Chapter 4: A Heart break I couldn't save

I was heading towards the football field for today's practice as I strolled down the stairs.

To my bad luck....I caught a glimpse of something I shouldn't have...

At this point, I think this sheer luck is playing with me as well.

I was having a...decent day man. I just tilted my body and just headed down again.

If she's smiling...it's all good. I'm happy for her.

[Time Skip]

"Why is Miyamura crying?" I said as i walked into the student council room.

"We don't know man, there's something Hori's been forcing him to do and it seems he just can't do it" Sengoku replied.

When he said my mind could only imagine what was Hori san making him do....Wait by her nature she looks like a dominatrix did she just hit him with the whip?! No or she tried to choke him!!!?!

Nooo nooo, probably something even more painful....

I said as fear lurked up upon me.

The commotion soon ended though, All except the council members left soon enough, probably off to classroom.

"Tanji, did you tell her yet?" He asked.

"Huh?!" I said as my face heated up.

"Did you tell Rimura Sensei about our report?" He said again.

"Oh...yeah. I did" I calmed down.

"What? You thought I was asking you about Kono-san?" he teased me.

"Well... yeah" I replied.

"Well you should tell her...if you don't know, Ishikawa is dating Yoshikawa" He replied.

"He what?!" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, they're dating" Remi stepped in.

"To be honest Tanji, you should confess to her... atleast she might be saved from this news" Sengoku added.

"You're saying this in front of Remi you ape" I replied.

"Well I already know" she replied with a straight face.

"Can you not keep a secret Sengoku?" I angered up a bit.

"Hey man, the way she asked....it was impossible to not tell her" He replied.

I just sighed...well now even she knows about this.

[Time Skip]

"Can you put these papers back in the council room? I'll be heading home with Remi today" Sengoku asked as we just came out of the faculty office meeting our homeroom teacher.

"Sure, have a blast you two" I smiled.

I started going downstairs again. How many times have I been gone up and down stairs today? Seems like I'm doing cardio holy shit.

Uhm...what's happening here...

Guess those two weren't wrong, they are dating after all.

"Oh Tanji! Are you going back to Council room?" Miyamura said as he saw me.

"Yeah, for the 10th time today" I chuckled.

"Also hey, congratulations you two" I smiled.

"Oh well...it's just a relationship you know" he replied blushing furiously.

"Who knows man?" I replied as I started going downstairs.

Why do I feel relieved? Am I really this selfish?

I'm truly sorry Kono-san....

As I slid opened the door I saw her standing there near the window looking outside.

Hearing the door open up she turned around to face me.

Her face looked distant...her expressions were dead but she tried to force a smile....yeah, I could see her literally trying to force a smile.

"Oh Tanji-kun, did Sengoku again passed his work to you" she replied.

I put the papers aside as I closed the door behind me.

"I'm sorry... Kono-san" I replied.

"You don't really have to be..." She said as I saw her lips trembling...

"I'll be heading home for today" She said as she quickly tried to get out of this room.

I held her arm, preventing her from leaving the room.

She looked back at me with eyes full of tears.

"I....." She spoke.

"I tried my best....." She replied as she broke down in front of me.

Her legs gave up as she sat on the floor just crying out.

Seeing her like this just tore my heart into 100 pieces.

I crouched down as I took her into a hug which her sobbing brain instantly accepted as she cried her heart out on my shoulder.

"Kono-san...I'm really sorry....I-I couldn't prevent this" I replied.

She just started crying a bit more...oh this probably hurt her even further....what are you doing?!

After almost 15 minutes she finally stopped crying as I could see her puffy cheeks and red eyes from crying.

"It wasn't your fault... I already knew from the start that this was gonna happen and yet I..I tried" She replied with a dead expression.

"Did you confess to him?" I asked.

"I didn't...and now I don't see any point to do so aswell. I'm sorry for wasting your time aswell Tanji-kun....guess I'm a kid, I can't control my tears-" she went on before I pulled her in a tight hug again. 

My body did it on its own, I swear...maybe it was her teary and broken down face that I just couldn't stand to see or the fact that I felt guilty aswell...

