You were sparkling

"You know, back then, I was always alone. For a while, I did have a group of people who would call themselves my friends. But really, when the time came, they'd toss me away like I was nothing. Everyone in our class knew it, and yet no one had once chosen to do anything about it.

It was then I realized how truly corrupt the world really is. Even though there's someone in trouble right there in front of them, they wouldn't help. They'd either choose to ignore it or join in. I disliked that about them, and I couldn't hide my resentment."

Oh, that's right, come to think of it, that's how it was. During the first semester, he had noticed her; however, he always saw her on her own, and so he did ask his friends why that was.

The response he was given then, 'It's just difficult to approach her. The scary rumors aside, she looks really fragile, like she will fall apart in an instant.'

Fragile huh? Certainly, when he saw her in the rain that day, he thought that was the case.

"Even though some of them were fake. Not all of them were that way. There were those who cared."

Sumire smiled. "Perhaps that's right. But even if I had figured that out, then I wouldn't have done anything about it. At least not then, the way I was back then. I just couldn't accept anyone else into my life." She trailed off. "I had Nao with me, and honestly, I felt as though as long as I had him with me, then I'd be fine. But I was wrong. I still haven't met him again, but I have a feeling when I do see that person again. If I do see him, then I'll truly be able to build up my resolve again."

So that's it, the one she was looking for. Of course, he figured that would be the case ever since she showed up to school and saw him. He would occasionally find her glancing his way. He must be thinking that Arashi would eventually appear.

"Ah, what's with this? Even if he's not around. Why do I feel like I've lost to him again?"

Sumire chuckled. "Are you still competing to this very day?"

"This rivalry won't end between us," Atushi said, determined.

Rather he knew and understood it well. When Arashi does come back, when he does show himself again, that is when the real competition will begin. Even though Ichiko Daiki didn't give out many hints, Atushi knew the real reason he was confronted was to inquire about Arashi.

"Hmm, I see."

Now that they are on this topic, he might as well ask her because he was curious about it, for the longest time, he wanted to know the answer.

"The group. Why did you leave?" Atushi decided to ask.

Atushi wasn't the only one who took an interest in her. Maybe because he showed so much interest in her, but eventually, his own friends did too. Eventually, the girl gradually started to hang out with them. It made him very happy that he could spend more time with her.

"I didn't..I didn't belong there. I didn't feel as if I belonged there. No. I knew I didn't belong there at all. We were all so different from each other. When I saw everyone was smiling and so happy, I understood something. Even if I wasn't there, I knew nothing would change. I always felt like I was preventing people from progressing forward and changing their lives. Preventing people from leaving their past." Sumire trailed off

Wait, is she talking about him?

"That's why I left, but I was alone. I knew that. I knew that it was hurting. I left knowing I could find a better life here. You guys didn't need me." Sumire said.

Atushi couldn't miss the pained look on her face, eyes filled with sorrow and regret. It never occurred to him that she would blame herself. It never occurred to him how much pain his actions caused her. He knew he hurt her, but he didn't think it would be like this.

"I'm sorry." Atushi apologized.

He truly felt ashamed of his past actions. He had given the girl hope and then stepped all over it just because he was insecure.

"You don't have to apologize so much, you know. Because I understood that, eventually, it was going to happen. This is partly my fault, you know? I shouldn't have accepted you when you extended your hand out to me then. If I didn't accept, then this wouldn't have happened. But let's see, back then. There was a reason I accepted."

Sumire turned to him. "You were sparkling."

Huh? For a minute, Atushi isn't sure whether he heard her correctly. Sumire laughs at his reaction. "Now that's fresh?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Have you ever heard of that cliche saying before? About how the person you love sparkles. To me during that first encounter, you were sparkling so brightly to me. I didn't believe in things like fate or anything like that. It was cliché and all so so stupid. But when it came to you, it really was different. I decided after that day that maybe just maybe, I'd be willing to change if I gave it a chance."

His eyes went wide at this comment. 'Your destined person sparkling, huh?'Now that he thought back to it, back then, she was shining so brightly to him. At first, he thought it was just the effects of the rain, but that's not what it was at all. So that's what it was.

"The one that sparkles brighter for you is someone else, not me. I figured that was the case, and that's why I rejected you." Atushi admitted.

He avoided saying Yuhi's name. It would be awkward for him to admit that he knew Yuhi too. One step at a time, he will eventually tell her. Honestly, he thought that the person she liked was Ichinose Arashi.

"I see. My bad, I gave it away, huh?"

"You really were clueless."

Sumire laughs. "That's true." She trailed off as her gaze landed elsewhere.

Atushi saw who she was staring at, only to find it was none other than Masato.

"You should get going. You want to be with those guys, don't you?"