Yuu Chapter – Chapter 3: Second Heartbreak and…
Yuu: "R-Recommendation...?"
Hikari: "Yep! My grades are good enough, so the teacher said I should try applying through the interview process."
And so time passed, and it was now autumn of our third year in middle school.
That day just so happened to be the day of our parent-teacher-student conferences.
And by another coincidence, Hikari and I had our conference slots scheduled close together.
So, after they were done, we ended up going to a family restaurant, just like we always did as a group.
But as usual, our moms quickly got caught up in their own conversation and left us kids to ourselves.
That’s how Hikari and I ended up at a separate table, a bit away from them—
spending some time alone together, something we hadn’t done much of since starting middle school.
It was there that I first learned about Hikari’s plans for the future.
Yuu: "Isn’t that school, like, super hard to get into...? Even with regular admissions, it’s top ten level for our middle school."
Hikari: "Well yeah, it’s definitely one of the best schools around here~"
It was a private high school, two train stops away from where we lived.
A school every local student admired—a flower on a high branch.
Naturally, it was the kind of place that, if I ever said I wanted to go there, the teachers would laugh in my face.
Yuu: "...So you're really going?"
Hikari: "Of course! It’s been my first choice all along~"
So Hikari’s slightly excited tone of voice...
It stirred up an intense sense of unease in me.
Hikari: "You know, the uniforms there are super cute, the school atmosphere is really chill, their culture festival is super popular... and it’s close by, too."
I remember how her words just passed straight through my brain.
...While poking at the regret that had come far too late.
Yuu: "I see... That’s really amazing, Hikari."
Hikari: "So, what about you, Ta~kun? Where are you aiming for?"
Yuu: "Me? I gotta find a place I can get into, not one I want to go to."
Hikari: "Uh, um..."
My self-deprecating tone made Hikari flash a slightly awkward smile.
Hikari: "But it'll be fine! You're a late bloomer, after all, Ta~kun!"
Yuu: "That’s just a nice way of talking about someone who’s not doing well right now..."
Hikari: "Ahaha, I didn’t mean it like that~"
But then, almost instantly, she returned to that usual sunflower-like, radiant smile.
...Yeah. One way or another, a smile really suits her—Hikari.
That pure smile of friendship, without the slightest hint of embarrassment or hesitation.
Hikari: "Wow... I guess we’re gonna be high schoolers next year, huh~"
Yuu: "Yeah... probably."
Hikari: "But then, things like walking home together, or stopping somewhere on the way, that'll happen less, won’t it?"
Yuu: "...Yeah, I think so."
Hikari: "Well, I’ll still be stopping by your place from time to time, so I guess not much will change~"
Yuu: "...Yeah. I guess so."
She hadn’t noticed even a sliver of my feelings.
But at the same time, she never once doubted our mutual friendship.
Such a kind, precious, and truly wonderful human being.
…………
…………
I met Hikari—and fell in love with her...
Ever since then, I’d always wanted to stand by her side.
And yet, I didn’t put in the effort to make that happen...
Or rather, I never even seriously thought about what I’d need to do to stand beside Hikari in the first place.
Why didn’t I realize it sooner...?
That there was no reason for Hikari to purposely choose a public school that someone like me could get into.
That once we graduated from middle school, our relationship would inevitably change.
And probably not for the better.
...In other words, in the worst way possible.
Yuu: "I don’t want that..."
When was it that I first said those words out loud?
Was it that night, in the bath, after the conference?
Or maybe the next morning, on the walk to school?
Or was it when I saw Hikari laughing with her friends in the hallway?
Either way, just a few days after that parent-teacher-student meeting, I made up my mind.
To apply to the same high school as Hikari—a reckless decision.
This time, it’s my last chance...
If I manage to get into the same high school as her, even someone as oblivious as Hikari is bound to realize.
...That I’ve been chasing after her all this time.
And then, maybe this time, I’ll finally hear Hikari’s answer.
Whether it makes me happy or breaks my heart, I’ll finally get closure on how I feel.
That’s why—this time—I swore to pass the entrance exam, not with someone else’s help, but with my own strength.
Not a confession... but a victory.
...Well, I’m sure there are people who’d say, “Why not just confess, even if you don’t get into the same school?”
But if I could do that, I would’ve confessed way back in fifth grade.
Since I can’t put it into words, I have to build a case with actions—surround the truth with facts.
......
......
The new year came...
The final application form I submitted—entirely of my own decision—left both my homeroom teacher and my parents completely dumbfounded.
My mom said, “Then why didn’t you start working harder earlier?”
And yeah—I had nothing to say to that. She was absolutely right.
Even so, for appearances’ sake, I told my parents it was just a “symbolic attempt.”
That I’d play it safe with the public school, so please let me take a shot at the private one.
Still, since they’d be paying a not-so-cheap application fee, I promised to give it my all.
And I kept that promise.
Not for my parents’ sake—no...
No, it was for Hikari.
Or rather, that is to say—for myself.
......
......
And then, the day of fate.
Mid-February.
General entrance exam day.
Yuu: "...Haaah."
The afternoon... passed in the blink of an eye.
The test was over, and I was at the nearest station to the school, the sun already low in the sky.
I sat slumped in the station’s rotary, burying my face in my knees.
Yuu: "Damn it... why me..."
The exam really did go by in a flash.
And as for how it went... well, I’m sure you can guess.
They call it a miracle because it doesn’t happen, yeah.
I tripped up on the Japanese section and couldn’t make up for it in English...
After that, I barely even remember the rest.
Yuu: "Why’d it have to go like this... I totally choke under pressure..."
Overwhelmed by nerves and pressure, I couldn’t perform anywhere near my best...
No, I knew full well—that was just an excuse.
Yeah, I did go all in. I really did.
But six months of serious effort couldn’t possibly compare to three years of consistent hard work. No way.
The cold winter wind at the station stabbed at both my ears, which I couldn’t fully hide with my knees.
...Actually, no—that’s not quite right.
Compared to my right ear, which was starting to go numb, my left ear didn’t feel nearly as cold.
Almost like... something—or someone—was next to me, shielding me from the wind...
Yami: "Hey, you..."
Yuu: "—!"
Then, from that left ear—
the one still barely holding onto a trace of warmth and feeling—
came a cold voice, slightly sharp...
But somehow, also incredibly comforting.
Yami: "You know, sitting around bawling like that in public is kind of a nuisance."
...And then, the day of fate.
Maruto’s post on X:
Insight:
So Yuu’s second heartbreak came when he failed to get into the same high school as Hikari… Yeah, this definitely doesn’t do his image any favors. Hikari didn’t do a thing—Yuu just imploded on his own and ended up breaking his own heart.
