𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"You can do it, Ishigami-kun!" I cheered. No one is cheering for him except that pink-haired lady.

And then I saw that damn smile. That's where the problem began...that smile...that damn smile...For that damn smile, I'd fall for you millions of times.

They won!

𝙸𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚒'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"Ewww!"

"What is that?"

"Oh my god!"

"That's a definite ugh."

I can imagine their responses.

"Next up is Team Red Cheerleading Squad's cheering contest!" they announced.

"What happened?" the leader asked.

"Have we..." the vice leader paused.

"...switched bodies?" we continued.

"Tsubame!"

"The leader is so cute!"

"Wait!"

"That's hilarious!" the girls laughed.

"Being best!" the leader shouted.

"Absolutely yee-crazy-haa!" vice leader shouted. I still don't understand what that means.

"Yee-crazy-haa!" we repeated. I still don't get the meaning. So far, no one seems disgusted.

Awesome. I was worried for nothing.

"Instagrammable!"

"Instagrammable!" we repeated.

"Let's go!" the leader waved the flag around.

"Yeah!" we shouted.

"Hooray! Hooray! Team Red!" the leader shouted, still waving the flag.

"Hooray! Hooray! Team Red!" we chanted, doing the dance we have practiced plenty of times.

This may actually be...the most fun I've had at a sports festival.

The Cheerleading Squad's cheering contest was a success. That was yee-crazy-haa...I've been hanging around them for too long...

Joining the Cheerleading Squad was a good idea after all. Maybe...it's about time I started looking forward.

"Hold your head high, because there are people that are waiting for you to fall. You will bloom, right on time. That's why...live life in full bloom."

That's what L/n would say.

Instead of dwelling on my failures and accumulating regrets, I want to enjoy life more.

"Ishigami." that voice...I turned around and saw her. Ootomo Kyoko.

"It looked like you were having a good time, Ishigami." she said. We stared at each other in silence before she left.

"What's there...to enjoy?" I whispered, getting rid of the ribbon that tied my hair into a ponytail.

My mind filled with the sound of static and I can no longer think straight.

"Ishigami! Hey! Quit daydreaming! Look at me!" Onodera snapped me back to reality as she informs me that the leader had twisted his ankle.

"I forgot I had the skirt on and tried to jump over the fence. I tripped and sprained my ankle really badly!" the leader laughed.

"Dummy"

"Dope"

"What a dork"

"I'm supposed to run the anchor leg in the relay, but I can barely hobble. So, take my place, Ishigami." leader said.

"The anchor leg? I can't..." I declined.

"I heard about you in junior high school. Word is you were the fastest kid on the track team." leader stated.

"And you were fast in that three-legged race!" vice leader added.

"So, go on, get changed! They're getting ready!" she smacked my back. That actually really hurt.

"I'm counting on you, Ishigami!" leader exclaimed.

"The relay race will begin in a moment. Team Red Cheerleading Squad, Team White Cheerleading Squad, the cultural clubs and the sports clubs will all be competing against each other."

"Ishigami, you're representing the Cheerleading Squad? Running the anchor leg is a big responsibility." the President mentioned.

"Ishigami is always fast when he runs away, so he'll be fine." Shinomiya-senpai chuckled lightly.

My head hurts. I can only hear static. Everything is all blurry. Why can't I see their faces?

I can hear people talking, but it's all muffled. I can hear them clearly, but it's as if I'm underwater...their voices are muffled.

"Ishigami is running the last leg?"

"We're screwed."

"What about the leader?"

"This is ridiculous."

"Isn't Kazeno supposed to do it?"

"Why?"

Oh, that's right. Every time I stick my neck out, I always fail.

【 𝙵𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 】

Ootomo Kiyoko was just a classmate. She wasn't even an acquaintance. I didn't fit in then, but she was still friendly and would talk to me.

She was a good person. That's how I thought of her. No more than that. In any case, just by talking to this loser, somehow, I felt like she saved me.