"Its not wrong to have affection for someone, I...I very well understand how it feels when that someone goes away from you. In end, what I have at least heard is that it's always gonna be fine. No matter what happens, maybe in future you'll look back to this and think yeah, that was a important part too, you may learn something from this that'll help you become a better person..." I started saying what my mind could articulate at that point.

"Tanji.....kun" she spoke lightly still in a hug as her head was buried in my collar bone.

"I honestly don't know how you can become a better person, you're already so kind...caring...cute...he's the one at loss...don't let that get to you..." I said.

I slowly backed off breaking the hug as I saw her looking at me lost with a hint of red on her either cheeks.

"I know, let's go to the arcade nearby in the mall" I suggested an Idea.

"Bu-but" she tried to retaliate.

"No buts, let's go" I said standing up as I offered her my hand to stand up.

She looked at my hand and then at me, "You don't have to do this...Tanji-kun" she uttered this one more time.

This time it had...pain in it? like she was apologizing to me?

"I'm doing it because I want to, We don't wanna get late do we? let's go!" I smiled.

She took my hand and stood up but soon enough let it go as she wiped the tears off her face, "I guess I'll have to wash my face. You can wait at the lockers downstairs I'll be there" she replied.

"It's fine, I'll wait in the washroom" I smiled.

"EH?!" she got a bit embarrassed.

"I..I mean outside..." I immediately corrected myself.

"Oh...okay" she smiled.

[Time Skip]

"Alright, what would you like to start with?" I said as we both entered the arcade.

It's a good thing we picked this mall as this was nearby our houses, else it would rather get very late till the time we got back.

"I..haven't really come in an arcade before. Maybe once or twice...but that's that" she replied looking right at me.

"Well then, I know just a perfect game" I chuckled.

"Huh?" she got a bit curious to what this mystery game was.

I took my pass out which I had gotten from our coach for performing good in the practice yesterday. I don't know but would you guys like to read what happens in the practice or maybe what happens in the match? or should I just keep experiencing everything related to the story?

I guided her to the game called "Hit the fluffy pandas" to our bad luck there was this dark green haired girl along with a guy....around same age and height as me was standing there as he just lightly tapped this girl on her head with the hammer.

"OWH!" the girl  grunted.

"hehe" he just chuckled looking at her confused face.

"What was that for?" she asked.

"The game is called hit the fluffy pandas" the guy replied pointing at the name of the game.

"And you hit me because?" she asked getting serious.

"You're my fluffy panda!" he replied trying to break off this tension.

"Yuzu you......baka" she said angering up then melting down.

"Haha , i'm sorry" the guy chuckled.

(Oh SHIT THE RIO x READER MAKES A CAMEO!?! Haha sorry)

That seemed to stop the game for those two as they walked away probably to another game.

It was finally our turn as I looked towards Kono-san who was busy looking at...claw machine?

"Kono-san, it's our turn" I said.

"Oh, yeah sorry...I zoned out a little, was looking at that claw machine" she replied breaking out of her trance.

"You have some memories with it?" I asked.

"Yeah...I never got anything from it" she chuckled.

"Well...that's the way they are programmed" I smiled.

"So what do we do here" she asked as we stepped near our current game.

"You take the hammer and you hit the pandas that will pop out at random out of any of these holes" I replied.

"That's all?" she asked.

"Yeap, let's see if you can beat my high score" I said as I took the first turn.

And so the pandas kept popping up and I started hitting them and also...missing a lot of them. 

HELLO!? WHAT IS THE SPEED OF THIS MACHINE SET TO?

A good minute later...my score was 750.

"Your turn" I smiled as I gave her the hammer.

"I'll try" she said taking the hammer.

3...2...1...go! came a voice from machine.

What I didn't expect though started happening, she was hitting every panda flawlessly but...something else I noticed was she was in a bit of rage? 

I get that she's upset...guess this game is gonna relieve some of that anger? I hope so...

The main objective of coming here is for her to cheer up. I just couldn't see her sad and crying...

"Tanji-kun"

I really am a big Idiot...

"Tanji-kun" she broke me out of my trance this time.

"Oh yeah?" I said.

