Chapter 35: Yuto and Suzune.
"I… I'd like to talk to you about something," she began, her voice as soft as the night wind, yet laced with a nervous tremor. Her fingers lightly fidgeted with the hem of her jacket, and Yuto noticed the slight tremble in her hands. She took a step closer, her eyes never leaving his, the smile on her lips both shy and hopeful.
It was rare for Suzune to act this shy.
The night air felt charged with anticipation, the silence between them heavy and expectant. Yuto's heart quickened as he watched her, sensing that whatever she was about to say would change everything. The distant sounds of the campus seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them beneath the vast, starry sky.
"I… I want to talk to you about something," she said, her voice soft but filled with urgency.
Yuto studied her for a moment, sensing the weight of her words. He took a deep breath, then nodded. "Let's go to the beach."
Suzune blinked in surprise. "The beach?"
Yuto offered her a gentle smile. "It's quiet there. We can talk without any interruptions."
She hesitated for only a moment before nodding, her heart fluttering with both anticipation and nerves. Together, they walked in silence, the path lit only by the faint glow of the stars and the distant sound of waves growing louder with each step.
When they reached the beach, the ocean stretched out before them, vast and endless under the night sky. The sand was cool beneath their feet, and the rhythmic crash of the waves filled the air with a soothing melody. Yuto stopped near the water's edge, turning to face Suzune.
She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the moonlight, and felt the words she had rehearsed a thousand times catch in her throat. Her mind was a mess right now. Yuto removed his shoes as his bare feet touched the wet sand. "Would you like to join?" he asked.
A small smile tugged at Suzune's lips as she followed suit, slipping off her shoes and stepping into the cold, calming water. The sensation of the sea against her skin was grounding, and as she lifted her gaze, the full moon bathed the ocean in its silver glow, creating a path of shimmering light on the surface.
"Hey, Yuto…" she began, her voice soft, almost swallowed by the sound of the waves.
"Yeah?" he replied, his own eyes drawn to the breathtaking moon above.
"Would you let me be a little girlish tonight?"
Yuto's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then he grinned, his usual playful energy softened by the tranquility of the moment. "Of course."
Suzune's lips curled into a rare, genuine smile, one that reflected the sea's stillness. "The moon is so beautiful tonight…" she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of her unsaid emotions.
Before Yuto could respond, a sudden warmth spread through him as he felt her hand slip into his, her fingers gently interlocking with his own. He glanced down at their hands, then back up, meeting her eyes for a brief, electric moment. Suzune held his gaze, her eyes shimmering like the moonlit ocean before she smiled again—this time, a smile just for him.
Normally, Yuto would've cracked a joke, something like, "Your smile is too beautiful for my mortal eyes to handle." But tonight was different. Instead, he simply smiled back, tightening his grip on her hand as he turned his eyes to the moon, the cool breeze of the sea brushing against his face.
"It really is beautiful," he murmured, his voice quiet but full of meaning.
Yuto and Suzune held hands in silence for what felt like an eternity, both lost in the quiet beauty of the moonlit night. The sound of the waves and the gentle breeze were all they needed—until Suzune's voice broke the stillness.
"Y-Yuto… I have something to tell you," she stammered, her face flushed as she turned to meet his gaze, her dark eyes locking onto his.
Yuto, equally flushed, swallowed hard, feeling the sudden shift in the air. He remained silent, his eyes searching hers, heart pounding.
Suzune glanced away, fidgeting as she held onto her shoulder, her body swaying slightly from side to side. "When the school year started… I found you really annoying, and all I wanted was for you to disappear."
Yuto's expression faltered, his brow furrowing. 'There it is...' he thought with a sigh, already sensing Suzune's prickly nature cutting through the moment. But as she continued, something in her tone softened.
"But," she hesitated, her voice trembling as she looked back at him, "as the months passed, you became… less of a pest. You became something…"
Yuto held his breath, his thoughts racing. Her words lingered in the air, his heart drumming in his chest. "Could this really be it?" he wondered, hope and dread battling in his mind.
