POV (Point of View)

Chapter 37: Everything, Everything

"Are you done yet, Four-eyes? Let's go."

"Yes, coming." A certain black-haired followed behind the man who is now outside the apartment. She then locked the doors behind, and they started walking towards the stairs.

"Hey, Four-eyes. What are you like in high school?" She didn't expect to hear that question. At least not from the man she's used to. Usually when he asks, it's either about Asami...or about Asami. No in between. She once again wonders whether this man is really the Rindou Haitani that she knows.

"Hmm same old. A bit nerdy but I was more introverted than I am now." 

"Were you always wearing your eyeglasses?" She fought the urge to frown. But she nonetheless answered.

"Yes. I started wearing them in fourth grade. I was naturally blind both in real life and in love." She chuckled because she meant that as a joke, but the man didn't react.

"What do you mean?" It's like he is waiting for more details. Which she found a bit unusual. And so, she fidgeted on her eyeglasses again while blinking.

"W-Well...since I was friends with the school's prettiest girl, people don't often approach me to be friends with me. Girls would often ask me to join their group lunch or snacks just to get Ami-chan in their circle. It's being around her would make them popular as well. While boys would only talk to me to ask about Ami-chan's interests like her favorite flower, color, or anything that concerns her."

"Even those boys that I admire. They all want my best friend. Everywhere I go with Asami, all they see is Ami-chan. No Sarina. Sadly, that went on until we graduated. Even now..." Smiling a bit sadly, she continued.

"Before I knew it, all I was to the people around me is Ami-chan's best friend and her shadow. Someone they can use for their own selfish reasons. Or someone they can make fun of for being friends with the girl in the spotlight."

"People think I'm as blind as my eyesight, but I'm not."

He stopped in his tracks as she said that. He quietly realized that what he did to her was like reminding her of her high school asshole classmates. It's like he reopened wounds of the past. Reminding her that she is just Asami's best friend. Nothing else.

She got used to being treated as a nobody. Nobody wanted her company without wanting Asami in the picture. Nobody valued her worth as a person. That must be why she called herself, 'worthless'. She is so complicated. But he doesn't hate her that way. Nor digging deep into who she is.

The man suddenly got reminded of their first meeting. Now, he is even more certain that they made her ask a stranger for a kiss because they wanted to ridicule her and make fun of her. He didn't show it, but he felt annoyed. But somehow, the thought that it was the reason why they met somehow eases his irritation.

"Let's keep going." The man says again and continues walking the stairs. However, he found it weird that he didn't feel tired walking down his hated staircase. The same as when he ran yesterday.

It didn't take the two more than half an hour to get to Namida. As they arrived, shock overtook her senses to see her father talking to someone.

"What are you doing here...Ran-kun?" she calls out to the man who then stood from his seat with a smile. But upon seeing her company walking from behind her, his smile slowly got erased.

But it was a mutual feeling with Rindou who also gave his older brother a frown.

"Sarina, Ran-kun here told me everything. He asked for my permission to talk to you so he could ask for your forgiveness."