One day, Ootomo got a boyfriend. His name was Ogino Ko. He was the president of the theater club.

He was my polar opposite. A popular guy who was always the center of attention.

Whenever I saw a couple, I would curse them without reservations, but unusually enough, I wished for her happiness.

At least until that day. I caught Ootomo's boyfriend talking to another girl on the phone, he denied it and walked away. I could tell he was lying through his teeth.

At the time, I had an excessive sense of justice and no tolerance for crap. I wasn't about to let a good person get hurt.

If I'd been in love, it would've been a little simpler.

"P-Please stop." I heard. I took a peek and saw a girl being pinned by Ootomo's boyfriend.

"Come on, just for one night. It wouldn't hurt, I promise." he whispered.

"She said she doesn't want to. Leave it." I demanded. The girl took the chance to run away, she didn't even looked me in the eye.

"It's you again." Ogino mumbled before leaving.

I decided to confront him to stop cheating on Ootomo. He used his own girlfriend as a bargaining chip.

What happened after that is fuzzy. The only thing I remember is thinking...I'd make it so no girl would approach that face.

"Ishigami, you're stalking her! I understand that you're in love with Kyoko. But...no matter how many times you slug me, I won't break up with her!"

What is he talking about?

"That's right. You can't win a girl's love with violence, Ishigami!" he exclaimed.

"Do you really think she'll buy your cheap theatrics? Give her more credit than that!" I growled.

"Ootomo, I'd break up with this scumbag if I were you." I told her...then I heard the whispers.

"You're the scumbag"

"Creep"

"Poor Ogino"

"He's a stalker"

"He'd be better off dead"

"Scum"

"Gross"

"Don't come to school again"

"What a psycho"

"At least, apologize"

"What's his problem?"

"He's got to be a loon"

"Loser"

"What's his deal?"

"Head case"

"It's all over for you"

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Seriously, you should just snuff out"

"He screwed himself over"

Wait. This doesn't make sense.

"It doesn't make sense! Somebody needed to beat him up! Ootomo, you understand, don't you? This is crazy, isn't it?" I turned to her.

"You're the one who's crazy. It's you." she pointed at me.

Certainly, I was crazy. I was suspended for a month. I made my junior high school alienation even worse by giving it in to my flimsy sense of justice.

I stuck my neck out for a girl I barely even knew. If I hadn't done anything, maybe nothing would've happened. This was the result.

All I can say is I brought it on myself. I should write what I felt in the letter of apology. It was simple. That's what I thought back then.

Every weekend, I turned in my homework assignments and endured a lecture by the teacher in charge of school counselling.

He's right. I'm the crazy one.

I made my way to my locker and saw a girl there. She held a rag and had a plastic bag filled with cans and crunched up papers.

Sweat trickled down her forehead and she quickly wiped it away. Is she cleaning up my locker?

This has been going on for days. I would sometimes see her wiping my desk with a white rag.

And when I entered the classroom, I would see her erasing the board as if there was something written there.

I didn't see her face, I never saw her face. She always kept her head low and she barely spoke.

Curiosity got the best of me and I decided to arrive earlier than her to find out what she's always wiping.

When I entered, I saw death threats written on my desks and messages from classmates scribbled on the board.

I thought all of the girls in my class loathed me and wished nothing but death for me. But that girl always wiped those mean messages away to keep me from seeing them.

I don't get her reason. And I'm not sure if I ever will. But to me, she was like a goddess.

When I got invited to join the student council, I met amazing people. Good people.

And then when I got trapped inside of the student council room, I saw her again.

I hadn't realized it for a few weeks since she would always be hiding under the president's desk, but she was the one who cleaned my locker, wiped the board, and cleaned my desk filled with nasty words.

She still kept her head low, she never said anything, it was like there was a fortress around her. She reminded me of a cherry blossom who takes time to bloom.

L/n Y/n. I don't know what happened to her or what caused her to be like this, but I owe her. She's the person who gave me courage.

I remember walking down the hallway one day and I saw her, L/n Y/n. She had her head low once again, but she wasn't staring at the ground.

