn’t take a step forward.

If I didn’t go to the remedial class, I would be expelled. Even though I knew that, my feet wouldn’t move forward.

I could only stare at the hill full of blooming cherry blossoms.

The moment I thought about skipping the remedial class altogether,

“Are you okay?”

I was spoken to.

The boy was wearing the uniform of Aorei Academy’s middle school, and there was a golden chrysanthemum badge on his collar.

“Huh? What, you. Who are you?”

When I said that threateningly, he laughed and said,

“My name is Kazuki Kandou.”

Awakening, I raised my upper body while still half asleep.

“What a nostalgic dream… I had.”

I wonder if it’s because I unexpectedly ran into him again… I didn’t expect to recall that day.

I drank a sports drink, feeling lethargic.

I had met Kandou-senpai before.

Senpai used to call me “Sakura.” The reason was that I didn’t tell him my name. At that time, the name Fumiko felt like a heavy burden, and I didn’t want to use it.

Probably, the pseudonym “Sakura” was given to me by Senpai out of consideration.

On the first day of spring break, when he spoke to me in front of Sakurazaka, he laughed at my bravado and said,

“You’re bad at lying.”

It felt like he could see right through me, and it made me feel uncomfortable.

Before I knew it, I was talking about myself on a swing in the park.

About the major setback I had.

About my father.

About feeling like everything doesn’t matter.

About the fact that if I didn’t score more than 70% in the final exam on the last day of remedial class, I would be expelled.

He listened attentively to the words I was spilling out.

That was my encounter with Kandou-senpai.

I still remember it vividly.

After the remedial classes during spring break, I remember the days when I was taught by Kandou-senpai in the student council room.

He kindly and patiently taught me, a girl whose name he didn’t even know, until the end of school.

Your gentle voice.

The smell of the student council room.

The sound of note-taking.

I remember everything.

“A senior should properly watch over their juniors giving their best. Sakura, you’re doing a great job.”

You always praised my efforts.

Since I had never been praised by anyone before, I would turn away saying things like, “That’s to be expected,” but I was very happy.

So I studied hard because I wanted to be praised again.

Even though I was supposed to not care about anything.

When I scored full marks on the final test on the last day of remedial class, you were as happy as if it was your own achievement.

“You’ve worked hard for this past month. Congratulations.”

You gave me the words I had always wanted to hear.

I thought you would keep watching over me forever.

But as soon as the spring break ended, you disappeared.

Somewhere in my heart, I had taken it for granted that Kandou-senpai would be next to me.

Even though there’s no such thing as “granted.”

I thought I might meet you again someday. I wanted to be a person who wouldn’t feel ashamed at that time.

While chasing after you, I became the student council president, and before I knew it, I was known as the “Saint” and became well-known in a good way within the school.

And today, I met Kandou-senpai again.

…I can’t believe he lives next door.

That face, that voice, it’s definitely Kandou-senpai.

His hair was unkempt, he had a slight stoop, and his eyes were like those of a dead fish. But there’s no mistake.

His last name was Sato, but there must be some reason for that.

“By the way, Senpai… you definitely didn’t realize that I’m Sakura.”

I thought he might have recognized me as Sakura and helped me, but that was a misunderstanding.

He just helped me because I was in trouble.

Just like the first time we met.

Surely, compared to the time when I was “Sakura”, my hair has grown longer and my aura is different, but you should realize that!

The reason why I started to grow my hair in the first place was because you said it would look beautiful if I let it grow!

And yet I realized you were Kandou-senpai right away!

I couldn’t help but stamp my feet in frustration.

No, maybe he doesn’t remember ‘Sakura’ either.

My dissatisfaction with Kandou-senpai was growing.

“But… I love him.”

Uh… saying it out loud makes me feel embarrassed. My face is getting hot. Do I still have a fever?

Honestly, I want him to remember, but if he has forgotten, it’s okay for him to remain that way.

The important thing is that I got to meet Kandou-senpai again.

This encounter wasn’t fate, but coincidence. Various gears worked together, allowing us to meet again.

If even one piece was missing, I might never have met Kandou-senpai again.

That’s the feeling I have.

So I don’t want to waste this coincidence, and I want to stay by his side.

I don’t want to have regrets like last time.

I want him to keep watching me from now on.

That’s how much I love Kandou-senpai.

Even though I remember, and he forgets… he really is a hopeless person.

Thinking such things, I fell asleep once more.

***

(TL/note: that was a heart-rending chapter, oh my. On a separate note, be aware that the name 神藤一樹, can be read as both Shindou and Kandou, so depending on context in the future, it may change. Also Fumiya and Fumiko… Japanese names are such a pain.)