"…Someone I began to care about," Suzune finally confessed, her eyes wide, vulnerable. "Someone I… began to endear."
Yuto's brain felt like it was overheating, his pulse pounding in his ears. He barely registered her words, already spiraling into his own thoughts. "Is this really happening?" But just as quickly, a dark thought crept in, making his stomach twist. His face didn't change, but there was a heaviness in his eyes as he looked at Suzune, his excitement dampened by a gnawing doubt.
Before he could respond, Suzune stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him in a sudden, tight embrace. Yuto stood still, feeling her body press against his, her warmth almost too much to bear.
"One time, when you were bothering me like always, I had this… terrifying thought," Suzune whispered against his chest. Her grip tightened. "What if you stopped standing by my side?"
Yuto listened quietly, his face impassive, though his mind was spinning. He felt something wet against his chest—a subtle, warm sensation that made his heart sink. "She's crying…" he realized. Suzune, who never let her emotions slip, was crying.
But he didn't see her tears. He only felt them.
"I never want to feel that way again," Suzune's voice cracked, her face buried deeper into his chest. She clung to him, her words laden with a raw vulnerability he'd never seen in her before.
Yuto stood frozen, his mind wandering to the quiet, whispered words she had said earlier. "Act a bit girlish…" His lips twisted into a grim line, though only for a second, before Suzune loosened her hold and pulled back to look at him.
Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, were fixed on his. "Yuto… will you stay by my side forever?"
The wind gently tousled her hair as she stood there, waiting, her heart laid bare. For a brief moment, Yuto's face stiffened, his thoughts swirling with a storm of emotions. Then, slowly, he forced a grin, one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
A single tear escaped from his eye, trailing down his cheek as he gently pushed Suzune away.
"No."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
kreakerss
kreakerss if you guys are wondering why horikita was switched to Suzune, well, that is because of the scene.
Chapter 36: Why?
"Good job, Rei!" A woman in tattered garments knelt beside the small boy, tousling his messy brown hair. He giggled, clutching a loaf of bread in his tiny arms. Her smile was warm, though her eyes carried the weight of a thousand worries as she watched him, no older than six, beam back at her.
She gently took the bread from his arms, chuckling softly. "Honestly! What would I do without you?" Her voice was playful, but there was a lingering sadness behind it. Turning away, she walked toward a dilapidated shed, her steps slow, deliberate. Just before entering, she paused, looking back at the boy one last time.
"Rei…"
Never again…
"Stay by my side forever, okay?"
Never again…
The boy's eyes lit up with joy. "Yes!" he shouted energetically
"No."
The word slipped from Yuto's lips, barely audible yet filled with pain. His voice was choked, his throat tight as memories clawed at the edges of his mind. Never again. His vision blurred, and he squinted, fighting back tears, teeth grinding together.
Suzune flinched, stepping back instinctively. Her heart pounded, her mind racing. "Wait… Yuto?" she asked, confusion clouding her voice. She had always been so sure he liked her. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
'Why did he reject me?'
But it wasn't just confusion that gripped her—it was something deeper, something foreign. Her expression faltered, unreadable, as her chest tightened with a strange, unwelcome emotion. Her vision blurred, the edges of her world softening into tears she couldn't understand.
'Did I even propose to him because I like him?' she wondered, feeling the full weight of her uncertainty for the first time. Then Ayanokoji's words echoed in her mind: "You're the only one who can control Yuto."
She shivered as realization crept in. "Did he figure it out?' Her stomach twisted at the thought. She couldn't even bring herself to look at him now. Not after what she had tried to do.
"I'll take my leave now," Yuto's voice came out flat, void of any of the usual warmth she had grown accustomed to. She stood frozen, listening to his retreating footsteps as they faded into the night. Slowly, the world around her dimmed.
She turned her gaze to the ocean, the waves that once seemed so soothing now sounded distant, hollow. The moon—once so breathtakingly beautiful, now dimmed and distant, like a memory she couldn't grasp anymore.
"What have I done…?"
