Faced with such a terrifying expression, Yuigahama instinctively took a step back.
"W-What's wrong? I didn't say anything wrong…"
Masuzu opened her mouth.
(Of course I'm not wrong! What does it matter if you knew him first? I love him far more than you do! More precisely, I've reached the point of love!)
(I love Tenkuuji Yuu the most.)
(The most in the whole world!)
(You loser Dango-chan, don't interfere with our sweet relationship!)
—That's what she wanted to say at first.
She could say anything superficial; she was skilled at lying or spouting pleasantries. This was a situation she could easily resolve with a few sentences…
But why couldn't her voice come out?
"…Don't say stupid things. I'll never like anyone."
A hoarse voice emerged from her throat. Her gaze slowly dropped from Yuigahama to the ground.
It was the same during the autumn school visit.
Why could she be so honest? Why didn't she wear a mask and deceive each other? Why did she look at her with eyes that seemed to want to pry open her heart?
Shallow, emotional people who didn't know how to enjoy life always blurted out whatever was on their minds.
To Masuzu, this was utterly shallow and childish behavior.
Yet both Dango-chan and that angelic underclassman did the same thing.
What was this? Was honesty so great? So beautiful?
Then what was she supposed to do, someone who could only live by pretending?
The current her couldn't lie in front of Yuigahama. What path should she take…
"…Natsukawa-san, why can't you admit it?"
Seeing Masuzu's frightened and fragile expression, after a moment of shock, Yuigahama unconsciously bit her lip tightly.
Her hands at her sides slowly clenched into fists. She hid her expression behind the shadow of her hair. Her soft voice tried to stay calm, but a faint tremble couldn't be concealed:
"Even though… even though Yuu-kun likes you too… Even though you love each other, why are you still avoiding it now?"
"Why does Yuu-kun like someone like you… but you don't even dare to cherish it…"
"It feels like you're saying what I've wanted for two years is worthless…"
"What did you say?" Masuzu widened her eyes in a daze, seemingly not catching her last honest words. "Yuu… likes me? We love each other?"
As if refusing to believe it, she shook her head vigorously. Her heels stomped hard, as if trying to suppress the overflowing joy. Her voice grew uncontrollably loud:
"No!"
"No, no, no, no—!!"
It was a scream that sounded like a wail.
Facing Yuigahama in front of her and her own heart, she shouted with all her might:
"I won't fall in love, I won't like anyone!!! Something as boring and disgusting as that, I'll never do it. Don't taint my relationship with him with your own values and your stupid love-brained mind!"
"You're the one belittling the word 'like'!"
Suddenly looking up, Yuigahama bared her teeth like an angry puppy. She shouted back, refusing to back down: "I don't know what you went through to hate love so much and be afraid of liking someone, but like is like! Love is love! You can be shy and unable to say it, but it's still yours! It won't just disappear because you say it's not there!"
"Just like how I know Yuu-kun likes you, but I still can't just stop liking him!"
"And in the end, isn't it because you like him that you're arguing with me about these boring, disgusting things?!"
She could deny the meaning of those words, but she couldn't deny the significance already rooted in her heart—that was love.
Ignoring the shocked stares around her, Yuigahama glared at Masuzu's expression. She didn't even have time to wipe the tears welling in the corners of her eyes. In a world starting to blur, she wouldn't let herself remain a coward forever.
"…"
Masuzu staggered back a few steps. Under her aggressive gaze, her entire body trembled as if locked in an icebox.
Her expression was distorted and chaotic. She opened her mouth several times, trying to speak, but couldn't utter a single word in her defense. Her mind slowly went blank.
It was like being forced to stand at the edge of a cliff. If she resisted, she'd be pushed into the abyss. That's why she refused, feared, and panicked.
*THUD—*
The plastic bag in her hand fell unintentionally.
Amid the dull sound, three drink bottles fell and rolled in different directions.
Finally, Masuzu fled.
Under Yuigahama's disappointed and sorrowful gaze, she turned on her heels and ran toward her apartment without looking back, disappearing around the corner soon after.
Silence lingered beside her for a long time.
"Falling in love with someone does have moments where it hurts and you want to run away…"
"But Natsukawa-san, you should be the happiest person."
Yuigahama muttered, biting her lip until it turned pale. She bent down, picked up the drinks, and quickly left the crowded area.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
For her, love wasn't everything.
After being rejected two years ago, Yuigahama matured. She understood the pain of not getting what she wanted and how hard it was to let go.
Yet, despite that, she chose to maintain the status quo. As long as she could be by his side, she was happy—it wasn't degrading, because Yuu cared for her too, just not in sync yet. It only needed time.
Though what she wanted was still far in the sky, Yuigahama was willing to wait until she could reach the height to grasp it.
Then one day, what she wanted was easily taken by someone else.
With a fake excuse, awkward behavior, and in far too short a time, that person stole the gentle gaze she'd waited for over two years.
(What is this? It's too unfair! I hate it so much! Why can she do it? Why can't I?)
Those thoughts once filled her mind. But in the end, Yuigahama sincerely hoped Yuu could be happy.
The person she liked didn't like her back. It was a sadness shared by men and women alike. She'd heard similar love stories often, only this time it happened to her.
And now, her thoughts were simple.
Because she liked him, she hoped he could be with the person he liked and not feel the same pain she did. That was enough.
But…
Why was happiness right in front of her, yet Masuzu refused to face it?
"Natsukawa-san, do you know?"
"How sad Yuu-kun would be if he heard those words… No, you wouldn't know, would you?"
"Because you've never heard the person you like say, 'I don't like you.'"
This time, Yuigahama truly couldn't hold back anymore.
She'd always been the type to meddle since the beginning. Now, she couldn't just sit back and watch.
Glancing in the direction Masuzu fled, Yuigahama pursed her lips and walked expressionlessly in the opposite direction.
"As long as I can make Yuu-kun happy, even I… can do something."