Landmine Explosion

I blushed deeply and tried to hide, but Aoi-kun chased after me.

It’s the complete opposite of now.

“Oh, is this child the star of the upcoming movie?”

“Yes, yes. Quite a find, really… Hey, Aoi-kun, can you get ready soon?”

“Yes, director!” he said, giving a perfect salute before running over to the actress.

“…,” I murmured, watching him from behind my father’s shadow.

He was chatting happily with the actress.

It was only natural to feel a mix of surprise and admiration for a boy my age carrying himself so confidently.

However, those feelings grew even stronger when I saw him act.

This lively boy was playing the role of a somewhat fragile and shy boy.

He acted as if he was possessed by something, and his performance was truly genuine.

“…Amazing,” I whispered.

“Are you interested in trying it yourself, Marin?” my father asked, but I shook my head.

There was no way I could do it. Someone who was as uncomfortable in the spotlight as I was could never do something like that.

After that, I would occasionally follow my father and watch from backstage.

However, with the person I liked right in front of me, my shyness kicked in even more, and I was never able to talk to him. A few months passed, and the movie was completed.

From then on, I decided to shed my old, shy self and started acting like a cheerful and cute girl.

One day, after losing contact with him, I visited my uncle, my father’s brother, in the hospital. Feeling bored, I pretended to go to the bathroom and began exploring the hospital.

I noticed that one of the room doors was slightly ajar. Out of curiosity, I peeked in and saw that boy from before, sitting on a bed reading a book.

I felt it was destiny. I wanted to rush in and hug him, but I held back and continued watching him. I quickly noticed something strange.

Unlike my uncle’s room, which was filled with plush toys and picture books, his bed had none of those things.

It looked like a hospital room with only the bare essentials. But it wasn’t just that. His eyes looked empty, as if he had been consumed by some kind of illness.

Seeing him like that, I took a deep breath and opened the door to the room.

“Hi, long time no see!” I called out, but he continued to read his book as if he couldn’t hear me.

“Um, hey! Do you remember me?” I asked.

“…,” he remained silent.

“I, uh, wanted to tell you… I’m aiming to become an actress now!” I said.

“…,” still no response.

“My mom thinks I’m cute and suited for acting…” I continued.

“Annoying. Leave me alone,” he said without looking at me.

I didn’t understand what I had done wrong at that moment. I just didn’t want him to dislike me, so I asked, “W-why?”

“…You’re annoying. Get out,” he said.

I was speechless. Those were the most hurtful words anyone had ever said to me in my life.

“…Sorry,” I muttered before rushing out of the room.

A little while later, I overheard that director visiting our house and talking about him.

“…It’s a shame. Truly,” the director said.

“Yeah, it is,” someone replied.

“I went to see him the other day… He seemed completely different. He looked like he had lost all interest in everything, like he was in despair. I don’t think we’ll be able to reach him anymore,” the director continued.

“…Can’t we do anything to help him?” someone asked.

“I tried going to child services, but they wouldn’t do anything. But… if things continue like this, he won’t last much longer,” the director replied.

“…He’s resented by his father and siblings for killing his mother, and he’s been mistreated by his stepmother as well,” someone explained.

“He didn’t kill her, though,” another voice interjected.

“But the culprit hasn’t been caught yet. They need someone to blame, and he’s the convenient scapegoat,” the person continued.

“That’s terrible…” someone murmured.

“I’ll do what I can, but it’s going to be difficult,” the director said.

“Please…” someone pleaded.

It was then that I learned the truth. His mother had died, and my careless words had been like stepping on a landmine for him.

I wanted to apologize. I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to tell him that I was there for him.

I did my own research and gathered information.

Years later, due to my mother’s job, I coincidentally ended up attending the same elementary school as him.

And without going to a private middle school, I enrolled in the same public middle school as him, and for the first time, I went against my parents’ wishes and attended the Private Mori no Oka High School.