18 Let’s Walk Towards This Dream Together

"I'm gonna write a story that meets the conditions for getting serialized, and make sure this time they won't be able to say it's a bad story."

Yasu sounded so determined to write his first-ever worth of professional manga.

"Yeah, I'm gonna work on the things Mr. Kiichi and Mr. Miura pointed out and show them how amazing my art can be."

I can't lose with Yasu's enthusiasm 

"Thinking about it now, the part in the Secret School Club where the protagonist and his club members focus too much on a slice of life, and Shokunen Jade has battle type mangas."

Yasu has his crosshairs straight to the goal.

"Finally, you think of it the same way Mr.Kawaguchi does, I thought so too."

I looked at him and punched his left chest.

"Then you should've warned me."

Yasu looks at the sky while holding Mr. Kiichi's business card.

"Sorry I was afraid to be blunt about it and make you feel down."

He felt the same thing as me before, I realized I was doing the same.

"Well, feel free to stick your nose in this time. Let's talk this out with everyone and come up with a plan everyone will be satisfied with."

Yasu smiled at me.

"If that's what you want then it's fine with me."

I will never forget this day, a leap of faith towards our dream.

"I remember we will be rearranging seats today. If Fumi sits beside you, better make a move."

Yasu blurted out something so strange suddenly

"What are you talking about? If she sits beside me I will talk to her but I am not making a move."

I looked the other way blushing. 

"I think Fumi likes you."

Yasu elaborated on the topic even more.

"Huh?! What's in me to be like? I am just someone who wants to complete everything perfectly, there is nothing more to me than being just like that."

I just stated facts about myself and he knows that.

"Maybe that's what you see for yourself but to her, it isn't."

Yasu said something that pierced through my heart.

"Yeah right, oh since we're talking about the girls how about you and Kozue now did something already happen?"

I dodged the topic and now questions Yasu about Kozue

"Ah yes, she did tell me about what happened in the back of the restaurant."

Yasu stopped for a minute as he spoke.

"I see, then what happened?"

 I turned towards Yasu

"I confessed, she said agreed to go out with me, but I feel like I am just a cover-up for her heartbreak."

Yasu continued walking after answering me with a straight face.

I remember that like it was yesterday and still I honestly feel bad about it, but I guess since Kozue has Yasuyuki now there is nothing to worry about what happened anymore.

"Well, I'm glad you guys are open to each other."

I know it was a bad situation, I just don't know what to say.

"Yeah" 

Yasu's voice sounded like he's a bit down. 

The next day,

"Hey, Fumi so we're sitting next to each other."

I placed my things on my desk.

"Huh, y-ye-yeah! I'm so happy." 

Fumi smiled and then fixed herself.

I think I can talk to her in this way, maybe I would be able to get to know more about her.

"Hmm, what's your favorite season? Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter?"

What the hell am I doing starting a conversation like this?

"Spring because that's the time we've met."

I remember how she dragged me all around the school.

"Oh I see, same"

I was so happy I am able to talk to Fumi this much outside of the club, the moment we've got too much focus on making manga we didn't even talk, we just head straight to the studio and do our individual tasks. We only talk on breaks and after we are done with it.

Thinking about yesterday when I saw the editorial department office Mr. Kiichi mentioned it was divided into three groups. Each group has a captain, the captain, and the other editors compete with each other.

For each monthly award, the group assigned picked about ten different manga from the submissions they received, and the group rotated every month.

"Fumi, can we really make our dream come true?"

I voiced out my thoughts and asked her.

"Huh?" 

Tears flowed into her eyes as I asked her that question.

"Eh, Reina why are you crying?"

Our teacher noticed

"?....."

Why is she crying… Oh, wait I know! Shit.

"So-sorry, sensei a relative of mine died last night."

That was a lie.

"I know you're sad but we are in the middle of class."

Our teacher obviously knows it was a lie.

"Sorry, it won't happen again."

