“Hitoshi-kun… please go out with me!”

“Eh? Hanako-chan..I never thought that you felt that way… umm sorry, I don’t think I can date you right now… I’d like to stay friends for the time being so um.. Yeah, see you tomorrow!”

“Eh? Wai-“

I tried stopping him, but It was already too late.

My name is Nakamura Hanako. And I just confessed to my childhood friend that I love and got rejected. After this incident, we stopped talking to each other. After this, I then found out that he already liked someone else. And so, I gave up on my love and chose to run away from it.

And now, 8 years have passed.

In a class reunion I heard something horrifying. He had shut himself in after his girfriend died. Just imagining the pain that he must’ve went through hurts me as well. The kind and sweet Hitoshi, now gone, and became depressed. Suffering from the loss of his loved one.

At this moment, I thought:
'I want to be there for him'

But I knew that such thing would be impossible. But at that moment, I didn't know that an opportunity would arise almost instantly.

---

Illustration by @Senri_sen1 from twitter.
I got permission to use the illustration!