Chapter 2: Confession
Morning – Classroom 8-1
Sōta: "Morning, Hiroshi."
Hiroshi: "Morning."
Sōta: "You look the same as always."
Hiroshi: "I am the same as always."
Sōta: "That's the problem."
(Yuki enters. She looks nervous.)
Rin: "You okay? You look pale."
Yuki: "I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well."
Rin: "Liar. You're hiding something."
Yuki: "Maybe. Leave me alone."
(Yuki glances at Hiroshi. He is reading a physics book.)
Homeroom
Teacher: "Good morning. Today we have a short math quiz first period. Then regular schedule."
Class: "Ugh."
Teacher: "No complaining. Asagiri, you'll probably finish first as usual."
Hiroshi: "Probably."
Sōta: "Humble."
Hiroshi: "Honest."
First Period – Mathematics Quiz
Teacher: "Five questions. Solve each. Question one: 3x + 7 = 16. Find x."
(Students write.)
Teacher: "Question two: 2(x – 4) = 10."
Teacher: "Question three: x/5 = 9."
Teacher: "Question four: 4x – 3 = 2x + 11."
Teacher: "Question five: x² = 49."
(Hiroshi finishes in 90 seconds.)
Teacher: "Asagiri, bring your paper up."
Hiroshi: "Here."
Teacher: "All correct. You may read quietly."
(Yuki finishes third. She keeps glancing at Hiroshi.)
Second Period – Science (Physics)
Teacher: "Velocity and acceleration. A car goes from rest to 20 m/s in 5 seconds. Acceleration?"
Yuki: "4 m/s²."
Teacher: "Correct. Next: It then travels at constant speed for 10 seconds. Distance covered?"
Hiroshi: "200 meters."
Teacher: "Show formula."
Hiroshi: "Distance = speed × time = 20 × 10 = 200 meters."
Teacher: "Good. Last: It decelerates to rest in 4 seconds. Deceleration?"
Yuki: "5 m/s²."
Teacher: "Correct. Hoshino, you're sharp today."
Yuki: "Thank you, sensei."
(She steals another glance at Hiroshi. He doesn't notice.)
Third Period – English
Teacher: "Translate to English: '彼は毎朝コーヒーを飲む.'"
Mei: "He drinks coffee every morning."
Teacher: "Good. Next: '私は昨日映画を見た.'"
Sōta: "I watched a movie yesterday."
Teacher: "Good, Kisaragi. Last: '彼女は彼に会いたいと思っている.'"
Yuki: "She wants to meet him."
Teacher: "Correct."
(Yuki says this while looking at Hiroshi. He is writing in his notebook.)
Fourth Period – History
Teacher: "Meiji Restoration. What year did it begin?"
Sōta: "1868."
Teacher: "Correct. What changed?"
Hiroshi: "The emperor regained power. Feudalism ended. Japan modernized rapidly."
Teacher: "Name one reform."
Yuki: "Abolition of the samurai class."
Teacher: "Good. Another?"
Hiroshi: "Compulsory education."
Teacher: "Excellent."
Lunch Break
(Hiroshi heads to the library. Sōta follows.)
Sōta: "You really never eat in the cafeteria?"
Hiroshi: "No."
Sōta: "Yuki-chan was looking at you all morning."
Hiroshi: "People look at things."
Sōta: "She likes you."
Hiroshi: "That's unlikely."
Sōta: "You're blind."
Hiroshi: "I have 20/20 vision."
Sōta: "Not that kind of blind."
(Meanwhile, on the rooftop, Yuki stares at the sky.)
Rin: "You're going to confess, aren't you?"
Yuki: "Maybe."
Rin: "You've been thinking about it for two weeks."
Yuki: "I know."
Rin: "Just do it."
Yuki: "What if he says no?"
Rin: "Then at least you'll know."
Yuki: "That's terrible advice."
Rin: "It's honest advice."
Fifth Period – Computer Science
Teacher: "Write a program that takes a number and prints whether it's even or odd."
(Students type.)
Teacher: "Asagiri, show your code."
Hiroshi: "n = int(input())\nif n % 2 == 0:\n print('Even')\nelse:\n print('Odd')"
Teacher: "Perfect. Hoshino, show yours."
Yuki: "Same code but I added a loop for multiple numbers."
Teacher: "Bonus effort. Good."
(After class, Yuki approaches Hiroshi in the hallway.)
Yuki: "Hiroshi. Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Hiroshi: "We have PE next."
Yuki: "It can wait. Please?"
Hiroshi: "Fine. What is it?"
Yuki: "I... I like you."
Hiroshi: "Like me how?"
Yuki: "Like... I want to be with you. Romantically."
(Pause.)
Hiroshi: "I don't understand."
Yuki: "What's there to understand? I have feelings for you."
Hiroshi: "Feelings are not logical. I don't know how to respond."
Yuki: "You say 'I like you too' or 'I don't like you.'"
