Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 56

_Chapter 56~ Scars_

            Returning to that building was difficult. The atmosphere around the premises was dense and thick, and although I had entered through the same doors I had for years now, the sensation was somewhat suffocating.

             Regardless, on Monday morning, I sauntered in through the doors with Ryu posted by my side. Still, the masses of students merging past me only invoked unwanted emotions through me. Could I trust them? Would it be fine if I associated myself with them? Countless notions overwhelmed me and none of them were capable of making me feel any better.

            Once we arrived at our classroom and sat down, I didn't say anything. Even as Miki, Chiharu, Saika and Erika approached me with friendly greetings I could only half-heartedly returned a smile. Their concern as a result was hard to swallow but I didn't know how else to suddenly gain and return a means of vigour I honestly didn't possess.

The lessons taught by Mr. Matsuda were blotted out from my memory as well. Granted, due to Ryu's concerned gaze glued to me majority of the time I ended up waking up from my impending thoughts to look at him and we ended up just staring and smiling at each other all morning long.

When the bell for lunch rang, Ryu and I headed for the school courtyard before Erika and the rest could dare pressure me for answers but halfway through I'd told him I forgotten my chopsticks and to go ahead without me.

I felt bad for lying, considering how reluctant he seemed to let me go by myself, but I knew I had to somehow see the two of them, no matter how much I couldn't bear to. They had to be present today. And if they were, I had to get a means of closure about this all.

As swift as a fox, I maneuvered through the hallways, keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of their faces. I visited their classroom and peered inside but was met with disappointment to find they weren't there. One of the girls who I remembered helped me with my outfit for the Sleeping Beauty play I'd participated in approached me and asked if I were looking for Daichi. Before I could tell her otherwise, she informed me that she'd seen him heading towards the Student Council room with stacks of papers.

Albeit the suggestive comments that came afterwards about our relationship that wrenched my heart, I only could bow my head and thank her before I came to terms with the fact that my feet were bustling towards the very room. The Student Council room? Didn't that mean he was going to see Miyabi?

I recalled Ryu and Aki's objection the day before about confronting them and was momentarily dispirited. I planted my weight from foot to foot in antsy, biting my lip. No matter how much I tried to wrap my head around it, I couldn't. Just the other day we were close! We were laughing about trivial things like smiles, arguing and having fun... And just randomly out of the blue... I had to be told they were bad news? Daichi couldn't be serious about what he told me—not that quirky, cheerful dork of a person. And the idle, nonchalant Miyabi couldn't be this whole antagonistic, delinquent leader either.

Regardless of what the facts Aki found pointed to, there was the chance this was all a misunderstanding. And right now, I wanted to believe it was.

Nodding at the resolution I'd reached, I took a quick second to inhale and exhale heavy breaths. Once I was calm enough, I moved my feet forward towards the office. It took no time at all for me to reach the bleak and empty corridor and as soon as I got there I was hit with sudden hesitance. I pushed past that and rose my jittery arms to knock on the door.

Before I could connect my fist, I'd heard loud hisses and painful whimpers. Sheer shock held me in place. My palms felt sweaty as the muffled sounds continued to ring in my ears. Who was...?