A Story About How I Ran Away After Being Rejected By My First Love - Chapter 5

During lunch break, I went to the rooftop to eat my lunch. Going to the secret place that I found before will be suicidal. There is a high chance Nakamura-san and his lackeys were there waiting to pounce on me.

Also, the rooftop was the place that I called out to Kurozawa-san later after school so might as well check the place.

As I made my way to the rooftop, an anxious but hopeful feeling enveloped me. And even throughout the class, I couldn’t focus. My mind was filled with thoughts about Kurozawa-san. I wonder how she’ll respond later.

I slowly climbed the stairs and headed towards the rooftop. 

I opened the metal door and the cool breeze greeted me. 

To my surprise, the rooftop was empty. It was probably because of the chilly weather right now. 

However, I was wrong. I tugged my glasses to see the person approaching me. 

It was Asahi-kun, the ace of the soccer club and one of the most popular figures here at school. 

“Why was he here?”

I mumbled to myself. A popular person such as him had no reason to come to such a desolate place to eat alone. 

I stood still as his footsteps grew audible. I thought he would pass me but the footsteps came to a halt in front of me. 

“Hey, you. What’s your name?”

I was shocked to hear that he was talking to me. It made me nervous. Why would someone of his stature talk to someone like me?

I stuttered to give my name in response. I tried to glance up before I gave my response.

“A… Aoyama… Kenta.”

Asahi-san crossed his arms and looked around, as if making sure that there was no one around.

His eyes narrowed towards me and a sharp gaze pierced my entirety.

“You, Aoya- or whatever, stop with your delusions. Don’t get involved with Kurozawa-san. It’s for your own good.”

I blinked in surprise. I didn’t think such words would come out of Asahi-san’s mouth. 

I was so confused. Asahi-san, of all people, noticed my feelings towards Kurozawa-san.

Does that mean Asahi-san likes Kurozawa-san, after all?

My heart sank lightly. If Asahi-san likes Kurozawa-san, there’s no way in hell that I would win against him.

The warm feeling I got from Kurozawa-san was my savior and hope. 

There’s no way I would just give it up just because Asahi-san liked Kurozawa-san – at least not without a fight.

I noticed that I have really changed. 

Before, I wouldn’t stand up to this kind of provocation. However, humans really do fight for the things they want to protect.

In a meek voice, I responded to Asahi-san.

“I… don’t want to.”

“Huh? What did you just say?”

“I won’t stop.”

The second line of words that came from me was resolute. There was no hesitation on it.

Asahi-san shrugged at my response, his eyes still sharply looking at me. 

I was prepared to get a punch of some sort. I closed my eyes waiting for it. However, none of that happened. 

“Look here. I’m saying this again for your own good. Stop what you were doing!”

His tone of words were loud. However, my mind was made up. I will do my very best. I don’t want to get back to being alone. Kurozawa-san’s warmth was too intoxicating to let go.

“Well, whatever. Prepare for it.”

Asahi-san gave me one sharp look before passing me by the shoulder. 

I didn’t have the courage to say anything and just let him pass by.

I never thought that Asahi-san liked Kurozawa-san. However, my feelings for her won’t change. 

I ate my meal and returned to class afterwards.

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As soon as school ended, I packed my things and ran in haste towards the meeting place.

My heart was heavy with my mind racing with anxiety. I wanted the one to first arrive. I need to prepare. Although no preparation enough would cover what I am about to do now.

I climbed out the stairs holding onto the cold railings. The freezing feeling of the railings added more anxiety to my already nervous heart. 

I pushed the rooftop door hastily and stepped inside. I was greeted with an empty wide open space. The cool winding breeze provided comfort to reduce the anxiety.

There were benches on the rooftop and I proceeded to sit on the farthest one. 

“Will Kurozawa-san come? Did she read my letter?”

I reminisced about how I handed Kurozawa-san the handkerchief earlier this morning. She looked adorable as always. 

This was my chance. It’s all or nothing. I’ll lay it all bare here. My feelings towards Kurozawa-san. I’ll tell her how I feel.

However, there was something that bothered me. The encounter with Asahi-san earlier this afternoon. Did he know that I called out to Kurozawa-san? I’m just probably imagining things. There’s no way, right?

Minutes passed and the emptiness around me dragged on. The sun slowly made its way descending, casting a golden glow across the school. 

It was a magnificent scene, however, my anxiety increased. As more time passed by, the more my mind spun with possibilities.

“Kurozawa-san will come, right? She’ll definitely come.”

Those sentences looped throughout my mind. I needed to believe in Kurozawa-san. 

As I was about to lose it, I heard footsteps from the other side of the door. 

My heart leapt, and I stood immediately from my seat expecting her.

However, it wasn’t Kurozawa-san.

It was a group of students or more precisely, Nakamura-san with his friends and a couple of gals. I couldn’t mistake them, especially those three after what they did to me. 

Fear creeped in once again. There was no escape since there’s only one entrance and exit on the rooftop.

My heart that was racing previously sank and a cold dread of knot formed in exchange. I was avoiding them, but how did they know that I’ll be here?

Standing alone here on the rooftop, I felt exposed, like a cornered animal waiting to be preyed on. Escape was none of the choices.

Their footsteps grew louder as they marched their way towards me. 

“Well, well, well. Look who’s here. It’s our dear friend! I’ve missed you so, so much!”

Nakamura-san smirked as he gazed at me. Laughter ensued from the others after he said those words.

I swallowed hard, my legs trembling in fear. The tension was suffocating. I couldn’t look at them and only lowered my head. 

I’m fucked. Figuring out a way to solve this situation… I guess that’s not possible.

I just hoped that Kurozawa-san wouldn’t come here. If she sees this, she’ll definitely be in danger. She’ll definitely be better off not dealing with this problem of mine.

“Were you waiting for someone, Friend-kun?”

Thinking along those lines, Watanabe-san spoke in turn. 

How did he know I was waiting for someone? 

As my mind questioned it, Watanabe-san waved a piece of paper. It was the paper that I handed off to Kurozawa-san earlier this morning.

“I mean, if you want to badly meet us you are always welcome. Hahaha!”

“What a delusional little pig we have here! Trying to confess to an idol of our school. As if he had a chance.”

Despair, helplessness and all sorts of emotions flooded inside of me. 

My mind wanted to reject what was happening right now.

Kurozawa-san was not the type of person to betray me. I tried to deny it with all my being, but the truth couldn’t be more painful.

Kurozawa-san betrayed me. The warmth and hope she gave me was all a facade.

What the hell am I expecting? I’m a pig. A fat pig that everyone hates. I’m ugly, disgusting and sore for the eyes. It was wrong of me to expect warmth from someone. I was foolish to trust her, for being so naive. 

I could understand if I got rejected but for Kurozawa-san to use Nakamura-san instead of coming here herself was beyond unimaginable.

I clenched my fist in anger for a short moment before opening it up again. 

I give up. My mind and spirit was broken. There was no point in fighting anymore.

I fell down on my knees, losing all my power along with my tears falling down on my cheeks. 

“Let’s get this started, shall we, Piggy-kun?”

I crumpled to the ground with each punch on me. 

However, the physical pain was tolerable but the betrayal from the person I trusted the most was not. 

It was my fault. Everything was my fault. For hoping and trusting someone.