Hiroshi: "Then I don't like you. Not in that way."
(Yuki's face falls.)
Yuki: "Oh."
Hiroshi: "I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you. I just... don't feel those things."
Yuki: "Have you ever?"
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Not once?"
Hiroshi: "I've never thought about anyone that way."
Yuki: "So it's not just me?"
Hiroshi: "It's not personal. I don't understand romance."
Yuki: "That's... actually a little comforting."
Hiroshi: "I should go. PE."
Yuki: "Yeah. Go."
(Hiroshi walks away. Yuki stands there for a long moment, then wipes her eyes and goes to class.)
Sixth Period – Physical Education
Teacher: "Today, volleyball. Pair up."
Sōta: "Hiroshi, you're with me."
Hiroshi: "Fine."
Yuki: (to Rin) "I told him."
Rin: "And?"
Yuki: "He said no."
Rin: "Oh no. Are you okay?"
Yuki: "He said he's never liked anyone. It's not just me."
Rin: "That's weird."
Yuki: "That's Hiroshi."
Rin: "Are you going to give up?"
Yuki: "No."
Rin: "What?"
Yuki: "He said he doesn't feel those things. But maybe he can learn."
Rin: "You're crazy."
Yuki: "Maybe."
Seventh Period – Art
Teacher: "Draw a portrait of the person sitting next to you."
(Hiroshi is next to Sōta. Yuki is two seats away.)
Sōta: "Draw me handsome."
Hiroshi: "I draw what I see."
Sōta: "Ouch."
(Hiroshi draws Sōta's face with precise proportions. It looks exactly like him.)
Sōta: "That's actually good. But I look tired."
Hiroshi: "You always look tired."
Sōta: "Because I stay up late playing games."
Hiroshi: "That's your choice."
(Yuki draws Rin. Her lines are softer, more emotional.)
Rin: "You made me look pretty."
Yuki: "You are pretty."
Rin: "Now you're just being nice."
Yuki: "I'm always nice."
Eighth Period – Social Studies
Teacher: "Economics basics. Supply and demand. If demand increases and supply stays the same, what happens to price?"
Yuki: "Price increases."
Teacher: "Correct. If supply increases and demand stays the same?"
Hiroshi: "Price decreases."
Teacher: "Good. Last: If both supply and demand increase equally?"
Sōta: "Price stays the same?"
Teacher: "Correct, Kisaragi. You're paying attention."
Sōta: "Miracle."
(The bell rings.)
Teacher: "Before you leave, new seating chart starts tomorrow. I'll post it now."
(Students crowd around the posted chart.)
Sōta: "Where am I?"
Rin: "Third row, window side."
Yuki: "Where am I?"
Rin: "Second row... next to... oh."
Yuki: "What?"
Rin: "You're on a bench with Hiroshi and Sōta."
Yuki: "What?"
Rin: "The teacher put the three of you together. Same bench."
(Yuki's heart races.)
Sōta: "Hey Hiroshi, we're on the same bench!"
Hiroshi: "I saw."
Sōta: "And Yuki-chan is with us."
Hiroshi: "I saw that too."
Yuki: (to herself) "Maybe this is a second chance."
After School – The Second Attempt
(Yuki catches up to Hiroshi at the gate.)
Yuki: "Hiroshi, wait."
Hiroshi: "You again."
Yuki: "I'm not giving up."
Hiroshi: "On what?"
Yuki: "On you."
Hiroshi: "I told you. I don't feel those things."
Yuki: "Maybe you haven't met the right person."
Hiroshi: "That's not logical."
Yuki: "Love isn't logical."
Hiroshi: "Then I don't want it."
Yuki: "You don't know that. You've never tried."
Hiroshi: "Why does this matter to you?"
Yuki: "Because I like you. And I think you're worth the effort."
(Hiroshi is silent for a moment.)
Hiroshi: "You're persistent."
Yuki: "I know."
Hiroshi: "It's inefficient."
Yuki: "I don't care."
Hiroshi: "...Fine. Do what you want."
Yuki: "Does that mean you'll give me a chance?"
Hiroshi: "It means I won't stop you from trying."
Yuki: "That's enough for now."
(They walk toward the bus stop together.)
Yuki: "Same bench tomorrow."
Hiroshi: "I know."
Yuki: "Are you nervous?"
Hiroshi: "No."
Yuki: "Liar."
Hiroshi: "I don't lie."
Yuki: "Then you're nervous."
Hiroshi: "I'm not."
Yuki: "Your ears are red."
Hiroshi: "It's cold."
Yuki: "It's spring."
Hiroshi: "Then I'm getting sick."
Yuki: "Sure."
(They reach the bus stop.)
Yuki: "See you tomorrow, bench neighbor."
Hiroshi: "Tomorrow."
(Yuki smiles. Hiroshi crosses the street to his building.)
(He doesn't understand why his heart is beating faster.)
End of Chapter 2