I can tell just by the way she walks that she's insecure; her shoulders are hunched over as if hiding the treasure inside of her.

Her footsteps are light and timid as she slowly approaches, watching me through skittish wide eyes.

I can only imagine what might be going through her mind, thoughts like, what does he think of me? Oh, I'm so ugly! Does she like me? Will I say the right thing? I know those thoughts all too well.

I gave her a very small smile, hoping to lighten the burden she carries on herself.

Like a small token of appreciation to thank her for what she did for me back then.

Then something amazing happens, like a light turning on in a dark room, her eyes lighten and she smiles back.

Wow, I wonder, smiles really do have power. They can reach places the sun can't and warm the very soul.

【 𝙴𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚑𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 】

L/n is the person who helped me through middle school. She's the person who gave me hope that there are still good people out there.

She's the reason why I continue to live even though I feel horrible. She always manages to cheer me up when I'm down.

Watching her grow and come out of her shell was like watching an angel spread her wings for the first time.

Cherry blossoms are ephemeral and ethereal. They are the gentlest of flowers, encouraging us to be inspired of the future and things to come, but also of tragedy, as their fleeting beauty is short lived and transient.

Cherry blossom's energy is shy and delicate, quiet, and gentle, but also overwhelmingly powerful and awe-inspiring when they come to bloom.

L/n Y/n suits it very well. No matter how many times I keep telling her how amazing she is and how grateful I am, she always denies it and tells me that she's not that special.

L/n is my goddess and I just so happened to be in love with her. That's why...I'll do my best for her.

"You will bloom, right on time. That's why...live life in full bloom." I repeated L/N's saying. L/n gives me inspiration to keep going.

"I hope you fall on your face! He dumped me because of what you did! It's all your fault!" I heard her yell out to me. Ootomo Kyoko.

"I hold a grudge for a long time! How dare you enjoy yourself? You don't have that right!" she shouted.

She's right...I shouldn't be enjoying myself. What's the point?

"Ishigami-kun." I heard, a tug pulled on my shirt as I turned around to see L/n giving me a tiny smile that I love so much.

"Don't listen to her. She doesn't understand what you've done for her." she whispered.

"I was planning on ignoring her, but then I remembered something from back then." I mentioned. She turned to me, expecting for me to continue.

"You're the one who cleaned up my locker and wiped those mean messages, right?" I questioned. She nodded after a few seconds of silence.

"And Ootomo's the reason why you keep your head low, she's the reason as to why you're so insecure..." I growled.

It's all Ootomo's fault. I protected her smile when there was someone who needed more protecting.

Because of her, L/n lost her smile. I know what happened to her because I saw it happen on my way home.

I chose not to intervene since it wasn't any of my business and I barely knew them.

L/n lost her smile and kept her head low. She's so insecure that even staring at her would make her overthink.

"Ishigami-kun?" she called once more.

"You're dating that pathetic loser?! All that's nice about her is her money! The two of you are gross and were made for each other!" Ootomo shouted.

I glanced at L/n, to see her eyes shut, her lips were pursed, and it looked like she didn't want to hear it anymore.

"Go to hell, idiot." I glared at Ootomo before getting in position.

Sorry, Ootomo, but I'm done looking back, I'm shaking you off, you're annoying.

"Do your best, Ishigami-kun." L/n whispered before heading back.

I'll prove it by winning this! I'll prove that it's better this way! I'll prove that I'm not crazy!

"Go, Ishigami!" the President shouted.

No matter how much you people reject me with your scary words, I won't bend!

No matter what you think! No matter how you threaten me! Don't think I'm going to shrink in fear!

L/n gave me hope! She cheered me up even though I feel like it's the end of the world.

She wiped all those mean messages away, she gave me a reason to keep going...that's why...that's why I'll prove to you that I'm worthy of her! That I'm worthy of her love!

"Go, Ishigami!

"Go, go!"

"You can do it, Ishigami!"

