Chapter 13

The school felt quieter than usual when Shuya was standing outside his classroom, looking down the hallway to see if he could spot a certain someone. There was only a few minutes left until class would begin, but Iyori was still nowhere to be found. Did she sleep in? Certainly she wouldn’t skip on such a day. She for one had been the most worried about getting her results back. 

“Ah!” muttered Shuya when he spotted a silhouette in the distance, one he would never mistake for anyone else. 

“Good morning, Iyori!” said Shuya with great enthusiasm, but he got nothing in response. In fact, Iyori walked right past him. It didn’t look like she was angry, in fact her facial expression was completely blank, like she wasn’t even present in mind. 

“Wait, Iyori!” yelled Shuya and ran in front of her, nearly making her walk right into him. 

“Shuya?” muttered Iyori and a small sign of life seemed to appear in her eyes. “Good morning.” Without another word or even just a glare, Iyori turned left and walked past Shuya, through the door to the classroom. 

“Wow, what happened?” asked Shuya, as he continued following Iyori until she sat down at her desk. 

“What happened?” asked Iyori, finally acting a little more like herself as she let out a huge sigh and looked directly into Shuya’s eyes. “You happened! This... this is all your fault!” Iyori grabbed her head like it was about to explode any moment and Shuya refrained from commenting further, waiting for her to continue. 

“I never felt like this before, it’s only because you made me do my best and had me study so hard for the finals. You made me greedy. You... you made me into a nerve wreck.” Still standing in front of Iyori’s desk, Shuya opened his mouth and closed it again, not knowing how to respond, and before he could think of anything decent to say, Fuyoko walked through the door, making all the students run to their desk immediately. 

“Good morning students,” said Fuyoko and looked over the classroom where every student stood up straight behind their chair. Iyori barely had the strength to stand, her legs feeling like jelly. 

“Good morning, miss Nishida,” said the students and Fuyoko gestured for everyone to sit down again, something Iyori did more happily than anyone else. 

While Fuyoko went through the morning introduction, talking about what would happen throughout the day, Iyori floated away, only her physical body staying behind in the classroom. Everything melted together around her, the people, the sounds, the smells. It all turned into a huge mass of confusion and as she floated above her body, she looked down at herself, in the middle of everything. She barely even noticed Fuyoko standing in front of her and only by reflex did she reach out her hand and grabbed the graded paper. Her vision blurry, all she could see was a red smudge on the top right corner. 

“Good job,” said Fuyoko and Iyori looked up at her in confusion. “Keep up the good work.” Fuyoko sent her a smile before she moved on the to other students, while Iyori frantically tried to focus her vision on the numbers written on the paper. 

“Miss Nishida actually looked happy when she handed you the paper, what was your result?” said Hanako who had been running to Iyori’s desk the second she got her own paper as well. Iyori’s eyes were still glued to the paper, until she finally looked up and turned the paper towards Hanako. 

“I... I passed,” said Iyori and let out a nervous laughter, sounding like a crazy person. Hanako looked at the paper and saw the huge red numbers reading 61/100. 

“You really did pass!” yelled Hanako and started laughing too, but it didn’t last long before Fuyoko turned her head and sent both girls a glare, making them quiet down. While Hanako slowly walked back to her seat, the smile not leaving her face, Iyori turned around on her chair and held up the paper so Shuya could see the grade as well. He quickly sent her a thumbs up, before he held up his own paper, which read 100/100. He winked at Iyori who just rolled her eyes, but when she turned around again, she didn’t even care about Shuya’s teasingly behavior. All she could think about was her own grade. 

The day went by quicker than any other day, maybe because of the satisfying and confident feeling Iyori had in her stomach. And probably also because of one specific thought filling her mind. 

When the clock rang and the teacher left the classroom, Iyori packed up her bag in a flash and rushed to the door, only to be stopped by Shuya. 

“Wow, what’s with the rush?” asked Shuya. “Aren’t you forgetting your promise?” Iyori looked at Shuya for a few seconds, scanning her mind of whatever promise she might’ve given him. 

“Ah... celebrating...” muttered Iyori as she remembered her own words. “Y... Yeah... we should...” 

“What’s going on here?” said Hanako who appeared right next Iyori, as if out of nowhere. “I don’t know what kind of thing my sister promised you, but today she has to go straight home. There’s someone she is very eager to show her results to.” 

“Hanako?” said Iyori surprised, both by Hanako appearing out of nowhere and by her sudden statement on her behalf. 

“Shush! I don’t care what you promised, you can fulfill it another day, I know how important this is to you,” said Hanako in a firm voice and sent Shuya a glare. 

