A Story About a Girl Who Took Life for Granted and Fell in Love With a Kind and Introverted Boy

…I think it was a fateful encounter in a way.

Today marked the first school day of the second semester after summer vacation ended. Since there were only ceremonies in the morning and no actual classes, I could go home before lunch.

Even though it was September, it was still hot today. The burning sun made me sweat all over just by walking.

(Summer vacation…was mostly filled with studying and club activities.)

The last time I really enjoyed summer vacation was probably during elementary school. Since then, my days have been filled with studying….

(I wonder if my sister is hanging out with Kenji again…)

Even as that thought crossed my mind, I decided to forget it. There was no point in thinking about my sister right now. It would only make me feel bad.

(There are less than six months until the entrance exams…I need to get more serious from now on.)

While I was trying to motivate myself like a good student, I noticed something.

“…Huh?”

Someone passed by me on the way. Their eyes were filled with tears, and they looked very pained.

I couldn’t help but feel concerned. It was natural to worry because they looked so distressed, but more than anything….

“…Kenji?”

…It was the person I secretly had feelings for.

“……………………”

When I called him, Kenji stopped and slowly turned his face toward me.

“…Miyuki.”

He called my name in a voice so small it seemed about to disappear.

…Time passed slowly as the cicadas sang around us.

I had brought Kenji to a nearby park because I couldn’t stand to see him looking so sad. At first, he hesitated, saying, “It’s nothing,” but after I asked him multiple times, “Are you really okay?” he finally said, “Can you listen to me?”

We hurried to the nearby park. It was a simple place with a few benches but no playground equipment, just a wide open area.

“Oh, this bench is in the shade.”

I said this as I sat next to Kenji. There was a cherry blossom tree behind the bench, perfectly shading us.

The leaves rustled in the wind, making small patches of sunlight dance on the ground.

“…I think it’s better if I don’t tell you about this.”

Kenji looked down and stared blankly at his feet.

“You think it’s better if you don’t tell me?”

“Yes…”

“Why is that?”

“…It’s about Kana.”

“My sister?”

“How can I put this? Right now, I feel like I might say something bad about Kana, and I think that wouldn’t be good for you…”

“……………………”

“Ah…maybe I should stop. I shouldn’t tell you…Nobody wants to hear bad things about their family…”

Kenji bit his lower lip as he spoke.

If he said it was better not to hear, I would be on guard. But after hearing this, I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly my sister had done.

“What did my sister do?”

I asked cautiously, and Kenji fell silent for a while. He seemed to struggle with whether to say it or not.

“It’s fine. I want to hear everything about what you think is hard, Kenji.”

“……………………”

“If it’s okay, I can tell my sister how you feel. So…”

“……………………”

…After nearly five minutes of silence, Kenji finally opened his mouth.

“…Kana confessed to me, and we ended up dating.”

“……………………”

“She asked me to go out with her, and for a month…we acted as a couple.”

“……………………”

“But….”

“…But?”

“That confession seems to have been a lie.”

“…Huh?”

As I tried to understand what he meant, Kenji explained in more detail.

“It turns out that her first confession was part of a punishment game with her friends. She didn’t actually like me at all.”

“……………………”

“So…I’m sorry. I’m not dating Kana anymore….”

Seeing Kenji speak apologetically, I felt a tremendous anger toward my sister.

Unconsciously, my hand, which had been resting on my thigh, turned into a fist, and my whole body began to tremble.

“If only Miyuki would trust Kana a little more…I would be happy. Even though my relationship with Kana is still new, I don’t think she’s the kind of person who lies.”

(Kenji…cared so much about my sister…!)

I didn’t say it out loud, but I had feelings for Kenji.

He was everything I imagined a perfect boyfriend to be.

Kind, gentle, and someone who cherished his girlfriend. We shared the same interests in manga….

And he was the type to express his feelings in words.

Just being near him gave me a sense of security, which is why ever since I first met Kenji, I have always envied my sister.

“…I can’t forgive her.”

I muttered that clearly. When I did, Kenji turned to me.

“I really, really can’t forgive her for doing this to you, Kenji.”

“……………………”

“If something like that happened, you would lose trust in everyone, right? I think it’s a terrible act that doesn’t consider other people’s feelings.”

“……………………”

“You must have felt hurt, Kenji. I’m really sorry for what my sister did.”

“Miyuki….”

Tears glistened in Kenji’s eyes. They looked ready to overflow and run down his cheeks at any moment.

“……………………”

Seeing that made my heart race.

(Kenji…he’s looking at me.)

I felt joy that someone I admired secretly needed me, and I couldn’t suppress my racing heart.

(I want him to be even happier…)

Thinking this, I tried to say something more to Kenji.

“It’s okay, Kenji. It’s okay to cry.”

“……………………”