Chapter- 45 ★

Rie's point of view

　Safe! I managed to make it to homeroom on time, yay! ...I'll have to get up earlier from tomorrow.

　After homeroom, during the preparation time before class started, Mamoru and I were in the center of the class. …Yes, literally in the center. We were surrounded. And the girls in the class bombarded us with questions. …Why!? We're not transfer students!?

　Everyone is curious about me and Mamoru. I'm happy that people see us as having that kind of relationship, but that's not how it is for him... Maybe he's just being considerate and not denying it, but he finds it annoying? Mamoru always works hard at his studies, so I shouldn't get in the way of that, right? ...I have to tell everyone properly! That they shouldn't cause trouble for Mamoru.

　...But it was Mamoru who responded first. And for some reason he was listening to a rumor that had been spreading. ...But what was this rumor? To be honest, I was so excited with Mamoru beside me that I could barely hear the voices around me. I was doing my best to keep my expression from changing, and I didn't even know what my face looked like.

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　...It seems like the rumors are to my advantage. But there's been no mention of Mamoru at all. If he still puts me first even at a time like this, does that mean he likes me? ...I try to make convenient fantasies like this. But I can't really imagine it. It seems like things wouldn't be much different from now, and Mamoru might become mean to the person he likes. Maybe he won't be able to be close to anyone other than that girl. ...If that happens, I'll be the first one to be abandoned.

　...Oh no! I've started thinking negatively again. This is a bad habit of mine. I need to think more positively, cheerfully, and optimistically! It's enough to think negatively only when it actually happens!

　…I think I have already decided to continue to pursue my ideals in a straightforward manner. Because time flows the same whether you stop or run, and brings the end to everyone equally. I think that how you face that end depends on whether you can acknowledge to yourself how hard you tried. Even if it's hard now , if you can hold your head up high and say that you've done everything you can by trying your best, trying your best, trying your best, trying your best, I think you'll feel better even if the results aren't what you expected.

　…Even when I was dating Kuzuhara-kun, I always regretted it after it ended, thinking that there was something I could have done. So this time, I'm going to face it head on! No matter what the outcome is, I want to make sure I'm not left with any regrets. So that I can hold my head high and say that I'm glad I fell in love with Mamoru-kun...