“I guess we’ll have to postpone our plans again,” said Shuya and looked a little dejected, but he quickly pulled himself together. “That’s fine, this really seems important, so I don’t want to get in the way. I’ll see you around.” Shuya waved his hand and walked back to his desk, still not done packing up for the day. Iyori stayed in the doorway, looking back at Shuya until she shifted her eyes to Hanako. 

“I...” 

“Should we get going? Let me just grab my things!” said Hanako quickly, interrupting whatever Iyori had been trying to say, and before she could do anything, Hanako had gathered all her belongings and gave Iyori a slight push, both of them leaving the classroom and walking down the hallway together. Just as they passed the window next to Shuya’s seat, he and Iyori got eye contact once again and a quick but genuine smile was exchanged between them. 

As the two girls continued through the school in silence, they finally reached the shoe shelves and both changed into their outdoor shoes before they moved on. 

“Thank you,” said Iyori all of a sudden when were off the school grounds. Hanako looked at her, first in surprise, but then with a content look in her eyes. 

“You’re welcome,” answered Hanako and no further words between them were exchanged on the entire way home. 

***

“Iyori!” exclaimed Hina after Iyori had handed her the results. “You really did pass this time! I am so proud of you, all your hard work must’ve paid off in the end.” 

“What is going on out here?” asked Aiko who appeared all of a sudden and Hina immediately handed the result to her as well. 

“Iyori, well done!” said Aiko and gave her thumbs up, making Iyori blush slightly, not used to all the compliments. Hanako was standing in the background, not even mentioning her own results. Instead she looked at the heartwarming scene with a smile on her lips. 

“My dear girl!” said Hina all of a sudden and gave Iyori a quick but tight hug. Hit by a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time, Iyori held her breath for the few seconds her mother’s arms remained around her. Then, just as Hina let go out her again, the sound of a door opening and closing, echoed in the house. 

“That must be Akihito,” said Hina and quickly grabbed the paper from Aiko’s hands, ready to show them off when Akihito would enter the kitchen. 

“We’re out here, honey!” yelled Hina and Iyori felt the small butterflies she had in her stomach, suddenly got twice as big, making it hard for her to breath normally, as she listened to her father’s footsteps getting closer. 

“What are you all doing out here?” asked Akihito when he entered the kitchen and Hina nearly shoved the paper in his face, but she quickly held herself back and instead handed the paper to Iyori and pushed her towards her father. 

“Iyori has something she would like to show you,” said Hina in an excited voice, while Iyori felt her hands shaking. A few seconds passed and Iyori didn’t speak or move one bit, making Akihito feel slightly impatient. 

“So, what is it?” asked Akihito and crossed his arms, making Iyori swallow, before she finally pulled herself together and handed the paper to him. It felt like an eternity when Akihito looked over the paper without saying anything. 

“Good, well done,” said Akihito in the same monotone voice he had spoken in before, whereafter he handed back the paper. “Still, it was about time.” 

“Honey... couldn’t you be a little happier on behalf of your daughter?” asked Hina, quickly noticing the change in Iyori’s expression as she slowly crumbled together in front of them. 

“Happy? Happy about what? About her doing the bare minimum?” said Akihito harshly, the words feeling like a knife hitting right in Iyori’s chest. “She went through the exact same tests as last year, this is not even slightly commendable.” 

“Aren’t you too harsh?” said Hina, but Akihito ignored her completely and instead turned around, facing Hanako. 

“Hanako, what about you? Can I see your results?” asked Akihito and Hanako flinched, hiding the paper behind her back. She quickly looked at Iyori who had lowered her head, eyes staring at the floor. 

“I...” said Hanako and looked at the floor too, but she suddenly saw a hand appear in front of her and looked up again, realizing Akihito was reaching out for the paper. She hesitated for another second, but eventually gave up and handed him the paper. A huge smile appeared on Akihito’s face immediately after looking over the paper. 

“97/100,” said Akihito in a loud, proud voice and Iyori looked up. She didn’t even know what Hanako’s grade was until just now. 

“Well done!” Even if the words were the same as he had said to Iyori, the feel was completely different. 

With her entire body screaming to get away, Iyori suddenly ran out of the kitchen, Akihito shouting at her to get back there, but she didn’t listen. Hanako reacted quickly and got a hold of her, just as she was about to leave through the front door. 

“Iyori...” said Hanako and looked at her sister who didn’t even lift her head to return the look. 

It isn’t her fault. The words echoed inside Iyori’s mind, but the anger didn’t disappear. 

“Let go of me,” said Iyori in a low but firm voice. 

“Wait, let’s just calm down for now–” Iyori suddenly lifted her head and the look of rage in her eyes was enough to shut Hanako up for good. 

