Tadashi sat with his friends at a spot in the school courtyard, the sun casting warm light
over the group. Kei was in the middle of a dramatic retelling of his latest attempt to
impress a girl, complete with exaggerated hand gestures and ridiculous sound effects.
Haruto and Hikaru were barely holding back their laughter, while Rin rolled her eyes,
pretending not to care but clearly entertained.
Tadashi chuckled along with them, but a part of him felt distant. The weight of his secret
still loomed over him, yet, for the first time in a long while, he felt something shift
within him. These people, his friends, were here. They weren't going anywhere.
Nao sat beside him, her usual composed demeanor in place, but there was something in
her eyes today, something guarded. Tadashi had noticed it before, but he never pushed.
Maybe, in some way, she was like him, keeping her own burdens locked away.
"Hey, Tadashi, you've been zoning out," Rin nudged him.
"What's on your mind?"
Kei grinned, nudging him from the other side.
"Thinking about a girl?"
Tadashi scoffed.
"Not everything is about romance, Kei."
"Sure, sure,"
Kei said with a knowing smirk.
"But you are sitting next to Nao."
Nao shot Kei a sharp glare, but there was a faint pink tinge to her cheeks.
"Grow up, Kei."
The group burst into laughter, but the conversation soon shifted to other topics, leaving
Tadashi feeling both relieved and strangely aware of Nao's presence beside him.
That evening, Tadashi found himself walking with Nao. It wasn't planned, but as the
group parted ways after school, the two of them naturally gravitated towards the same
direction. The city lights flickered on as they made their way to the park. It was quiet,
only the sound of distant traffic and the rustling of leaves filling the space between them.
Nao was silent. Her steps were steady, but her hands were clenched into fists. Tadashi
could feel it, something was weighing on her. The hesitation in her movements, the
way she exhaled as if battling herself. It was familiar.
"You don't have to force yourself," he said finally, stopping at the park's bridge
overlooking the water.
"But if you want to talk... I'll listen."
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she looked up at the night sky, her expression
unreadable. Finally, she spoke, her voice softer than usual.
"I was betrayed too."
Tadashi felt his breath catch.
Nao let out a bitter chuckle.
"Not in the same way as you, I think. But it still hurt. And sometimes... I wonder if I'll ever trust again."
Tadashi wanted to say something, but before he could, the world around him shifted.
A vision.
He saw himself, reaching out towards a glowing, star-like spark in the darkness. Every
time he reached for it, it slipped through his fingers. Again and again, he tried,
frustration building, desperation clawing at the spark. And then...
The vision vanished.
Tadashi gasped, his heart pounding as he found himself back in reality, Nao watching
him with concerned eyes. His hands trembled slightly, but he clenched them into fists,
steadying himself.
"Nao," he said, his voice quieter than before.
"Tell me everything."
She hesitated one last time, then parted her lips to speak.
And then...