re:Happiness | Cell Phone Novel

childhood friend | xxii - xxiv

・・・ xxii ・・・

Ao quickly looked down.

He could feel the world begin to shrink on him as he tightly gripped his book.

It's fine. Everything is fine.

Rie continued to speak, still looking at him with that uncertain look.

"Your friend... Leo," she said. "He... seemed like a really nice person."

He breathed out slightly.

He stayed quiet.

Hashimoto Rie pressed her lips together, looking hesitant.

"Ao-kun... if you'd like to—"

"—It doesn't matter," he interrupted her harshly before she could finish.

"This doesn't concern you."

Rie looked like she was about to say something.

However, she stopped herself in the middle of opening her mouth.

She closed it.

After a moment,
she parted her lips again.

"It is," she answered firmly.

Ao looked at her in that moment, his eyes narrowed in a glare.

But she did not turn away.

"How can you assume that?"

"Because..." she said, clenching her hands atop the table. Her tone suddenly sounded strained to his ear.

"Because we're friends, Ao-kun. Isn't that reason enough?"

・・・ xxiii・・・

Friends?

"Ha. How ridiculous."

He clenched his teeth.

A sudden wave of anger overcame him,
threatening to suffocate his lungs.

His mind stopped thinking straight.

"We aren't friends."

Rie leveled her gaze.

"No. We are."

"That was simply me repaying my debt to you. I never intended this from the start."

"Perhaps. But it was more than that. Far more than an empty exchange."

He shook his head.

"I don't have any friends," he whispered.

Rie stopped herself.
She looked saddened.

"Ao-kun... I'm so sorry. I know this is hard. I know this is difficult.

But... I tell you this: wallowing in despair is the worst thing to do.

You shouldn't. It will only pain you more."

He blinked at the words on the pages,
feeling his hands shaking.

Am I in despair?
Am I in pain?

What would you know?

"Don't be so full of yourself," he rasped without thought.

・・・ xxiv・・・

Rie turned silent.

He finally looked at her once again.

When he did, he was taken aback when he saw small tears were welling in her eyes. 

No. No. No. No.

I didn't mean it.
Don't make that expression.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

"Everything you say is poison.
Just shut up."

He shook his head and closed his book.

He stood up abruptly, turning away without any word.

He could not take it anymore.
He needed to leave.

As he took his first step, Rie called out to him.

"Ao-kun. Wait."

He did. But he didn't turn around to face her.

"... Let him in, Ao-kun. Whatever happened between you two, it's clear that he regrets doing it. Please, listen to what he has to say."

He closed his eyes.

He shook his head.

"I..." he whispered silently, then swallowed back his words.

I can't.
It's not that easy.
You don't understand.

I'm the one at fault.

He breathed out.

"... Alright."