The cry that lasted almost an entire minute ca to an end as the two girls sat side by side on the swing that creaked each ti they wiped the tears on their faces. After letting out the sorrow, pain, anger, and regret that accumulated in their heart, Hina's face regained a bit of its color.
Opposite of what happened to Hina. Kaede's face still retains its gloomy appearance, for she still carries the guilt that crushed her heart. She kept her gaze down, not having any courage to lift it. Her limbs lost strength as she prepared for what would co before her.
The thing that she had done was truly unforgivable, even from her perspective. So even though Hina wouldn't forgive her, she will accept it and live the rest of her life holding onto that sin.
Hina, with her renewed energy, turned her gaze and saw Kaede, who was still plagued by the guilt that had haunted her all these years. Yet, despite knowing what Kaede had in her heart. Hina still wants to hear it from her mouth, what actually happened at that ti.
"...Kaede?".
"..Yes?!".
"Would you tell what happened?".
Kaede turned mute as she raised her head, gazing at a faraway place. Her eyes, still devoid of light, exude a gloomy vibe as if she is giving up on her life. But not yet. Hina still wants to know the truth.
"...I was afraid. At that ti, did you know that they always pick up on when you are not around the school?. …So I had no choice but to go along with their whims…".
Hina opened her eyes wide, for it was the first ti she heard Kaede was being picked by the rest of the girls when she was busy tailing her parents' greatness.
"...My heart actually couldn't take it anymore. Every ti I co to school, my heart feels like breaking, but I always believe that you would co and we could hang around together like we used to. But, at the end of the ti, I foolishly sold out my one and only friend, even making her suffer for all these years…".
Kaede kept her gaze straight, looking at an empty space where she confessed everything that plagued her heart. Hina beside her never let her gaze leave Kaedde's current state. Far from that, Hina's heart stirred, for she never knew that her friend would receive such treatnt.
They were both probably unaware at that ti. But, when they were together, the other girls were jealous. They tried to break the relationship between the two, who seed happy with their own world. When they were together at the sa ti, they also supported each other's hearts that were being corrupted by the ugly side of human nature.
The lack of communication and the open mind between them creates a rift. Making them stranded and suffering for years for the mistake that they created toward each other.
"...In the end, after you left, the other girl started to harass for good, and after you left the school. I realized that I was just a coward and a disgusting kid…"
Hina, who listened to Kaede's story, bit her lips, for her heart was clenched in pain, creating a chaotic thought that blocked her mouth function to talk. She tried to pry open her mouth, tried to say that she was not, but her mouth refused to open, putting her in peril.
"...That is why I will accept your anger and resentnt toward , and you must not feel sorry for because this is what I deserved. I am sorry, Miss Akabane, for what I said back then…".
"NO!".
Kede's body jolted as she jerked her head to the side, hearing a loud voice that ca from HIna's mouth. She opened her eyes wide, seeing that Hina's eyes were turning misty, and her devoid eyes regained a bit of her light.
Hina starts to recall the ti when she was still attending school with Kaede. When they t in school after she was busy attending a party with her parents, Kade at that ti felt listless and a bit gloomy, but she didn't know the reason why.
If the words she said were true, then both of them were victims, and Hina couldn't let that go. She ca here to know the truth, while Kaede ca here to make ands that will not co. As for Hina, she wants to free her heart from the suffering she had, taking a step forward.
Hina sprung back in motion as she stood in front of the startled Kaede. She grabbed Kaede's hands and yanked her up to let her stand, eting her face head-on.
"Miss Akabane, what are you?".
"Where is my apology?".
"What?!".
"Where is it!".
The intensity of Hina's outburst overwheld Kaede as she halted her train of thought. Hina, who saw her condition, raised her hands to the side before slapping Kaedes cheeks on both sides, jolting her body. The hot and stinging sensation on her cheeks brings back the light to gather around her pupil, making her feel alive.
"...I am sorry".
"For what?".
"...For what I said, talking behind your back and calling you an arrogant person. I am truly sorry".
"Okay, I accept your apology".
"...Why?".
After hearing what Hina offered to her, Kaede's eyes bloated as they almost popped out of its socket. She couldn't believe that Hina would forgive her easily like this because of what she had done. She tried to let out her protest, but Hina cut her off.
"...Listen, Kaede, I only accept your apology. It doesn't an I forgive you".
Kaede, who heard Hina's line of thought, stiffened her body as her gaze started to look down. But Hina squeezed her soft cheeks, bringing Kaede's gaze to her, staring at each other.
