Sunshine Traitor (ENG)

Chapter 18: Hanta Sero

First of all, I am sorry I have been gone for so long. I thought I was going to write a lot during my summer vacation, but I guess writers block hit me just at the right time, and now it is october. This chapter was just not working for me and I am still not happy with how it turned out, but I have to move on I guess.

Truth to be told, I was acctually really scared to write this chapter and the ones that will follow, because the story is coming to an end. I think I have 7 more chapters planned, but we are entering the last arc of the story, if you could call it that. I have been writing this for more than 2 years now, so it is about time I finish it, but now I am emotionally attatched. However I set a goal to finish this story before the end of this year. I finished it like 20 times in my head already so it should be alright.

With that in mind I am planning to give you 2 more chapters this month, but don't take my word for it. 🙃

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Hanta sits alone at the dining table in the school's cafeteria, as always in recent days. Since he stood up for his best friend - which he should have done a long time ago - the rest of their friend group also seemed to cut him off. He had tried to speak to them first, but Bakugo seemed ready to physically attack him if not for the fact they were at school and Kirishima, of course, was ready at his side. He had also tried talking to the girls alone, but that did not end well either. He had thought it would go better because Kaminari was in a relationship with Jiro, but he could not have been further from the truth.

He fondly remembered Jiro's words, with tears in her eyes, "He betrayed us, and he turned his back on us, Sero, he abandoned me, and he broke his promise." Hanta did not know which promise was involved, but he did not care. He was about to argue with the girls again, but Ashido intervened, "If you are going to condone his actions, just leave us alone. You shouldn't unnecessarily bring up bad memories, it's bad enough as it is."

Hanta bit his tongue and swallowed back a sharp reply. Since that incident, he himself did not even bother hanging around his old friends. If he had to choose between them or his best friend since childhood, his choice was clear. He would do it again even if it meant sitting alone at a table with no friends.

A few days later, Kirishima surprisingly came to him, but not for the reason he thought. He had noticed that he always sat alone and felt sorry, so he suggested that they could become friends again if he dropped Kaminari. In fact, he was sure he could convince Bakugo too. Of course, he could. It took a lot of self-control from Hanta not to lash out against the red-haired boy. Shouting and arguing would not help anything anyway.

He would never leave his best friend behind, not for anyone nor anything. He would wait until he was ready. He had thought several times about going to him and starting a conversation, but he knows he must give Kaminari time. He knows he cannot just be forgiven for his actions. So, he just keeps sitting alone at a table during lunch break, watching Kaminari and Shinso talk and have fun together. He tries to put it out of his mind, but he can't quite suppress the jealousy he feels. It seems like Kaminari has replaced him and Hanta can't even be angry about it because he deserves it. Things will never be quite the same between them, but he will do everything he can to build a new friendship that means as much to them both.

After a week of eating his lunch alone, his daily pattern finally changes. "May we join you." Asks a familiar voice and when he looks up, he sees his best friend's golden eyes smiling at him. It is infectious and he cannot suppress a smile himself. Kaminari settles down opposite him and Shinso sits down next to his friend. The purple-haired boy does not smile, just looks at him coldly. Hanta tries to pass on his smile to him, but to no avail. It makes him a little uncomfortable.