It isn’t her fault... it isn’t her fault... 

“Don’t every talk to me again!” yelled Iyori and broke free of Hanako’s grip, quickly disappearing through the door. 

Back in the kitchen, Hina was glaring at her husband, while Aiko stood in the background, trying her best to stay out of the matter. 

“How could you act like that when she finally passed her finals? Isn’t this what you have been hoping would happen?” said Hina in a loud voice. 

“I just... didn’t want her to get ahead of herself. She needs to work even harder if she wants to get into University,” said Akihito, as firmly as he dared with the glare his wife was sending him. 

“She is working hard!” yelled Hina, looking even angrier than before. “She even got a tutor. I don’t think Iyori would ever get ahead of herself, she’s always afraid of not being good enough.” 

“She already repeated a year, we can’t pamper her like this or she will never survive in this society!” said Akihito, raising his voice as well. Hanako had returned to the kitchen and was now standing next to Aiko, both of them staying quiet. 

“Complimenting her when she improves isn’t pampering her. If her family isn’t supporting her and helping her believe in herself, then who will? Do you want her to just give up entirely?” 

“NO!” yelled Akihito, but he quickly lowered his tone when he saw the shocked expression in Hina’s eyes. “No... I don’t... I don't want that...” Hina didn’t reply, she just looked at her husband who was contemplating on everything he had said. 

“Maybe I was a little too harsh on her... I will apologize to her when she has cooled off and gets home again.” 

“She probably won’t be home for a while,” said Hanako, suddenly joining the conversation. “She looked really hurt just now.” 

***

Iyori felt the tears continuing to slide down her cheeks while she just kept moving forward, not even thinking about where she was headed. 

Stop it, thought Iyori to herself over and over again while she tried to wipe away the tears, but it didn’t make any difference. The tears wouldn’t stop just because she told them to, she already knew that and eventually she gave up and just let herself cry as much as she wanted. 

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed how several people passed her by, all of them looking at her in confusion and worry, but Iyori didn’t have the energy to care. Instead she lowered her head, avoiding any form of eye contact. 

Down a small pathway, between two streets, Iyori spotted a lonely bench in the middle of it. The timing was perfect as she felt her strength was coming to an end and she sat down on the bench, burying her face in her hands. 

The summer evening felt warm and the sun was still out, but Iyori didn’t have it in her to enjoy it. For a while she just sat in silence, it seemed like the tears were taking a break, but just when she thought she was about to calm down, her mind decided to reply the situation from earlier and the tears started flowing again. While the first couple of tears slid down her cheeks, she suddenly felt her phone vibrating in her pocket and she slowly reached for it, seeing Shuya’s name appear on the screen. 

“So, how did your parents react when you told them you passed?” wrote Shuya in a text message, followed by a lot of happy emojis. Iyori stared at the screen and slowly felt her blood starting to boil. After wiping away her tears, she quickly typed a long and spiteful message in reply, whereafter she put away her phone. 

It’s all his fault! If only he had left me alone, I wouldn’t have been feeling hopeful and I wouldn’t have gotten disappointed again. 

While those thoughts went on inside Iyori’s head, she felt her phone vibrating again, but she didn’t reach for it this time. She would never take advice from him again. 

It didn’t take long though, before the phone started vibrating again. And again. And again. 

She suddenly realized that this continuously vibrating wasn’t a text message. He was trying to call her, and he wasn’t giving up anytime soon. 

“What?” yelled Iyori when she finally had had enough and decided to pick up. 

“What happened?” asked Shuya and those words alone was enough to bring back the tears. Why was he like this? He should just leave her alone. When Shuya heard the quiet sobs, he felt his heart drop. 

“Where are you?” 

“W... What?” stuttered Iyori between her sobs. 

“Where are you? It doesn’t sound like you’re at home?” said Shuya. 

“N... No...” said Iyori and tried to hide her cries as she continued. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to talk, especially not with you.” 

“I already left the house, so just tell me where you are already!” said Shuya in such a firm voice that made it impossible for Iyori to say anything back. 

“I... I’ll send you my location,” said Iyori and felt another tear slide down her cheek. 

“Good, stay where you are, I’ll be there soon.” 

Hello everyone!

Chapters like these always break my heart. I think we can all relate to Iyori's feelings of wanting to make her parents proud. Or at least I think we all have someone out there we want to be proud of us. And when we get rejected by these people, like Iyori did in this chapter, it hurts more than anything else.

What did you think of the chapter? Can you relate to Iyori's feeligns? Let me know your thoughts in the comments down below.

Also, remember to take good care of yourself and stay safe!

Love, Annalise~