Chapter 62 - After Sports Festival

(Ryuji POV)

Its been awhile since i know her.

At first, i thought we're going to be an ordinary friend, like my other friends.

But as the time goes, i have this kind of feeling whenever i look at her, I don't know since when.

But one thing always bugging me, its her childhood friend and my best friend, Ryou.

I'm afraid if he know my feelings to his childhood friend he will angry at me, or maybe leaving me.

But surprisingly is, when he told me that he know my feeling to his childhood friend, and he support me too.

When i heard that, it feels like a big burden lifted from my heart.

But again, i was surprised when i know she confessed to him. And rejected.

I'm afraid if i tell her my feeling she will reject me because she is not ready yet. But i won't leave my feelings just like that, i want to make it clear to her.

My feeling toward a girl i like, Noyamano Ringo.

..

(Third POV)

Back in class 1B classroom.

Honami: "Wait what?"

Ryou: "Huh? You guys never knew about that?"

Honami: "No, we're not. How?"

Ryou: "Actually, its been so long since he admit that to me."

Honami: "Is he going to be okay? Well, you know..." she said that while looking at Ryou.

Ryou: "Don't worry, they know what they have to do."

Honami: "I hope they will be okay."

Ryou: "I'm sure they will."

'And i have to finish mine too with Airi.' as he read a message from Airi to met her on their usual place.

..

Near the library.

Ryuji sitting on the chair near the hallway waiting for Ringo.

Ringo: "Hii Ryuji."

Ryuji: "Ringo-san..."

Ringo: "You need to talk about something?"

Ryuji: "Yeah, lets sit first." he move aside and give Ringo a space to sit.

Ringo: "What is it?"

Ryuji: "Actually, i don't know where to start with this."

He muster his courage one more time.

Ryuji: "I want to tell you about this for so long, but i knew you're not ready yet since what happened in deserted island."

Ringo a bit surprised, "So, you know about that too?"

Ryuji: "Yeah, i heard that."

Only silence between them.

Ryuji: "You know, i really like you since back then, i don't know when i started to have this feeling."

Ringo listen to him, waiting he finished what he want to say.

Ryuji: "I know that your heart maybe not ready yet for this kind of thing. But i want you to know my feeling to you. I like you Ringo-san, please go out with me."

Ringo looked at him.

Ringo: "Thank you for telling me this Ryuji-kun. Yeah, you're correct, i'm not healed yet since that time on the deserted island. Its not like i don't like you, its about my feeling. And its not like i don't want to go out with you too. But, can you give me some time? Its a bit selfish of me, but i want you to wait. I want to reply your confession properly after i'm ready."

Hearing her reply, Ryuji smiled, 'So, i'm not rejected or accepted yet huh. But its good, at least she will give me a chance.'

Ryuji: "Can you let me help you to heal that wound?"

Ringo nod her head, she too want to give herself a chance. A chance to replace Ryou's name from her heart and start something new.

Ringo: "You know what, i don't want to reject or accept your confession right now because i don't want to accept you as Ryou's subtitute. I want to give you a clear reply, a true reply from my heart."

Ryuji: "I know its not easy to forget about him, but for now its enough. At least you give me a chance to help you."

Ringo: "Now, lets go back to dormitory."

Ryuji: "I will accompany you."

Ringo: "Okay."

..

Honami: "I think they're done now."

Ryou: "Yeah, they must already back to dormitory."

Honami: "Where are you going after this?"

Ryou: "I have a business after this, you can go back to dormitory first. I will accompany you to the gate."

They walked until school gate and Ryou going back to school ground.

But before he arrived at his destination, a student he don't know stop him.

Ryou: "Excuse me, you need something? I have something to do right now."

???: "Please follow me, someone want to meet you. We just need little bit of your time."

'We?'

Ryou: "Okay, don't make it long."

They arrived at the special building's third floor, one of the few places with no surveillance camera.

He saw Ayanokouji already there with Sakayanagi Arisu.

Ryou: "You need something from me?"

Arisu: "Hello there Hiroki-kun."

Ayanokouji nod his head to him.

Ryou: "So, what is this about"

Arisu: "Both of you really drew quite a lot of attention in that final relay."

Ayanokouji: "What do you want? I'd like to wrap this up quickly, if possible."

Ryou: "Yeah, i have a meeting to attend too."

Arisu: "After seeing both of you run, I remembered something. I called you here because I wanted to share the shock I felt with you. It's been quite a long time, Ayanokouji-kun. Eight years and 243 days actually."

