A Story About How I Ran Away After Being Rejected By My First Love

For days, I lay in bed, playing games inside my room. It has been a week since that incident.

I came from a broken family. My parents were far apart from each other but still gave me sustenance for school and living expenses so there were not many money problems.

Most of my money was being given every week and I don’t bring a big amount at school since I know there will be incidents such as what happened.

Besides that, I had a secret job that gave me a stable income.

However, my mind was preoccupied not with the physical pain but the longing to see Kurozawa-san.

I wonder if I ever crossed her mind.

These thoughts in my mind lingered as I felt a gentle thug on my heart.

I wanted to do work but I couldn’t focus. Even the game that I loved was getting boring all of a sudden.

The memories when she tended to my wounds resurfaced. I could still remember her lovely scent, her hair that fell smoothly as she lunged forward to tend to my wounds.

I wanted to converse more, walk and do stuff together. Even a minute walk would be enough. I wanted to see her badly.

And in order to do that, I needed to go to school.

However, if I go there, I know hell awaits.

Nakamura and his lackeys will be there waiting to pounce on me.

What should I do? How can I overcome this predicament?

My body trembled as I reminisced about the pain. The sharp jab to my stomach and the laughter as I writhe in pain. Just the sight of them makes me cower in fear wanting to run away.

Every time I closed my eyes, I could see Nakamura’s fist crashing on to me. I was trapped in a cage with no escape.

I wished they wouldn’t exist. I wanted them to disappear.

My eyes wandered around the room, searching for solace.

On the desk near my bed, I saw the neatly folded handkerchief from Kurozawa-san.

Seeing it, I found something inside of me stirring. My anxiety that had overcome me loosened slightly.

I reached out for the cherry blossomed handkerchief.

For me, it was more than a handkerchief. It was something important that gave me reason. I closed my eyes and held it closer to my chest.

I wanted to go back to school not because of the lessons, but because of her.

Kurozawa-san, I miss you.

It was still early in the morning. I could probably get to afternoon classes and might have a chance to see Kurozawa-san after classes.

With a deep breath, I grabbed my bag, tucked Kurozawa-san’s handkerchief like a talisman and headed towards the door.

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The afternoon sun was already hanging low as I stepped inside the school gates. My heart raced not because of the lingering pain, but because of anxiety.

I was gone for almost a week. I missed a lot. But just being here was already a victory.

With heavy footsteps, I made my way through the desolate hallway. The afternoon class just started and most of the students were already inside their respective classes.

I felt like an outsider for being in the hallway during school hours. However, I pushed through it all and ended up arriving in front of my classroom door.

The sounds of lessons in progress buzzed through the door. I just stood in place, unsure if I could just waltz in.

With unsteady hands, I slid the door open and stepped inside. My classmates’ heads turned towards me, some surprised by my sudden appearance. The teacher paused in his lecture and said.

“You’re late, Aoyama. Take your seat.”

“Yes…Sorry…”

In a meek voice, I proceeded in my seat located at the furthermost corner of the classroom.

The hardest part was over.

I thought I didn’t care about what others would think of me but I still do, truthfully speaking.

The afternoon classes continued but my focus was somewhere else. I wanted to see Kurozawa-san badly.

The bell rang and immediately afterwards I ran towards Kurozawa-san’s classroom. She was in class 9-A.

My racing heart sprinted along with the way I ran as I made my way towards her classroom. I wanted to see her, so badly. It might be redundant but that’s how I feel right now.

I weaved through the students as I made my way towards her classroom.

Kurozawa-san’s classroom was a bit ways from mine. Being non-athletic, I had shortness of breath and had to pause multiple times. However I still moved forward.

As I was about to turn the corner, I collided with someone.

I felt a sharp jolt of pain in my shoulder and crashed down onto the floor.

“I… I’m so sorry.”

I apologized instinctively.

Who I bumped onto was standing unaffected with the collision.

I looked up from my crouch down position and saw that the guy I bumped into was the one who injured me during the PE class – Ryuu Asahi.

“Watch where you’re going, idiot.”

Asahi-san said in a cold and annoyed tone. He left with a “Tsk” after saying those words.

I could feel that he really has a problem with my existence although I didn’t know what I did wrong.

Asahi and Kurozawa were in the same classroom. So the chances of Kurozawa-san still being there were huge.

I got up from the ground and walked steadily towards their classroom.

I peeked towards the door and scanned the room. My eyes swept on each row, searching for her familiar figure. However, there were no signs of Kurozawa-san.

Asking someone… that’s not something I could do. They’ll shun me as always.

I stood frozen for a minute thinking of what I should do next.

Eventually, I let out a long sigh as the tension in my body faded, and the disappointment of not seeing Kurozawa-san creeped in.

With a heavy heart, I turned to leave the classroom and went to the library.