"I broke your high score" she proudly showed me that pointing her finger at the score monitor.

"I'm not losing the next game" I replied in confidence.

[Time Skip]

Ok after almost losing to her in every other game except for the racing game and the basketball hoops...we decided to head back.

"I guess it's a lucky day for me" she smiled.

"Or you're just that good" I chuckled.

"It's probably beginner's luck...let's head back it's getting a bit dark" she suggested.

As we were exiting her eyes fell on that claw machine again, "You know what, let's try this last thing?" I suggested.

"Out of all games that we played...this one is probably the most unfair" she replied.

"Let's give it a shot" I suggested.

"Su-sure..." she replied.

She went first as she carefully placed the arm over a blue bear teddy as she tapped the button to pick the teddy up. 

The arm did just that for a moment before letting go of it.

"See? it's just not gonna happen" she replied.

"Let's see..." I said taking my turn as I tried to do the same but I figured something out.

The teddy's position now was a bit more manageable to pick up, If I somehow get it to attach to the neck of the teddy I can get it out before the timeout period of the arm.

I focused hard as I carefully placed the arm over the neck and deeming the angle was right, pressed the button.

The arm picked up the teddy again and this time it didn't let go.......

It soon dropped the teddy to the dropbox which indicated we could collect our price as I did just that.

"You did it Tanji-kun!" she cheered with a wide smile on her face.

"Here, it's yours" I gave her the teddy.

"Wh-what? you won it!" she said.

"I've seen you eyeing this blue teddy since we came in here, it'll be probably be better if you keep it" I replied.

She hesitated at first as I saw her face getting a bit red but she soon enough melted and accepted the gift.

"Thank you! I'm gonna treasure this" She replied smiling as she rubbed the teddy against her cheeks hugging it tightly.

[Time Skip]

We took a Chicken roll and a can of soda from a fast food shop in the mall to eat something on our way back home as we strolled down this chilly weather back home.

"This is actually really tasty" she said taking a bit out of it.

"You haven't ate this before?" I replied as I took another bite out of mine.

"Nope, but I'm gonna get this again everytime I come here- OOPS" she was replying before some of the chicken fell from the roll and onto the ground.

"Guess we shouldn't be moving while eating it" I replied smiling.

"Yeah..." she nodded.

We found a bench nearby which was surrounded by a wooden fence along with some street lamps dimly illuminating the area.

We looked at the gorgeous scenery of an otherwise busy and fast-paced town...but seeing it from this bench just...show's there's so much life out there. So many peoples living in there and is it just me or the stars look so beautiful right now?

"I've never been out this late after school" she spoke.

"Really? well I guess that's a first for you" I chuckled.

"It really is...hey..T-Tanji kun?" she asked for me.

"Yeah?" I instantly directed my attention towards her...

"Thank you...for helping me...thank you for every help you've ever done...I honestly...forgot what happened today, I'm so...happy right now" she replied.

"I'm glad I could help you" I smiled.

"I should've acted a bit more mature back in the council room...crying wasn't really a good choice" she replied.

"What you did was just right...it's good to let your emotions take over sometimes you know...They make you feel relieved...I'm sure you at least feel a bit less sad about the...you know" I said.

"Yeah...I. I think I'll be able to face the fact that those two are dating head-on now...when I get home" she replied.

"I'm cheering for you...Kono-san...I'm here whenever you need me...I'm here okay? If you want to share something, I'll listen. If you need any kind of help, Ill be there to assist you. Okay?" I swear some words that came out weren't planned. I allowed too much of my emotions to take control over me.

Her eyes widened as she stared right at my face, slowly I saw a hint of red creeping up on her face covering her cheeks. 

"I uh....Mhm" she nodded then continued, "I don't want to be a bother or a burden to you..." she replied.

"You're not a burden or a bother to me at all...feel free to vent to me whenever you want okay?" I replied.

"Thank you..." she replied smiling as a tear escaped her eye.

We both finished our rolls and soft drinks as we walked back home.

"I heard Rimura sensei is arranging a trip" she spoke as we inched near the same crossway. 

