Chapter "Words In The Wind"

Hikaru was looking at her, and she was smiling, waving. Hikaru slowly raised his hand and slightly waved. The girl pointed her finger towards him and signaled, asking, "You, who?" Hikaru then moved his hand around the house and pointed at himself, trying to convey, "I live here." The girl's eyes widened, and she nodded in understanding. Hikaru then signaled, asking, "You, who?" She also moved her hand around her house and pointed at herself. Hikaru understood that she was indicating that she also lived there. He nodded, and the girl asked something in hand signs, which Hikaru didn't understand. He looked confused.

The girl signaled him to wait and quickly went to get something. Hikaru waited for her to come back. When she returned, holding a big book and a pencil, she started writing something. She then showed the book to Hikaru. "What's your name?" was written on it. Hikaru nodded, signaling her to wait. He quickly went to his study table, picked up his book and a pencil, and returned to the window. He wrote "Hikaru Kojima" and showed the book to the girl, who smiled and nodded. Hikaru then erased "Hikaru Kojima" and wrote, "What's your name?" He showed the book to the girl. After seeing it, she quickly erased and started writing something. She showed the book to Hikaru, and "Ayumi Kaneko" was written on it. Hikaru nodded, and they both looked at each other.

She erased it and wrote something again, showing him the book with "I'm going to sleep" written on it. Hikaru looked at her with confusion. She quickly closed the window. Hikaru thought to himself, "Hmm, she is a weird girl." He also closed his window and lay on his bed, thinking, "It doesn't look like she doesn't want to meet new people. She was shy, but it seems like she was waiting for me and wanted to talk." Hikaru then closed his eyes, thinking, "Well, it's her choice if she wants to be in the room." He fell asleep.

The next morning, Hikaru came out of his house with his bicycle and glanced at Kaneko's residence window before riding away.

At school, Hikaru noticed a girl sitting against the wall, crying. As he approached, he couldn't recognize her face at first. She stopped crying and quickly wiped her tears when Hikaru stood in front of her. He asked, "What happened?" She looked up, revealing herself as Chiaki. Her red, tear-filled eyes conveyed distress. She said, "Are you here to make fun of me?" Hikaru responded asking, "And why would I do that?" Chiaki angrily Said, "Yeah! Like your best friend didn't tell anything." Hikaru clarified saying, "Look, Yuta and I never talk about you." She didn't respond, so Hikaru added saying, "Whatever it is, try to solve things between you two. Crying is never a solution to anything." As Hikaru turned to leave, Chiaki said, "Wait." He stopped and turned to look at her. She asked, "Do you have any idea what Yuta has done?" Hikaru said, "No, I have no idea," and then Yuta's voice came from behind, saying, "Hey, Hikaru."

Hikaru turned around and saw Yuta with Ayame, holding hands. Hikaru was momentarily surprised. He looked at Chiaki, tears starting to flow. Then, he turned to Ayame, who seemed a bit shy. Hikaru stared at Yuta, who appeared happy. Yuta said, "You must be surprised by seeing us like that," raising his hand, revealing he and Ayame were together. Hikaru continued to stare, then looked at Chiaki, offering his hand towards her, surprising Yuta and Ayame.

A big wave of wind came, lifting Hikaru's hair, revealing his facial features. Chiaki looked at him with widened, teary eyes, and slowly placed her hand in his. Hikaru made her stand and held her hand. Yuta and Ayame looked confused.

Hikaru and Chiaki walked in front of Yuta and Ayame, who seemed surprised. Yuta and Hikaru locked eyes. Yuta smiled and said, "Now, are you going to date Chiaki?" Ayame glanced at Hikaru, Chiaki looked down with red cheeks.

Hikaru said, "I will not date her." Yuta smiled, and Hikaru added, "Because I'm not as worthless as you." Yuta's eyes widened as he asked, "What do you mean by that?" Hikaru responded saying, "You dated Chiaki but never loved her, treating her like a toy. Now, you're doing the same with Ayame." Both Ayame and Chiaki looked at Hikaru. Yuta added saying, "Like you're such a great man? Rejecting Ayame and breaking her heart multiple times?" Hikaru responded saying, "Bitter truths are always better than sweet lies." Yuta looked confused. Hikaru added saying, "I didn't give her false hope, unlike you are doing right now." Hikaru continued saying, "And unlike you, I respect girls' feelings and emotions." Yuta got furious, grabbed Hikaru's collar, and was about to punch him, but Chiaki slapped Yuta mid-action. Yuta took a few steps back, holding his cheek. Ayame remained silent. Hikaru looked at Yuta, and Chiaki held Hikaru's hand, saying, "Let's go, Hikaru." They walked away.