She said walking towards Ayanokouji.

Ayanokouji: "You're joking, right? I don't even know who you are."

Arisu: "Heh. No, I suppose not. It's just me who knows you, after all... White room?"

Ryou can see Ayanokouji lost a little bit of his compossure.

Ryou: "Um... i think i'm not supposed to be here."

Arisu: "No, you too Hiroki-kun, its been 3 years since i met you in junior high."

'Even i remember, i never met her directly.'

Arisu: "Junior High Football Competition Final."

Ryou: "You really have a good memory."

Arisu: "I'm impressed with your performance you know, even i'm so interested and doing some research about you. Top ranking in sports and academic, but rejecting the offer to join our class."

Ryou: "Personal reason..."

Arisu: "This is a reunion. I just wanted to come give both of you a proper greeting. Oh, it's quite all right that you don't know me. But I know you!"

Ayanokouji: "What are you talking about? There are lots of smart people in my class."

Arisu: "When you say 'smart people,' are you referring to Horikita Suzune or Hirata Yousuke? Relax. I've no intention of telling anyone about you at present."

Ayanokouji: "Wouldn't things be easier if you did?"

Arisu: "I don't want anything to get in my way. I'm the perfect person to bury false genius. i've found little pŀėȧsurė in this boring school life."

Ayanokouji: "Can I ask you something else?"

Arisu: "Please, go ahead. I'm honored to have you ask me a question."

Ayanokouji: "Can you bury me?"

Arisu: "Hehe.. Sorry for laughing. I don't intend to insult you. I know quite well how incredible both you are. I've been looking forward to this. I'll be able to realize my dearest wish by destroying the greatest masterpiece that your father ever and the so called genius over there."

Ryou: "I think i'm supposed to be not included in this conversation."

Arisu: "Not quite right, i know you did something too to Ayanokouji-kun in the last race."

Ayanokouji look at me like confirming her words.

..

Ryou on his way back to the meeting place with Airi, he is now included within Arisu's goal to destroy a false genius.

Reading the story and experience it by himself is felt so different.

'Lots of abnormal people in this school, really.'

Finally, he arrived at the meeting place, Airi sitting near the vending machine.

Ryou: "Hii Airi-chan."

Airi: "Ryou-kun!"

Ryou: "Sorry to make you wait."

Airi: "No, i just arrived 10 minutes ago."

Ryou: "You want to talk about something?"

Airi: "Um... promise me you won't get mad at me first "

Ryou: "Why would i?"

Airi: "I want to confirm my feeling to you, i want to say this but i'm afraid that you and your friend will hate me if they know about this."

Ryou: "No one will ever hate you."

Airi: "Ryou-kun, i like you, please go out with me."

.. Ryou look at her. She is shaking after she said that words.

Ryou: "You know Airi-chan, i've already in love with someone."

She closed her eyes hearing what he said.

Ryou: "I don't want to give you a false hope with giving you unclear answer, but i'm sorry, can we just be friend?"

She can feel her eyes become watery, she tried her best to hold it.

Ryou: "You can hate me if you want, i know i'm not a good guy to reject a good girl like you. But i don't want you to get hurt more than now if i'm not giving you a clear answer."

Airi: "No... its okay, i'm ready for this. Its just, i don't know what to do."

Her tears start to flow on her cheek.

Airi: "And... and i will never hate you, you are the one who help me, you are someone who reach my hand when i need it the most. Its just, maybe i need some time to accept this."

Ryou keep listening to her.

Airi: "Can i ask you something?"

Ryou: "Yes."

Airi: "Is it Honami-chan?"

He look at her in the eye and answer her firmly.

Ryou: "Yes."

Airi: "I knew it, i knew it from the start." she said as a smile plastered on her face with tears still flowing.

Airi: "But i'm happy i can confess my feeling. At least, we can still be best friends right?"

Ryou: "You will always be!"

Airi: "Thank you, Ryou-kun."

_______________________________________________________

A/N : Its clear now right? For harem lover, sorry...

And those who said the MC only playing with those girls heart, well... he just act the way he always did.

At least he is not some jerk who accept them and only going to dump them when he is bored.

I know some of you think how can he chose someone he only met for a few months than his childhood friend?

When it comes to feeling, you just can't force it.

I know this is a fantasy world, but i'm trying to make it like any ordinary man's feeling, a feeling of love can't be forced.

"Gimme a Hi-Five!"