"So that is why let's start again from the new line. Also, this ti, I want us to beco real friends who could open up to each other and create a stronger bond, for we already know what pain is".
Hina softened her gaze and released her hands on Kaede's cheeks, which looked red. She then grasped Kaede's cold, trembling little finger in her hold.
"...Can we? Can we truly do that?".
"Eh? Um, Probably. I don't know. The point is. Let's start over both of us".
"...Fufu, what an amazing and strong-hearted person you are''.
"Fueh?! No, I am not soone like that".
Kaede, who flatly gives Hina flattery, makes Hina's face boil as she flails her hands to the side. The scene feels so nostalgic for Kaede because Hina is the person who is weak again, flattery and teasing.
"...Thank you, Akabane. Then, I may be inexperienced, but please treat well as a new friend".
"Yes, likewise. By the way, why did you call by my family na?".
"...Well, you said it was a new start. So, I think maybe I will call you using your family na as a starter".
"Hmm, suit yourself".
"Okay".
The two girls, who created a new bond after the crushed one they had, sat on each swing respectively, talking about many things that they had been missing for the past years. Hina and Kaede still had the sa taste regarding their hobby of reading fiction or Manga in their spare ti.
All of those somber atmospheres that dominate the surroundings disappear, replaced by the laughter of two girls that are starting anew in their life.
The sun, who watches everything unfolding, is currently standing above the two shadows of girls who are still engrossed in their talk.
"Ehh, so Akabane, you are taking the exam to enter the Hero Academy. That is amazing".
"Well, not quite. There are many more amazing people than out there".
"But, unlike , who still didn't manifest its talent, you gained a powerful ability to fight those scary monsters. You are truly the daughter of Famous awakeners".
"Kaede, you still have not materialized your status?".
"Sadly, yes. but I believe there are many opportunities out there despite not having power".
"I see".
As the two girls were in their rry atmosphere, a single male about the sa age as them approached the park after seeing soone he knew well.
"...Kaede, what are you doing here?".
The voice from a third party abruptly alard Hina, who was having a blast with her new friend. She turned her gaze to the source and found a male boy the sa age as her, standing 167 cm, wearing casual clothes, and calling Kaede nas softly.
"Kenji, that should be my line. What are you doing here?".
"I just passed this area when I rembered that your house was nearby. So I intend to visit for a bit".
"..What! That is so sudden. You could have given so notice about it".
"Well, I want to surprise you, that is all''.
"Geez…".
Hina, who saw the two interactions, muted her mouth, staring at them with many questions in her mind. She never saw Kaede with her flushed face talking to a boy comfortably.
"Kaedde, he is?".
"Ah, Sorry for the late introduction. The truth is…".
Kaede starts fidgeting while glancing at the boy who looks at her face dearly. Hina's mind started to catch the atmosphere between them as she opened her eyes wide.
"Don't tell ?".
"...Ehehe, Yes, he is my boyfriend. We have been dating for three months".
Hina's jaws slacked to the ground as she heard her friend's confession. At the sa ti, heat started to gather around her face.
"I see congratulations".
"Thanks, Akabane".
"Did I co at a bad ti?".
"No, Kenji, you are not. It's just... I was surprised that I didn't know what to do…".
Kaede glanced at Hina, who still couldn't escape her shocked phase. She cast her gaze on the two to find their interaction endearing. As the person who didn't want to interrupt their ti, she rose from the swing and sighed.
"I think we should call it a day. See you next ti, Kaede".
"...Okay, thanks, Akabane. See you later".
The two of them waved each other's hands and separated from the park, entering their own lives.
Hina, who walked around the residential place with a blank face, kept her thoughts replicated to an earlier event. Kaede proudly declared the boy beside her as a boyfriend. While looking at an empty space, Hina sighs while muttering.
"A boyfriend, huh?".
Her mind starts to think of a certain boy who is currently far away from her place. She stopped in her tracks and started imagining the future so that she could do the sa as her friend like that. Heat starts to gather around her face, imagining it. Then Hina shook her head because she felt this was not the ti.
She stopped in her tracks, casting her gaze toward the faraway place with a lancholy expression.
"... I wonder what he is doing now?".
As much as she wants to return to his side, there is one more thing she must do.
The chain that wrapped around her limbs and the walls she had built for all those years shattered into ash, and from that ash, Hina grew new wings that liberated her being and gave her a new fla in life.
"Wait for , Soma".
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