"Yeah, me and Sengoku talked to her about it...she wants some 8-10 students, she's already counting in us council members" I replied.

"So we're looking for 4 more members?" she asked.

"More like captives haha, you know how she is" I replied.

"That's true" she chuckled aswell.

"I'm calling this right now, she's gonna take us to Chiba" I said.

"Why's that?" she asked curiously.

"That's a place where schools participate in active interschool activities...maybe she is enrolling our school starting from this year" I said.

"I guess we're one of the last of our batch to do this too" She replied.

"Yeah...we graduate this year. Let's see how it goes" I replied.

"It's been a good run...I've had some good memories...there's still this last year. I wish it becomes the best" she replied looking up towards the sky.

"Yeah...I hope so too" I replied.

She was just too into the stars as she didn't look down but her right leg hit a rather big rock as she lost her balance, she sub consciously grabbed onto me as I did the same without thinking about it.

"You okay?!" I asked.

"Ye-yeah, it seems so" she let her grip on me as she tried to stand up.

She took one step as she again almost fell, "Owh" she grunted.

"Did you cramp it?" I asked as I prevented her from falling.

"It seems so" she replied inspecting her leg.

"You need a hand?" I offered her my shoulder.

"Su-sure" she took my arm as we tried to walk again, after three steps the pain on her face was blatant.

"Is it paining that much?" I asked.

"Nah, It's fin- OWH" she tried to hide it but it was blatant when she put a bit of force of that injured leg and the pain surfaced.

"Here," I said as I walked a bit and crouched down putting my hands behind the back offering her a piggyback.

"N-noway, I can't put you through that" she denied.

"It's getting late and your leg is injured, let's not worry our families any further" I replied.

"Bu-but.." she tried to find another excuse.

"You'll not fall don't worry" I chuckled.

She hesitated but soon agreed as her pain and buzzing phone just kept increasing.

As she got on my back, I felt her chest push against my back....CRAP I DIDN'T PUT THIS INTO ACCOUNT.

Her face was on my left shoulder very near to my ear as I could hear her inhaling and exhaling air.

"Hey Tanji-kun" she spoke very quietly but it being so near to my ear just send me chills, her voice being so delicate...as if it could break any second now.

"Ye-yeah?" I asked.

"Is it just me or the stars are very...beautiful today?" she said.

"I agree..." I replied looking up. The January winter is good for looking at stars but they're looking so much colorful...so much full of life.

CONTROL YOURSELF KOICHI, YOU ARE NOT FEELING ANYTHING SOFT ON YOUR BACK NOPE, NOPE NOT HAPPENING.

"My home is first one just right from that block" she spoke.

"Okay" I replied.

[Time Skip]

Finally....I'm back home. Lying on my bed looking at my hands as I feel ecstatic about today's events.

Am I so selfish? that I felt good when Ishikawa and Yoshikawa started dating so Kono-san can be free....

But seeing her cry today, it did broke my heart....It was a heart break I couldn't save...but at least, I'll help her heal it..

While I was thinking all of this, my phone buzzed.

[From- Kono-san]There?

[-reply] [mark as read]

I instantly replied.

Always.

......Did you reach home on time?

Yeah...it was good that your mom understood the situation and let me leave early

She's been lecturing and teasing me since then on how I shouldn't be bugging you for a ride back and how I should walk more vigilant when on the streets.

Guess she was surprised to see a guy bringing her daughter home on his back xD.

Yeah...she's been teasing me about that aswell, its...very embarrassing.....

I would imagine my big sister do that to me haha.

uh...also I forgot to thank you for the piggy back....

Just how many times have you thanked me today? xd

I don't know...but you've helped me so much....

There's no worries, :thumbsup: How's your leg? 

It's good the swelling has decreased a lot, i can probably attend school tommorrow.Also...I really appreciate your message....sorry if I'm being weird

What message?

Nevermind...I..uh good night!!!

Uhm...okay, night! see ya tommorrow.

I kept my phone aside connecting the charger as I turned off the lights of my room. There was this happy feeling inside me, i don't know why, maybe just talking to her evokes this in me? 

Yeah...it probably does.

With that I covered myself and drifted into a slumber.

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