Why does time seem to pass so quickly when you're having fun?
After-school hangouts with friends, weekends spent in the city with everyone… the more fun I have, the faster the days seem to slip away. It feels like the day ends every time I blink.
That's just how much fun today was.
"Phew~ it was so crowded we couldn't do everything, but we still hit a decent number of attractions, right? We even rode the rollercoaster twice! Still wasn't enough for me, though."
"No, that was plenty… I'm already wiped out."
"…I'm dead."
I probably dragged them around the park almost nonstop, aside from our lunch break, so it was no surprise that Umi and Maki-kun were completely out of steam. They did say, 'Show us a good time,' so I might've gotten a little carried away trying to do just that… Yeah, maybe I overdid it a bit.
"So, how was it? Did you two have fun?" I asked.
""Exhausted.""
"I know you're tired. That's not what I meant," I sighed.
"IT WAS AWESOME."
"…Yeah."
Hearing their answers was enough to satisfy me. They were definitely running on empty, but I could tell that Umi and Maki-kun had enjoyed themselves. All three of us had been able to laugh our hearts out. At least, that's how it seemed to me.
An announcement signaling that the park was closing echoed through the twilight sky, leaving us with about thirty minutes until the gates shut for good. The crowds, which had been massive just a little while ago, were now thinning out as everyone started heading home. We couldn't stay too late either, so it was about time for us to leave.
…But before that, there was one last thing I had to do.
"Hey, Maki-kun."
Steeling my resolve, I called out to him. I probably should have done this when he had more energy, but I just couldn't work up the nerve until now, at the very last minute.
"What is it, Amami-san?"
"For our last ride… will you go on the Ferris wheel with me? Just the two of us."
"Just… the two of us?"
"…Yeah."
I'd been with Umi all day, but this had to be just us. I couldn't let her see the side of me I was about to reveal. And honestly, she probably didn't want to see it, either.
As if sensing my resolve, Umi was the one who gave me the push I needed. "Maki, it's a special occasion. You should go with her."
"Umi… Are you sure?"
"I'd love to go, but my legs are absolutely killing me… I'll just wait here for you two. Go on, enjoy it. It's the perfect finale for today… and I think this will be the last time we're doing something like this."
Her words seemed to make Maki-kun understand. Umi must really hate this… As always, she's too good to me.
That's exactly why I had to make this the last time I let myself be this selfish.
"Let's go, Maki-kun."
"…Yeah."
He agreed to my final, selfish request, and together we walked toward the Ferris wheel. We were a little past the final boarding time, but the attendant, an older woman, saw us and seemed to misunderstand the situation, letting us on as a 'special exception.'
…I felt a pang of guilt.
"Amami-san, shall we?"
"Y-Yeah."
I followed Maki-kun into the gondola, and the door closed behind us, sealing us in our own private space. We only had fifteen minutes from here.
By then, I would have put my first love to rest.
"Whoa… this is actually pretty high…"
"Maki-kun, are you afraid of heights? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to force you."
"No, I've always wanted to ride one at least once, so don't worry about it… Whoa, Umi looks so tiny from up here."
"You're right. Hey, Umi, we're up here~!"
I waved with all my might toward the bench where she was sitting. Squinting, I could just make out her faint wave in return, and a sense of relief washed over me.
Thanks, Umi.
I whispered my gratitude in my heart before turning back to Maki-kun. The setting sun cast an orange glow over the distant mountains and the cityscape below. I didn't have the luxury of enjoying the scenery right now; I'd have to save that for another time.
I wonder who'll be beside me the next time I come here.
That, I had no way of knowing yet.
"Maehara Maki-kun."
"…Yes."
"I like you. I love you. Not as a friend, but as a boy. I've completely fallen in love with you."
The words came out more smoothly than I expected, but my heart was pounding so hard it surprised me. Even though I already knew the answer, even though I could picture exactly what was about to happen… a part of my body was still clinging to that one-in-a-million chance.
…I'm such an idiot.
Knowing that, I delivered the final line.
"──Please go out with me."
"…Sorry."
…Ah.
Just like that. No hesitation, no time to brace myself. After dragging everyone around and causing so much trouble, my first love ended, clean and simple, just a few seconds after my confession.
"…Ehehe, so it's a no, huh? Just as I thought."
"Yeah… I'm happy you feel that way, but… Amami-san, you're my friend."
"I knew it. Thanks, Maki-kun. For turning me down properly."
