Hakuta was too much in shock to even have a thought running through his mind. His legs felt weak as he unsteadily sat himself down onto her bed. His heart was tight and despite feeling sorrow, the boy couldn’t even muster up the energy to shed tears.

“Shiuka…” The idea of losing her dawned over his head. If she really did succeed and went through with her plan on running off to a place where none of them would be able to find her sent fear into his very veins. To no longer be able to see her face without even a chance to say goodbye drove him mad.

And the worst part of it all was that this was all his fault. He had to be an idiot and say what he said about her. Even if he did follow it up with much more kind words, this didn’t mean he didn’t mean the negative things he said. Hakuta put his hands over his face, covering himself from the outside world so that it wouldn’t have to witness the first tears running down his cheeks. “Shiuka, I’m so sorry.” He said aloud, though it was meaningless without the person whom he wished to apologize next to him.

Meanwhile, Shiuka had already taken care of the first steps on being a runaway. She didn’t carry much with her outside of her phone and her bag with clothing on. It was a hasty plan she made, so little preparation was done and there was no way she’d be able to survive out in the cruel world for long. In fact, it was unlikely she’d be able to survive unscathed after one night depending on where she ended up.

But for now, she sat in a crowded train heading to any destination. It didn’t matter where as long as it was moving away from her home. She knew now there was no way she could ever face him. How could they ever have a normal relationship after all the things he had said about her.

Despite the train being filled with many people. Shiuka had never felt more alone in her life. She kept to herself, not wanting to talk with anyone as the train stopped at one of the station. It hadn’t gone far, so she knew this wouldn’t be the time to get off. Though a part of her heart wanted to get off. This part wanted her to go back home to see Hakuta again.

And perhaps this part might’ve also led her to making what she believed was the right decision. If only because of a certain other person getting on.

“Hmm?” It was Ino, who had gotten on the subway for her usual trip home. Unlike most of the students, she didn’t live close at all to the high school. However it was a good one, so it was no surprise a girl in her position would go there. “Oh, it’s you, Otari.”

During a normal day, were she to run into this girl. Ino wouldn’t bother approach her to strike up a conversation. They weren’t friends and she wasn’t following her responsibilities as classroom representative outside of class. However, today was different considering her last conversation with Hakuta. “I don’t know if you know this, but Yamamoto wanted to talk to you.” When she brought this up, Ino wondered where that boy might be. She figured he ran straight to Shiuka’s house and seeing that he had once offered to give that girl her homework one day when she was sick. It made sense in her mind that he was aware of the location.

“…” At first Shiuka didn’t reply. She didn’t want to talk to someone whom she now knew hated her. Hated the kind of person she was. But there was no way she could ignore someone she knew forever.

“Um, did you hear me?” She asked again, confused at the cold shoulder she received. “Yamamoto’s looking for you. It’s kind of important.”

“I know.” She finally answered in a quick and sharp tone. “Look, you don’t have to be so nice to be now. I heard you two talking about me.”

“Ah.” Ino sighed in knowing her speaking honestly was heard by the subject matter. “That was rather unbecoming of me.” Without permission, she sat down next to the other girl.

“Don’t act like I need an apology.” She took note of this encroachment and tried to move seats away. “We weren’t friends in the first place and we don’t have to be friends ever.”

“It’s not about me.” She tried to clarify. “I can tell by the way you’re acting, it’s Yamamoto that’s got you real upset.” Seeing as this girl apparently placed herself on the train just for the sake of avoiding him. Ino knew she didn’t hear their full conversation. “Please, just listen to me.”

“Why should I believe you?” Shiuka wasn’t willing to. “You don’t even like me, so why should I trust that you’re trying to help me?”

“I’m not doing it for you.” There had been nothing changed for Ino to want to like girls like Shiuka all of a sudden, but there was one factor in all this mess she did care for. “Yamamoto cares about you.”

“No he doesn’t.” She snapped back, nearly tearing up once more as she recalled the scene of him saying all those mean things about her. “He never did.”

“If you had stuck around for another minute, you’d know for a fact that he’s close to you.” Ino stopped her, grabbing a shoulder in a display of forcing her to confront the truth. “He might have some quips about you, but he clearly likes you despite all the things he hates. Yamamoto knows how different you are, but he knows you have a big heart.” She couldn’t say if she agreed with the assessment or not, but if he felt that way, then that was his own true feelings.

“He really thinks that?” She almost couldn’t believe it, but what reason would Ino have to lie to her? She obviously didn’t like her, yet here she was trying to get her to feel better about her relationship with Hakuta.

“Is it true?” Ino asked. “Do you really keep memories of all of us? Even of me?” Hearing her say something that only she and Hakuta were aware of only confirmed it for her. Shiuka hid away those memories not because she thought they were bad, but because she wanted to save those precious times for herself to always remember no matter what changed in her life.

“I do.” She calmed down, now properly sharing a conversation with the other girl.

“Then go look for him.” As much as Ino didn’t want to say it, she knew it was the right thing to do for all their sake. “I don’t know where Yamamoto is right now, but I’d be willing to bet he’s out there somewhere, searching for you.” The choice was ultimately up to Shiuka as the train stopped at the station where Ino made her stop. There was nothing else for her to do as she stepped off, turning back to see what the other girl would do.

***

Back with Hakuta, he had done little since receiving the bad news. The boy hardly moved from his spot, right on her bed. The scent left over from it, her scent, filled his nose. Only causing him more pain in thinking about the girl he used to live with.

“What am I supposed to do?” He asked aloud to himself. At this point, he knew she was long gone. There was no way for him to find out where she went, seeing as she’d never respond to any messages he could send her way. Hakuta looked around her room, this was when he saw the photo album she owned lying on her desk.

Finally, he got up and check it out. The book was opened to one specific page. It was the photo she had rushed to develop when the pair believed he’d be moving out of town. Seeing all their friends together all happy made him long for those days once again. Even though it had only been merely a month, maybe a little more since it was taken. He held nostalgia for that day when they nearly separated, only to be given the great news he would be sticking around.

Hakuta knew how he felt, even if he never expressed it. The truth was he didn’t want to envision a time where he might never see her again. Yet here he was facing this situation once more. But that’s all it was, a situation he faced on his own.

Seeing this, being reminded of those feelings. He knew now what it was he wanted to do. Hakuta couldn’t let her leave his life so easily, not like this. With newfound determination, he rushed out of her room and headed for the front door. It didn’t matter where she went. It didn’t matter that he had no clue on her location. The boy wouldn’t rest until he found her, no matter how long it took.

As it turned out, it didn’t take long as he plowed through the door to leave as quickly as he could. Hakuta found himself running into something, or rather someone, as they tumbled down the steps and onto the ground. “Ugh, sorry about that.” He spoke, but couldn’t be certain on who it was he ran into as the boy regained his bearings.

“Hakuta.” A girl’s voice spoke up. One he recognized immediately. He shook his head and wiped his eyes to see it was Shiuka whom he had ran into and now laid atop.