"I'm sorry Souma. Lets Break Up ."

　The area behind the North School Building is a place where no one usually comes. It seems that the area has not been taken care of, as the weeds have grown wild and the ground is rough.

　Being suddenly told that we were breaking up in a place like that left me frozen in place, unable to comprehend it.

　Still, I somehow managed to get my mind working and spoke with all my might.

"...Um, well. Can I ask why?"

"After we started going out I realized that maybe I'm not compatible with Souma after all."

　The answer was immediate.

　I can't even speak anymore.

　As I stood there dumbfounded, she seemed to take that as an answer and gave me a smile.

"We're not boyfriend and girlfriend anymore, but I want to remain friends with you, Souma! Let's continue to be good friends."

"...Ah, okay."

"Okay, see you later. See you in class."

　With that, my ex-girlfriend quickly disappeared.

　All I could hear was the strange cry of a bird. When I caught sight of the bird, it flew off somewhere.

　I see, I was dumped...

　It was early May and the cherry blossoms had all fallen.

　I collapsed to my knees, facing the fallen cherry blossoms on the ground.

♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢♢

　It was love at first sight.

　After passing the tough entrance exams, students are now full of hopes and dreams entered high school...Souma Minato He fell in love with her the moment he saw her.

　Her name is Shiina Rio.

　A beautiful face. Shiny black hair that reached down to her waist. The atmosphere around her was clearly different. An overwhelmingly beautiful girl who made everyone turn their heads.

　I felt like it was fate that I ended up in the same class as her.

　Shiina-san was always on my mind, and I couldn't help but follow her with my eyes in the classroom, and even tried fortune-telling based on her name.

　It feels weird to think about it, but that's how much I liked it.

　But of course, there are a lot of guys who fall in love with her. Within a week of entering the school, about 30 guys had confessed their love to her, and even now, there is no end to the men who continue to confess their love to her.

　And then mid-April.

　I decided to confess. It was a suicide attack.

　At first, I thought I would take advantage of our strength as classmates to deepen our friendship, but I thought that while I was taking my time, she might end up getting a boyfriend.

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"It was love at first sight, from the entrance ceremony. I like you, please go out with me!"

"...That's fine. I look forward to working with you, Souma-kun."

　And to my surprise, my confession was successful. From then on, I was amazing.

　Not only was she my first girlfriend, but she was Shiina-san. There was no way I could keep my cool.

　It felt as if the world I saw had completely changed and flowers were blooming everywhere I walked.

　I found myself fantasizing about what kind of date we'd go on, what we'd talk about, and even where we'd go on our honeymoon.

　Whenever our eyes met in the classroom, Shiina-san would bashfully wave at me and I lost count of the number of times it stabbed me in the heart.

　...Every day was truly happy.

　...I really loved it. I loved it a lot.

"...Damn it."

　He collapsed behind the north school building and cried out softly.

　Her smile, her messages, and her secret waving goodbyes in class will no longer be directed at me.

　I was rejected just one month after confessing my feelings.

　Was there something wrong with me? What was wrong? What went wrong?

　Thoughts spun around in my head, and then I realized there was no point in thinking about it now.

"..."

　Suppressing the urge to disappear, I somehow manage to stand up.

　I couldn't stay here forever, and more than anything, if I stayed here much longer I really wouldn't be able to get up.

　Two months after entering the school, I had created a spot that brought back trauma, and so I sat down on a bench in a deserted rest area.

　Although it's not as less  crowded as the area behind the North School Building, the benches here are rusty, probably because not many people come here. The vending machine next to it seems to be stocked, but the selection is poor. Why are there seven different kinds of compote alone...?

　I feel pathetic for getting annoyed over such a trivial thing.

　No matter where I go, all I can think of is Shiina-san.

"...... Ah."

　A sigh escapes  from the side.

　I looked up next to me and, although I don't know when she sat there, there was a female student wearing the same uniform.

"...What is it?"

"...No, nothing."

　Her eyes were swollen.

　Perhaps she had been crying just a moment ago, as she kept sniffling and glaring at me.

 Koizumi Koyori.

　Her soft dyed brown hair reached down to her shoulders, and her youthful features made her look like an exquisite doll. We were both sitting so it was hard to tell exactly, but she was probably a head shorter than me.

　She was a beautiful girl in the same class as me.

　Apparently, there is a battle for dominance among the boys in class between the pure-hearted Shiina and the gal-like Koizumi.

　Of course, I'm on Shiina's side.

"Ugh, that's terrible. I can't believe there are people in a place like this."

"You're the one who came later..."

"Huh? What?"

"Nothing."

　Eh, that's scary.

　I was definitely the one who sat down first, but she said it like this.

　As for the person in question, for some reason she was staring intently at my face.

"You, were you crying?"

"No, it's not like that."

　I thought I was holding back the tears, but it seems that from the outside it looked like I was crying.

　After rubbing the area under his eyes, he strikes back at Koizumi in revenge.

"But weren't you crying too?"

"I-I'm not crying! What are you talking about!"

　She turned her face away and retorted in a strong tone.

　Even if you say that with tears in your eyes...

　Not only did I not know what to say to a crying girl, but I was also so emotionally exhausted that I wanted to burst into tears. After thinking about this, I stood up from the bench.

　I can't stay here.

　The moment I tried to leave without saying anything, someone grabbed me by the hem of my uniform.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

"wha..0_0?"

"I'm asking you to tell me why you're crying."

　She glared at me while wiping away her tears with a handkerchief.

　It seems impossible to escape.

　I sit back on the bench.

"My girlfriend dumped me. Just now."

"...That's a lie, right?"

"I'm not lying. Do I look like someone who wouldn't be rejected?"

"No, I don't see that."

"Hey"

"Ahaha. Sorry."

　This girl is so rude.

　However, despite her sad expression, Koizumi let out a small laugh, and she didn't feel like blaming him, so she let out a sigh.

"So, why were you crying?"

"...I got dumped too. Just now."

"...Seriously?"

"What? Are you trying to say I don't look like I have a boyfriend either?"

"No, that's not it."

"I was really dumped."

"Ah, that's... I'm sorry for your loss..."

　To be honest, I can't imagine any guy rejecting Koizumi.

　For me Shiina-san is the best, but Koizumi is still cute.

"..."

"..."

　silence.

　A man and a woman who have just experienced a broken heart are sitting on a deserted bench. There is no way they can have a lively conversation.

　Koizumi was the first to break the silence.

"Uhh...."

"Hey, hey. Stop crying..."

"Because! I really, really liked him!"

　It was so painfully clear.

　I couldn't think of anything to say to her as she clutched a handkerchief in front of her face and cried her eyes out.

　I liked her too.

　I honestly thought I would get through anything for her.

"Hey, stop it... Stop it, please..."

　Seeing Koizumi crying in frustration and helplessness, my eyes also started to tear up.

　I was really glad that there were not many people around.

　I can't show my manly tears, it's so embarrassing.

　After that, we didn't say a word to each other. We just sat there sobbing next to each other.

　The two people, heartbroken, were just crying.