Chapter 2: Rich or Just Lonely?
The School's New Gossip
The news of the inheritance had spread quickly, like a piece of paper suddenly catching fire from a small spark. By the time I got in line at the cafeteria during lunch break, whispers surrounded me:
"Did you hear? Akiyama is actually really rich."
"No way, him? He doesn't look it at all."
*"Maybe he's always had money but kept it hidden…"
"He's starting to look kind of handsome now…"
I tried to keep a straight face and not react. Was I rich now? Sure, there was money I hadn't even touched yet, but here I was, just like everyone else, waiting in line to buy something. I was still going to take my Melon Pan and sit behind the school, where it was quiet, like I always did. I could still afford that much.
According to lawyer Watanabe, I had to visit his office over the weekend to learn the full details of the inheritance my grandfather left me. Yet, everyone at school already seemed to think I had become a billionaire overnight.
Just as I was about to get my Melon Pan, someone tapped my shoulder.
Hinata.
"Hey, everyone's acting kind of weird around you today," she said with a gentle smile. "Are you okay?"
"Ah, yeah… Just feeling a bit strange," I murmured.
"I get it. If anyone bothers you, let me know."
Why was she being so kind to me? I knew Hinata was always nice to those around her—she was the school's smiling angel—but the way everyone's attitude toward me had changed made me start to doubt her, too.
---
During the next class, I noticed Mizuki walking toward me. My heart started pounding—was she going to say something ridiculous again and get on my nerves? Was she going to mock me in front of her group and make me their clown again?
But that wasn't what happened.
"Takashi," she said in an unusually soft voice. "The other day... I might have been a bit harsh."
Was this a joke? I blinked in surprise.
"So... are you apologizing?"
Mizuki's cheeks turned slightly red. "It's not an apology! I just... heard the rumors. I don't want you to misunderstand my past behavior. I was only trying to ease the pain of your pitiful loneliness by keeping you company," she said.
If this was her way of apologizing, she was doing it terribly. Who calls someone's loneliness "pitiful"? Then, she took out a small package from her bag and placed it on my desk.
"Here. For my past behavior."
When I opened the package, a luxury chocolate was inside. The whole class stared at us in shock.
---
During the break, I went to the restroom and overheard Yui and Rina talking:
"Why did Mizuki give him chocolate? We were just making fun of him yesterday!"
"You heard it too, right? They say he's got an inheritance. Plus, that loser has no friends, which makes him an easy target. Become his first friend and hope he starts spending money on you. Also, Mizuki's dad might be looking for an investor to save his company…"
Ah.
Everything suddenly made sense. Mizuki's sudden change of heart, Hinata's attention... It was all about the money. A bitter feeling swelled inside me.
---
That weekend, I went to lawyer Watanabe's office. On the table lay my grandfather's will and a stack of documents.
"Takashi-kun, your grandfather Haruto Akiyama had built a real estate empire. But due to conflicts within the family, your parents cut ties with him."
"So… why did he leave the inheritance to me?"
Watanabe took a deep breath.
"Because you are his only true heir. The others only cared about the money. But he's been watching you from afar. He saw that you were honest and hardworking."
My eyes started to burn. After all these years of feeling unwanted and neglected, knowing that someone had been watching and appreciating me made me feel both angry and deeply moved. So someone did notice me after all.
---
As I left the office, my phone buzzed. A message:
"I'm waiting in front of the school. We need to talk. —Hinata"
I was surprised. How had she known I was here?
When I got to school, I found Hinata sitting on a bench. I walked over to her.
"How did you find me?"
"I called Watanabe-san. I was worried."
She was worried about me?
"Takashi," she said with a serious tone. "I heard about the inheritance. But my friendship with you is not because of your money."
She looked me in the eyes.
"I just… try to help when I see someone who's lonely."
Something stirred inside me. Maybe not everyone was after something—or maybe she, like the others, was just wearing a different mask to play her part.