𝐈𝐤𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐢 | 𝐒. 𝐆𝐨𝐣𝐨 ✔️

Chapter 26 Bonus*

You wrapped your scarf tighter around your neck, shivering as the icy wind blew off the ocean. Despite the chill, you had always loved the beach, even in the winter. The snow-covered sand and the gentle sound of the waves brought you a sense of peace and nostalgia. Returning to Japan after ten years, you decided to visit this special place, hoping to find some clarity.

As you walked along the deserted shoreline, your thoughts drifted back to your teenage years and the boy you had never quite forgotten. You sighed, watching your breath turn to mist in the cold air.

You missed your teenage years intensely, often regretting the things you hadn't done.

You couldn't help but wonder what might have been different if you had taken more risks, spoken up more often, or pursued your dreams with more determination. The memories flooded back, each one tinged with both joy and regret.

You stopped for a moment, staring out at the horizon where the gray sky met the restless sea.

With a sigh, you resumed your walk, the sound of the waves providing a soothing background to your thoughts.

After leaving, you had dealt with a lot of things. School, anxiety-everything had seemed to fall upon you all at once.

You sighed again, looking around at the familiar landscape. Would it be too late to visit the old school? You wondered what it would be like to see it again, to walk through those halls that once held so much significance for you.

As you contemplated this, you felt a mix of emotions-nostalgia, apprehension, and a strange sense of longing. The school had been a place of both challenges and growth, a backdrop to many of your formative experiences. The idea of revisiting it stirred something deep within you, a desire to reconnect with that part of your past.

You continued walking, the thought of visiting your old school growing stronger with each step. Maybe seeing it again would bring some of the clarity you were seeking. Maybe it would help you make peace with the past and move forward with a lighter heart.

You laughed to yourself at all the memories as you made your way to the school. Hopefully, you wouldn't bother anyone.

It was as if you saw yourself and your friends as you walked down the familiar paths, paths you had traversed countless times together. The laughter, the shared secrets, the plans for the future-they all came rushing back as if no time had passed at all.

The closer you got to the school, the more vivid the memories became. You could almost hear the echoes of your younger selves, the excited chatter between classes, the playful teasing, and the earnest conversations about dreams and fears. It was a bittersweet feeling, a blend of longing and contentment.

As the school came into view, you paused for a moment, taking it all in. The building looked much the same, a sturdy reminder of a time that had shaped you in so many ways. You took a deep breath and continued walking, ready to face whatever emotions this visit might stir.

I stood before the gates, taking it all in. I smiled as I remembered myself walking inside the school, groaning about how I couldn't wait for it to end.

I saw the faces of my friends, faces I had forgotten a bit over the years. I missed them; they had made this experience better, something I would always cherish.

I might not have done much, and I might not have been the best of friends, but I tried. And they tried. They had accepted me into their circle, and for that, I was truly grateful.

Standing there, I realized how much those moments had meant to me, how they had shaped me. The friendships, the laughter, the shared struggles-they were all part of a time I would always hold dear.