CHAPTER 38

The two sat in the dimly lit living room, the quiet hum of the night enveloping them. They started with lighthearted banter, exchanging joke, but the conversation soon turned serious

Hisashi smirked. "I'm underage, so no drinking for me."

Takashi chuckled, shaking his head. "Fine. Juice or water, then?"

Takashi hesitated, swirling the juice in his glass. The dim light from the kitchen cast shadows across the living room, giving it an almost melancholic atmosphere. "Hisashi," he started, voice quiet, "what happened between Rei and me? Why did things go so wrong?"

Hisashi looked at him for a moment, then sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair. "You really don't get it, do you?"

Takashi frowned. "What do you mean?"

Hisashi set his glass down on the table and crossed his arms. "Rei cared about you. She needed you, but you were too wrapped up in yourself to notice. It wasn't just about the usual stuff, Takashi. It was deeper than that."

Takashi looked down, guilt creeping into his chest. "What did I miss?"

Hisashi ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face. "Shido-sensei," he began, his tone sharpening. "That bastard made her life hell. He used her slipping grades as an excuse to blackmail her. He tried to—" Hisashi stopped, clenching his fists as his jaw tightened. "He tried to force himself on her, Takashi. She didn't know what to do. She was terrified. And you?" Hisashi's eyes met Takashi's, the weight of his words hitting like a punch. "You were supposed to be the guy she could turn to. But you weren't there."

Takashi's stomach twisted, his grip on the glass tightening. "I… I didn't know."

"That's the problem," Hisashi shot back, his voice edged with anger. "She tried to drop hints, tried to ask for your help without outright saying it. But you were too clueless, too caught up in whatever you were thinking about. She felt abandoned, Takashi. By you."

The words stung, each one piercing deeper than the last. Takashi swallowed hard, his chest tightening with guilt.

Hisashi leaned forward, his voice dropping lower. "I couldn't stand by and watch her go through that. So, I stepped in. I confronted Shido-sensei and made it clear he'd regret it if he ever came near her again." His lips curved into a bitter smile. "Turns out, a black belt does a lot more than just self-defense. He backed off after that, but the damage was done."

Takashi's voice wavered. "She never told me any of this. Not directly."

"Of course, she didn't. She didn't want to feel weak, and she didn't want you to look at her differently." Hisashi's expression softened slightly. "She was grateful to me, though. And… well, I asked her to be my girlfriend."

Takashi's head snapped up, his eyes wide. "You… what?"

"Yeah," Hisashi said with a shrug, though there was a hint of sadness in his voice. "But let's not kid ourselves. She still loved you. She agreed, probably because she didn't know how else to thank me. I thought, maybe with time, she'd move on. Maybe she'd actually fall for me. But…" Hisashi's voice trailed off, and he let out a humorless laugh. "Time ran out, didn't it? Then the outbreak happened, and nothing mattered anymore."

Takashi leaned back, his head hitting the wall behind him. "I'm such an idiot," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "I was so blind. I thought… I thought we had all the time in the world. That things would just… fix themselves."

Hisashi tilted his head, studying him. "You're not a bad guy, Takashi. But you need to wake up. Life doesn't wait for you to figure things out. People don't wait. And sometimes, you don't get a second chance."

The words hit Takashi like a punch to the gut. He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling. "I let her down when she needed me most. I wasn't there. I didn't even see her."

"Yeah," Hisashi said bluntly, though his tone wasn't unkind. "But you can't change the past. What matters is what you do now. Stop wallowing in self-pity and start being the guy she always believed you could be."

Takashi's gaze shifted to Hisashi, and for the first time, he saw the depth of his friend's character—the quiet strength, the unwavering loyalty, and the willingness to step in when others faltered. "You were there for her when I wasn't," Takashi said, his voice thick with emotion. "You protected her. You stood up for her. I owe you for that."

"You don't owe me anything," Hisashi replied, shaking his head. "I did what I thought was right. And honestly? I hoped you'd figure things out sooner or later. Rei deserves someone who really sees her, Takashi. Someone who fights for her, no matter what."

Takashi nodded, the weight of Hisashi's words settling in his chest. "I'll do better. I have to. For her. For everyone."

Hisashi smirked, leaning back in his chair. "About time you started thinking like a leader. You've got it in you, Takashi. You just need to stop doubting yourself and start stepping up."

The two sat in silence for a moment, the tension in the room slowly easing. Takashi took a deep breath, feeling both heavier and lighter at the same time.

---

Without the boys notice, Rei sat on the stairs, her heart heavy as she listened to their conversation. Tears welled in her eyes as she heard Hisashi recount everything he had done for her, everything Takashi hadn't. She pressed her hand to her chest, then wrapping her knees, overwhelmed by a mix of emotions—guilt, gratitude, and longing.

Outside on the veranda, Niikaz stood with Kazu. The glowing circle near her ear flickered softly as she listened in. Her lips curled into a knowing smile.

"What's so funny?" Kazu asked, tilting his head.

Niikaz shook her head, her gaze soft as it lingered on the horizon. "Nothing," she said lightly. "Just… people learning. Growing."

Kazu blinked, confused but not pressing further. Together, they stood in companionable silence, the quiet of the night wrapping around them.