Noboru sat down watching TV on a rainy day when suddenly his doorbell rang. "Who could be outside in this kind of weather right now?" he said to himself.
"Be right there," said Noboru as he grabbed an umbrella and opened the door.
"Uh, Naomi? What are you doing here? You came here to look for me? But this weather is really bad. Come in," said Noboru as he held the umbrella over her head until she stepped inside.
Noboru then handed her a towel and a shirt so that she could change into them. "Hopefully, you don't catch a cold. What were you thinking coming out in this rain?"
"I came here to tell you that I'm disappointed and annoyed with you," said Naomi.
"What do you mean?" asked Noboru, confused.
"You don't think that I've noticed? Everything I hold dear, everything I'm passionate about and dedicate all my time and effort to—you decide to take up as well. Do you have fun making a mockery of my ideals and dreams? You know how serious I am about track, so why?" asked Naomi.
"Wait, it's not like that, I—"
"Then why do you do everything half-assed? I hate people like you. Don't bother talking to me again. We're through," said Naomi as she took his umbrella and left.
From that day, we didn't talk to each other again. I honestly felt like my whole world had fallen apart. Our encounter changed me, but not for the better. Though I stopped wasting my time thinking about her, I was able to study hard and got accepted into Toshigawa Academy. However, what I didn't know was that she would be attending as well. After all the effort I put into forgetting about her, there she was right in front of me.
Wait, why the hell am I thinking so much about her all of a sudden? Noboru thought as he held his head down on his desk. I must be going insane. Or is it Nanaho's training regime getting to my head? I honestly don't know anymore, he muttered to himself.
"Hey, is it just me, or is Noboru really quiet today?" asked a girl in the class.
"Yeah, he looks really gloomy. I wonder if something happened," said another girl.
"You're right. He's usually loud and vulgar, going on and on about how great he is. Maybe he's just tired from all the training he does with the girls' track team. I mean, they have been giving him a whole lot of work, that's for sure," said Naomi.
"Or maybe he got tired of being so arrogant," said a girl in class 1O.
Noboru, who had his head down, overheard their conversation.
If only she knew. The reason I was able to keep up with those annoying girls was because every time I looked at her, she was looking directly at me. Damn! I can't take this torture anymore. I'll just get what I have to say off my chest.
Noboru, who mustered up the courage, got out of his seat and walked over to them.
"It's Noboru. I wonder what he wants," whispered a girl.
Naomi, who was curious, looked at Noboru, and their eyes eventually met.
"Meet me on the rooftop during our lunch break. I want to talk to you," said Noboru to Naomi before going back to his desk.
"I wonder what he wants to talk to you about," said a girl.
"Yes, me too. I'm curious. Could it be a love confession?" said another girl.
"Will you go to the school's roof, Naomi?" asked Sachiko.
"I guess I have no choice. How would I know what he wants to talk about?" said Naomi.
As the school bell rang, Noboru waited patiently on the school roof as he sighed.
"I'm here, just as you asked. Please make this quick," said Naomi bluntly.
Noboru then walked closer to Naomi, standing face-to-face with her before clearing his throat.
"Don't speak. Just listen and wait until I'm done," he said in a serious but controlled tone.
"Uh, okay," said Naomi, surprised.
"I know that I was a nuisance to you in junior high. I joined all the clubs and sports you did, and I didn't commit myself fully to any of them, which made you mad at me because you viewed it as me mocking your passions and hobbies. I want you to know that I'm fully committed to basketball now. And one thing is for sure—I didn't join those clubs to mock you. I joined so that I could be closer to you and enjoy all the things that made you happy.
"However, after what you said to me when you visited my house that day, I just felt empty, as if I was a hollow shell, because I loved you and I was rejected before I even confessed. Even now, I still think about you from time to time, and that's because…"
Noboru leaned in closer and kissed Naomi on her forehead.
"I'm still in love with you. I said all I had to say. My heart feels a bit lighter now. See you," said Noboru as he walked off.
Naomi, stunned by the kiss, stood on the rooftop, confused and shocked.
I can't believe it. I actually said it after all this time. Regardless of her answer, I'll be able to move on now. But I won't ever forget her, that's for sure, Noboru thought.
As the final bell rang, Noboru prepared himself to head to training.
"Yes, I am going to give it my all today while training with those stupidly endurable girls," said Noboru as he walked off.
"Hey, Noboru, wait for me!" said Shino while packing his bag.
"Not a chance, amateur," said Noboru as he chuckled.
"Can you please stop calling me that? Hey, Tetsuo, you coming?" asked Noboru.
"Be right there. I have some notes left to copy in my book," said Tetsuo.
"Alright. See you on the court."
"Hey, Naomi, I've been dying to ask all day—what did you two talk about on the roof?" asked a girl.
"Yeah, I want to know too," said another curiously.
Naomi then remembered Noboru kissing her on the forehead, causing her to blush slightly.
"Nothing important, don't worry," she said.
"Now I'm even more curious! Please tell me," said a girl.
"I would, but that's our little secret," said Naomi as she placed her index finger on her lips.
"Oh, come on, that's so lame!"