The rejection stung for a moment, but having finally said what I needed to say, the gloom that had settled in my heart lifted, leaving me feeling surprisingly refreshed.
I'm glad.
Now, I can finally move on.
"…Hey, Maki-kun."
"What is it?"
"The view is beautiful, isn't it?"
"…Yeah. We have to see it with Umi next time."
"You're right. Next time, it should be just the two of you."
"That's not what I mean, Amami-san."
"Eh?"
"Let's come see it again, the three of us."
"…Is that really okay?"
"Of course. Three is always more fun than two."
He said it with that gentle smile of his.
…Ah, I see now.
That's why I fell for him.
"Thank you, Amami-san. I had a lot of fun today."
"…You're welcome."
Just when I thought I could finally let it all go… Maki-kun really is a terrible boy.
Surprisingly refreshed?
Yeah, right. I take it all back.
Even if I knew it was coming, even if I was prepared for it… getting rejected still hurts way more than I thought.
After finishing yesterday's leftover curry for dinner, I headed to Yuu-chin's house alone. She hadn't asked me to come. In fact, considering what she must be going through, I probably should have just left her alone.
But I knew exactly what she'd set out to do today. I had to be there to greet her when she got back. I had to apologize. It was the only way I could think of to put an end to this whole mess my selfishness had started.
I arrived at the Amami residence a little early. Eri-san let me in, and I waited by the entrance for Yuu-chin to return. The night was dark and quiet, the only sound being the distant chirping of insects. I didn't pull out my phone or do anything else to distract myself; I just waited patiently for my best friend to come home.
What should I say to her?
──Welcome back.
──Wanna go to karaoke or something?
──Did you have fun at the amusement park?
Any of those would probably be fine, but none of them felt right.
How am I supposed to be there for her?
I'd never had to worry about something like this before.
"──Nina-chi?"
"Ah!… Yuu-chin."
Lost in thought, I hadn't noticed her approaching until she was running toward me. She peered into my face, her expression filled with concern.
"…Nina-chi, are you crying?"
"Why would I be crying? You're the one who looks like she's about to cry, Yuu-chin."
"…Well, yeah. I held it together in front of them, but once I was alone… it was just too much, you know?"
…I see.
So she'd kept her promise. She'd told Maehara how she felt, and then…
"…I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? I'm glad you helped me realize it, you know?"
"But… still…"I put you through all this.
I wanted to say it, but the words wouldn't come out right. Tears were already streaming down my face, and I couldn't stop them.
I'm the one who pushed her to do this… so why am I the one crying?
…I'm such an idiot.
"That's not fair, Nina-chi. It's just not fair. I was holding it in so well, I was gonna walk in here with a bright smile and say 'I'm home,' but you've ruined it."
"…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Yuu-chin."
"…Waaaaah."
At my apology, Yuu-chin threw herself into my arms and started sobbing. Worried by the commotion, Eri-san poked her head out of the entrance, but after seeing the state we were in, she must have understood. She quietly went back inside, taking their worried family dog, Rocky, with her.
"Nina-chi, he rejected me… It was so fast, it completely caught me off guard…"
"You did so well, Yuu-chin. You really did your best."
"Yeah… I did my best. Praise me."
"You're amazing, Yuu-chin. You're the most amazing person in the world today. I don't care what anyone else says, I believe that. I'll beat up anyone who makes fun of you."
"Thanks… Thank you so much, Nina-chi. And… I'm sorry, too."
Up until now, I'd always thought that Yuu-chin and I lived in completely different worlds. That her natural cuteness and innate talent allowed her to grab hold of happiness with brute force.
But I was wrong. She was just a normal girl, no different from me. She'd fallen in love like anyone else, and just like me, she'd gotten her heart broken, gotten hurt, and cried. She was just another character in a story you could find anywhere in the world.
"Yuu-chin, if you're up for it, let's go to karaoke tomorrow. We can invite Arae-cchi and Yamashita-san… and if they're free, Nitori-san and Houjou-san, too. All of us."
"Fufu, that sounds nice," she chuckled through her tears. "Like a 'Rejected Girls Alliance' or something."
"That's just us, though."
We cried until we couldn't cry anymore, and then, we laughed a little.
I don't know if this was the right choice. Maybe there was a smarter way to handle things.
…But for us, this was good enough.
It might take some time for things to go back to how they were.
But I have to believe that, one day, we'll be able to laugh together like we always do.