"Na-na-na… Nakano-kun?! Wh-what are you doing here?"
Faced with the young man standing in front of the pavilion with an umbrella, Miura Yumiko was completely stunned. She had never expected to run into Nakano Yu in a place like this.
"I just went out to take care of some things. But, Miura, you… you're pretty hurt."
Nakano Yu casually glanced at Miura Yumiko's ankle, seeing that the girl's delicate skin was already red and swollen, even slightly bruised.
Such an injury, though not life-threatening, was truly painful.
"It's just a small injury, I'll be fine after a short rest."
Hearing that, Miura Yumiko quickly pulled her sock over her ankle, enduring the pain, and said it in a supposedly firm voice.
"Oh, is that so? Then I'll go. Miura, once you've rested a bit, head home immediately. Ichiban Street is quite close, don't disappear because of something."
Seeing Miura Yumiko trying to act strong, Nakano Yu raised an eyebrow. After saying that, he turned and started to leave, holding the umbrella.
Hearing this, Miura Yumiko's expression changed. They had talked about the missing persons case on Ichiban Street yesterday! She hadn't thought much about it before, but now that Nakano Yu mentioned it, fear suddenly overwhelmed her.
Her ankle was stretched. If she really ran into bad people, let alone run, she wouldn't even be able to stand.
"W-wait, wait! Nakano-kun! Chotto matte! Please, wait a moment!"
Realizing this, seeing that Nakano Yu hadn't gone far, Miura Yumiko lightly bit her lower lip and immediately called out to him.
"Anything else, Miura?"
Hearing her call, Nakano Yu stopped, turned his head toward the girl, and asked.
"Um… please, please stay with me, Nakano-kun, just… just until my friends come…"
Miura Yumiko said, her cheeks slightly reddened. She had already messaged her friends, but they hadn't replied, and Miura Yumiko didn't know if they would even come for her.
"Hmm, that's the right attitude. Your friends? Are they Yuigahama and the others?"
Seeing Miura Yumiko lower her guard and even use polite speech, Nakano Yu was somewhat satisfied. He returned to the pavilion and folded the umbrella while asking.
Yuigahama Yui, known as Yui, was a member of a popular group and a good friend of Miura Yumiko. However, the two of them were not in the same class and only occasionally met together.
"No, Yui and the others are still at school. It's Hirata and the others."
Shaking her head, Miura Yumiko said. "Hirata and the others" referred to her classmates who had used the excuse of not having enough umbrellas today and left her at school.
"Oh? I think I saw them. It looked like they were in a café."
Setting the umbrella aside, Nakano Yu found a place to sit. Hearing what Miura Yumiko said, he reminded her.
When he had gone out earlier to buy groceries, he hadn't gone far before seeing them eating sweets in a café. At that time, he hadn't seen Miura Yumiko and thought she had gone to look for Hayama Hayato, never thinking she was sitting here alone, crying.
"What?!"
Hearing this, Miura Yumiko, who had been smiling just before, suddenly exploded with emotion, looking at the young man in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe what he said.
Nakano Yu looked at Miura Yumiko, and seeing her losing her composure, said:
"Maybe I was wrong."
Nakano Yu didn't want to interfere too much in this matter, as it was between Miura Yumiko and those two girls.
… I understand.
After a brief silence, the anger in Miura Yumiko's heart inexplicably dissipated, replaced by endless bitterness. She didn't understand why they treated her like that when she had always been kind to them.
Nakano Yu looked deeply at Miura Yumiko but said nothing. The pavilion fell into silence for a moment.
After an unknown amount of time, the rain, which had been light until then, intensified again, threatening to last all night.
Just as Nakano Yu was thinking about what to prepare for dinner, the faint sound of sobbing reached his ears again. This time it was very close, and Nakano Yu clearly knew it was Miura Yumiko crying.
Turning toward her, Nakano Yu saw that her face was covered with tears; it was no longer quiet sobbing, but true crying.
"Nakano-kun, do I look really stupid?"
Noticing Nakano Yu's gaze, Miura Yumiko turned her head and, after a brief moment, initiated the conversation first.
"Yes, incredibly stupid."
Nakano Yu nodded, saying it without any hesitation.
As soon as the words fell, Miura Yumiko turned toward Nakano Yu in disbelief, completely unprepared for such a response.
She had originally thought that even Nakano Yu would say something comforting when a girl cried, but… what's wrong with this guy?!
"You… Nakano-kun, I think I understand now why you're handsome and don't have a girlfriend."
Miura Yumiko opened her mouth, almost swearing, but still controlled herself, preventing the sad atmosphere from completely collapsing.
"But that doesn't stop people from liking me."
Nakano Yu shrugged, looking confident. Honestly, he received at least as many love letters as Miura Yumiko did, but he mercilessly threw them all away. Over time, no one dared to confess to him anymore.
"You… me! Ugh, what if I say I like you, Nakano-kun?"
Clenching her teeth, Miura Yumiko averted her gaze and suddenly came up with a good way to tease Nakano Yu, dropping a real bomb.
It was Miura's confidence; she was known as the "Queen of Flames" throughout Sobu High School. There was no need to say much about her appearance, and with regular exercise, her figure far surpassed her peers.
Now she just wanted to see how Nakano Yu would react to this?!
"Whether you like me or not is your business, Miura. Whether I respond is my business. The world doesn't stop turning just because someone disappears."
However, Nakano Yu's reaction was destined to disappoint Miura Yumiko. The young man's indifferent face and words left Miura Yumiko speechless.
Seeing Nakano Yu's calmness, Miura Yumiko didn't know what to say for a while.
"Why is this guy reacting like this? Shouldn't he be surprised when a beautiful girl confesses? Why is he… so calm? It can't be… is Nakano Yu gay?"
Just as Miura Yumiko muttered to herself and doubted Nakano Yu's orientation, the young man stood up and said:
"Alright, I can't waste any more time with you. I'm going."
Hearing that, Miura Yumiko narrowed her eyes and quickly regained her composure, wanting to ask the young man what she should do now. But she suddenly remembered that she had almost no relationship with him, so her heart cooled, and she said nothing more.
However, just as Miura Yumiko waited for the young man to open the umbrella and leave, Nakano Yu offered his umbrella to Miura Yumiko.
Then, under her bewildered and shocked gaze, he crouched down.
"Come on, I'll carry you."