She hid her face on her desk so no one could see her, time passed us by. She is still facing down and I have no idea what to do.

She wanted for our dreams to come true and I stomped on her feelings. Even though I thought it was romantic too. When the class ended she looked up.

"Hey, Kenji let's talk outside" 

That was the first words that came out of her mouth, I felt more scared than happy, but I know it's my fault.

"What do you want to talk about?"

I asked even though I know it is obvious.

"Nothing just wanted to get some air." 

"I see, how about this." 

"Huh?"

[Fumi's POV]

Seven months ago,

It was that day, I realized I've fallen in love with Kenji.

"Hey, Fumi, do you have someone you like?" Kenji asked.

"Eh, someone? I don't know."

"Just a what if the, for the manga." 

"Oh, I see, okay. I don't know I haven't been able to confess to someone." 

"I see, you don't just tell them 'I like you' or the typical love letters thing." 

"Eh, that's impossible, I can't do that. It is embarrassing." 

"I wish someone would confess to me, I want to know how it feels like." 

"Huh, I thought this is just for the manga?"

I thought he had seen my feelings, of course, I don't think someone like Kenji would fall for me, huh?

"It's fine even if it's a lie." 

"Eh, I would never lie about a confession, I don't want to play with someone's feelings." 

"Then I'll ask Kozue about it." 

Eh!? What if Kozue tells him she liked him and what if because they used to be close friends and know each other very well...they'll accept both confessions.

"Wait up!"

I don't want that….I love Kenji…

"Why?... What's wrong?" 

"Let's talk on the rooftop…"

"Huh, okay." 

Even though I really don't want to confess to you right now, under this situation...I may sound selfish to you…

Looking up at the sky Fumi speaks, 

"You know, these ears have heard so many things but the best thing I've heard was your voice, these hands have touched many different things but the best thing I did was draw manga with you, these legs have been in so many places but what I want to walk with it together to our dreams and lastly,"

Turning back facing towards me with the relaxing smile she continues, 

"My eyes I've never seen such beautiful smile as you do and the sight of your determination to achieve everyone's dream is the most beautiful sight I have ever seen so please, don't ever think that our dream will never ever come true, please believe in yourself and us." 

And after that tears again flow in her face while wearing her best smile.

I don't know what to say after that, we just stand there as the air touches our skin and staring at each other.

"....."

She breaks the silence,

"Hey, Kenji let's walk towards this dream together with everyone."

She voiced out her feelings while her hands were clenched.

"Y-YES!" 

That was all I can answer but there is still more in my head that I want to tell her.

After that confession,

"So what happened to her?"

Yasu bugs me with a lot of questions.

"I made her cry."

I fixed my things and readied myself to go to the clubroom.

"What?!"

Yasu is a bit surprised I answered him with a straight face and no regard for concern.

"Yeah, but I don't get it."

The reason is I am confused.

"Don't get what?"

Yasu is now curious and I can't get away with this anymore.

"She confessed to me."

I told him the truth, I had no choice.

"WHAT!? Sheesh why are you so dense, you don't know even if you are on the same wavelength?"

Yeah right, I am so dense not understanding such things.

"I don't know, everything is too sudden."

I am just being honest here, it is my first time.

"But what did you do to make her cry?"

"I stomped on her feelings as I questioned her about our dreams."

"Well, you made up with each other after that is good enough."

"Yeah."

That ended our conversation.

Later at night, 

I began to wonder if that had been her intention all along. Without thinking about it, I clenched my fist as hard as I could, in order to be able to talk to her. But in the end, I could not call her out. 

The next day I sent her an email as soon as I woke up the last two lines might be too cheesy but I feel nothing wrong about it, anyway I don't want to make her cry anymore.

'I'm very sorry for being insensitive yesterday, I-I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, you are right I should believe in myself and in you guys. Just like you ask. Let's walk towards this dream together.'

 I stared blankly at the text that I have written.