The bustle of the Arcade engulfed the girl standing at the entrance. Takigawa Shion, standing while fiddling her phone, waits for the arrival of someone. Still wearing her uniform, she looks at the gallery on her phone.

  Records of the past; the once intimacy she had once with Haruki, embedded there. She just can’t helped but to smile faintly at it. “Hey,” a familiar voice echoed. She flinched and quickly lures to the one who called.

  That face she has been longing to see, show once more. Though it is contort with anger, she couldn’t helped but to show a sweet smile. “Hi, you’re here.”

  Shion gives a sweet charm to Haruki. She’s trying to flatter the boy, who seemed not pleased to see her. “What do you want?”

  “Aw, you’re getting hasty. Let’s go enjoy this reunion. Just the two of us.”

  “I’m not being hasty; just tell me what you want—”

  “I just want to see and be with you.” those words halted Haruki. He sees Shion’s looks, the same looks as the time she asked to date him.

  Yet, now’s different. The once feelings of overwhelmed changed into anger and disappointment. Until now, he’s still mad whenever he recalled those awful memories.

  “You’re fooling around, aren’t you?”

  “No, I’m not. I want to spend this time together with you, again.”

  Sweet words came out from her mouth. But he has been fooled once; he won’t get fooled by her again. “This is nonsense, I should just go home—”

  “Haruki.” Shion grabbed his hand.

  “What? Can you please stop?”

  Shion gripped on his hand. “I want to see you. So please, don’t leave.”

  “We’re done. I don’t want to see you.”

  That word bestow down to her. Shion felt the chill crawling through her body as Haruki left those words. “Those are the words I meant to say to you last time. But I can’t let it out because I….”

  Haruki halted as he looked away. It blocked to his throat. The words he wants to express right now. “I still love you.”

  Shion mellowly speaks. “I am still in love with you. And I’m sorry, for the words I’ve said that time.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  That made Haruki’s anger subsided. Although there’s still remains, but hearing how she truly feels stalled him out. Why is she telling this to him right now? It seems she still has romantic feelings for him.

  He doesn’t want to believe that, though…

  Her sincere feelings poured through that phrase. She thought, there still could be a chance for them to rekindle their relationship. The once she had that has been taken for granted, trying to win back.

  If she could just let herself be true to her friends, he wouldn’t be gone to her life. Shion regretted it, and still these lingering feelings still wanting him.

  The days they spent together, without minding the world what they think about them; the days where his smile only belongs to hers.

  Haruki sighs, and faces her once more. “Shion.”

  His voice is calm, but the coldness embedded through the way he called her name. “I’m sorry; I don’t think I can be with you anymore.”

  “Huh?”

  Her hopeful looks turn grim after hearing what Haruki rendered. “I loved you before. But I insisted to forget you.”

  “No, don’t say that—”

  “I like Senior Sakura.”

  The expression he said, made Shion’s grip loose. That woman, she knew from the beginning, that woman likes him. And he also likes her. Her chest clumps tight. She moves a step back.

  “I see.” she murmurs.

  The reality hits her hard. The once life and days they had together before, all that she dreamed to be back again, crumbles completely.

  Tears welled on her eyes. “Shion.” Haruki called.

  “No, I’m fine. Worry not. I am fine.” Shion mumbled, her voice shakes. “I’m fine. It’s all clear now between us. We’re over, right?”

  “Yeah. We’re done. It’s over.” Haruki expressed, his voice tainted with pain. He never intend to see Shion ever again. But they never had a clean closure. He just ran away, from the eyes of their classmates and from everyone.

  They just drifted apart, without reconciling with each other. They have their faults, their misunderstandings. There’s nothing for them to go back the way they used to.

  “I’m sorry. For everything I’ve caused. I just want to think that we’re still good together, and hoping for us to… you know…?”

  “I’m sorry as well. From what I’ve done to you. I averted away to make things simple. And I decided to forget everything for us to move on.”

  Shion nods to agree and shows a painful smile while tears flow down her eyes. His image is getting distorted through her vision. “Well, I guess this will be the time we part ways, huh?”

  “Yeah,” Haruki answered.

  Shion move a step backward while looking at Haruki. Each step burdens her feelings. Each step clutches her chest. Each step she realize that this is the last time they will see each other.

  The truth she never wishes to, but acceptance should be the thing she can do. At the distance they had, she halted. This is the last time she will see him. The last time she can be with him.

  “Haruki!” Shion shouts and dashes forward. With her arms open wide, she reaches him and embraces tightly. Locking herself to his warmth, she sniffled. “S—Shion!?” Haruki grunted out of surprise.

  “I want to say for the last time… ‘I love you. And even if we’re not end together, you’re always here in my heart.’”

  Such warm words left by Shion. Whispering directly to the once man she has in life. The genuine feelings she harbors this whole time. And now it ends.

  “Thank you, Shion… for loving such a person as me.”

  Haruki mumbled. Shion slowly let go, and looks at him. “Well then, good bye.”

  “Good bye.”

  From this moment on, Shion took a step away from him. She glances once more to save his looks in her memory. The short time they had today will retain to her. The hopes she has once dream of is null.

  And facing forward, tears welled once again in her eyes. Sobs spilled, but trying to conceal. At the bustle of the afternoon of the place, Shion just keep walking without caring for the world for the first time in her life.