Yours Truly || Hiroto Suwa

Chapter Three

~*~

Sanae stands awkwardly to the side as her friends read off their letters to themselves. She felt as if she were intruding as she had not been a part of their group at the time they wrote those letters. She never got a chance to write one to herself, so she doesn't remember what her childhood dreams and wishes were. And frankly, she is glad that she never written one. She didn't want to end up disappointed that her dreams didn't come true.

"It's from Kakeru," Suwa gasps as he turns the envelope over. "Do you think he'll be mad if we read it?"

"Please read it, Suwa," Naho places a gentle hand on the tall boy's shaking arm. "I want to know what his wish is."

"Okay," he mutters softly to her and opens up the letter. " 'To everyone ten years in the future, how are you all? To Suwa: you always stood tall and were an awesome soccer player. I looked up to you so much --"

"You're just making that up, aren't you?!" Azusa interrupted him skeptically.

"No I'm not!" Suwa protests and shoves the letter toward her so that she can read it. "Here, read it yourself!"

"What?! No way!"

"Uh, guys," Sanae pipes up awkwardly after everyone's stunned silence.

"Can I continue now?!" Suwa asks impatienty.

"Go ahead, Suwa-kun," Sanae nods at him.

"'When I transferred, I was worried about whether I'd fit in my new school,'
Suwa continues. "'I was so glad when you called out to me. I wish I'd joined the soccer club after all. To Azu: you are always so energetic and cheerful. Even when I was down, when I saw you, Azu, my worries seemed to shrink and I was able to smile again.

To Haigta-kun: you seemed so serious but you're actually a really funny guy! To Takako: I always thought you were a bit scary and intimidating, but you were actually one of the coolest people on Earth!

To Naho: you always think of others before yourself, you were the happiest when everyone else was happy. I secretly wanted to try your home cooking.' "

" ' To Sanae-kun, you were quiet all the time but you spoke so much with your eyes. I wish we'd gotten to know each other better because I knew exactly how you felt.'" Suwa glances over at her curiously she can see the questions reeling in his head so she averts her eyes. Even in his letter, he still does not drop the 'kun'.

" 'I hope that you are all still wonderful people ten years from now. And that you're still friends.

Naruse Kakeru. ' "

It's quiet between all of them. Sort of like a moment of silence for respect. Then that meant...Kakeru knew. Every time he asked if she was truly okay, she would always say that she's fine. He saw through all her lies. He never said anything to her, he just went with it.

"You're lying!" Azusa shouts in disbelief and glances over the letter with her own eyes. "But what about Kakeru's future?! Everyone was supposed to write about their hopes and dreams! Why didn't he write his?!"

"I don't know, ask Kakeru!" Suwa argues childishly and he seems to realize what he just said.

"Maybe...Kakeru knew that he didn't have a future..." Haigta says through his tears.