"Do your best, Ishigami-kun!"

I'll prove it...by winning here! I'll prove it all to you!

In the end, I didn't win...

Dammit! Dammit! I failed miserably. Maybe, I was wrong after all. I can't change anything. In the end, I...I'm sorry, L/n...

"Yu! Yu! That was so close! Yu!" Koyasu, the vice leader, exclaimed.

"Koyasu-senpai? Are you crying?" I questioned. She seemed to be crying for some reason.

"After all...when I saw how frustrated you looked, it made me frustrated too!" she cried.

"Tsubame cries at everything." Onodera rolled her eyes.

"I can't help it!" she argued.

"Ishigami! That was a good race! It really was so close." leader grinned.

"Don't let it bother you. They were in the lead to begin with." Onodera stated.

"Yeah!" one agreed.

Oh, I see.

"Crap! We would've won if the Board Game Club hadn't muffled it."

"Don't feel bad!"

These people...

"You did fine, Ishigami!"

"Are you okay?"

"Ishigami?"

"Now you're going overboard."

"What's wrong?"

I opened my eyes for the first time and took a good look at all of their faces. They're good people...

"I'm fine." I reassured. Before, I never even bothered to look for that. Was really looking all it took for the view to change like this?

Apparently, it's true that genuine normies can be genuinely nice.

"So, the next relay is the final event! If we clinch this, Team Red will make a comeback victory!" leader announced.

"Get pumped up and ready to cheer!" he yelled.

"Yay!" we yelled back.

"Team Red! Being Best!" he posed.

"Being best!" we copied the pose. I still think this cheer is totally lame, though.

In the corner of my eye, I saw L/n staring at me with a gentle smile on her face. She seemed relieved before going off somewhere after taking a picture of us.

𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅 (Finally!)

"Anyways, Ishigami is such a dirtbag! How dare he yell,' Go to hell, idiot'!"

"Even if it's the truth, there are some things you shouldn't say!"

"The truth?! W-Well, if I'd been smarter, I would've passed the entrance exam."

"I thought maybe this was my golden opportunity to get back together with Ogino; only to find out he transferred to another school."

"Golden opportunity?"

"Still, I'm glad I came today! I finally got to unload on Ishigami!"

Familiar voices. They bring back the good 'ol times, huh? Yeah, right. Good' 'ol time, my butt.

"Long time no see." I came out of my hiding spot and stared at my old...friends.

"Oh, it's you again." Aiko gave me a smile so sweet but so fake.

"Ne ne, Y/n, it was just a prank back then. We didn't mean any harm." Ootomo laughed nervously.

"Y-Yeah! We thought it would be funny to play a little prank on you, but you took it seriously!" Izumi chuckled.

"Does a little prank involve tearing one's family apart? Does it involve ruining one's life to the point that they can no longer face anyone? Does it involve using others? Tell me...did you even consider me as a friend?" I glared at them.

"O-Of course we did!" Ootomo exclaimed.

"We didn't mean to! It was just a prank!" Izumi repeated.

"Y-Yeah! It was all just a joke!" Aiko agreed.

"Aiko, I would love to insult you, but I'm afraid I already did with my fist from back then." I stared at Aiko's black eye that still didn't heal.

"Izumi, I hope that bus you threw me under swerves and hits you on the sidewalk." I cursed her before turning my gaze to Ootomo.

"Ootomo." I called. She squeaked at the sound of my voice.

"I heard what you said to Ishigami-kun earlier and I know you're spreading rumors about him. I'm glad you're spreading something other than your legs." I smiled.

"You can break my soul, take my life away, beat me, stab me in the back, kill me, but for goodness's sake...don't hurt Ishigami-kun." I said before turning around.

"Have the day you deserve." I said before leaving.

Ootomo's smile is something Ishigami-kun protected. Jeez, he chose to go through all that for no benefit.

He really is amazing...I'm glad he's my first love. I'm glad I had my heart stolen by someone like him.

"Today's sport festival result...it's a big win for Team Red!"

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