____________________________________________________
Yuto walked the familiar pavement, the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore just beyond the metal fence. The ocean's presence lingered in the air, a dark expanse that felt... grey. . Stopping by the railings, he ran his hand along the cold, black metal as he looked at his his fingers tracing along the surface of the metal with no reaction.
With a soft sigh, Yuto closed his eyes. "Guess there's not much difference between me and that two-faced bitch," he muttered under his breath. His eyes snapped open, and without warning, he kicked at the railing, sending it crashing into the water below. The metal creaked as it splashed into the sea, creating ripples that stretched into the void.
Barely giving it another glance, he walked towards the next railing and leaned against it with a nonchalant expression. Pulling a small wrapper from his pocket, Yuto unwrapped a stick of candy and placed it between his lips. Minutes ticked by, the silence only broken by the distant waves, as he stood there motionless, staring at the empty horizon.
Finally, with a resigned sigh, Yuto called out lazily, "You can come out now, Ayanokoji."
From behind a nearby tree, Ayanokoji stepped into view, brushing the dust off his sleeves as he emerged. Yuto didn't turn around, still gazing out at the endless ocean.
"So, why are you here anyway?" Yuto asked, his voice, flat.
Ayanokoji's calm reply followed, "I was just passing by when I heard a loud noise. Thought Kusida might be venting her anger again—especially since this is where we caught her in the act last time."
Yuto spared him a brief glance before returning his gaze to the waves. He gave a small nod of understanding. "Yeah... makes sense." He paused for a moment, the wind tugging at his hair, then added, "Since you're here, why not stay for a while?"
Ayanokoji sighed as he leaned against the railing beside Yuto, feeling the cool night air brush past them. "Suzune proposed to me today," Yuto blurted out suddenly, his voice slightly muffled by the stick of candy still in his mouth. There was an odd tone to it, something distant and hollow.
Ayanokoji didn't flinch, keeping his calm exterior as he responded, "Congrats. I guess you have a girlfriend now—"
"I rejected her," Yuto interrupted flatly.
Ayanokoji didn't say anything at first, though inside, he sighed. 'So, the plan failed.' His mind raced. 'Did he find out what we were doing?'
Yuto's lips curled into a sad smile, barely holding it together as he leaned further against the railing, resting his head on his forearms. "Will you stay by my side forever…" he mumbled, repeating the words in a soft, broken whisper. "That was what she said to me."
There was a pause before Yuto continued, his voice lower. "You know, someone I used to endear said the same thing to me, once…" He lifted his head slightly, eyes now fixed on the distant horizon. "Of course, I said yes. I stood by her side and told myself I would keep doing that, no matter what." He sighed, the weight of old memories pulling him down as he spoke.
Ayanokoji glanced at him, his own thoughts suddenly quieter. Yuto's face was tilted toward the sky, his eyes reflecting the stars above like distant memories trying to break free. "But she didn't stick to her own words. When the time came… she abandoned me." His voice cracked slightly
"So, when Suzune said those words, all I heard was, 'I will abandon you in the near future.'" Yuto's voice was laced with bitterness.
Ayanokoji sighed internally, 'I see..My plan didn't fail because he figured it out —it failed because of Horikita's choice of words.'
"Plus.."
Snap.
The sharp crack of the candy breaking echoed through the air, and before Ayanokoji could even react, he felt a searing pain on his cheek. His head snapped to the side, the world blurring for a second as the sudden force sent him stumbling back.
In that split moment, Ayanokoji quickly registered what had happened. The sting lingered, the punch landed so fast, so unexpected, that it left him momentarily dazed. He slowly turned his gaze to Yuto.
Yuto stood there, his hand still raised, trembling, eyes glistening with unshed tears as he shouted:
"Plus… I wanted a real relationship!"
_________________________________________
[A/N: Your evil author-chan is going to drop the chapter name for the next chapter. AND, guess what, you gotta wait. *evil laughter*]
[Next chapter: Ayanokoji vs Yuto]
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
kreakerss
kreakerss
gosh, I tried to make a cliffhanger it didn't work!
btw, I reailed we need one for reiveiw for this book to have 10.
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