Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Tonight, Don’t Let Anyone See Your Birthmark

The heart is naturally soft. What makes it hard is merely the heavy armor placed upon it by others.

When it is pierced, the bloody pain seeps through the wound, rotting the armor into sludge. In such moments, even the strongest person will show a fragile side.

“…Is that so?”

Fujiwara Yuki muttered, then suddenly laughed. Shimizu Sakuya had never seen her laugh so unrestrainedly—the corners of her mouth curved up as if touching the threshold of joy, and the ends of her eyes curved like crescent moons.

She nearly laughed to the point of being out of breath, yet within her dim golden eyes, Sakuya couldn’t see even a hint of real happiness. It was like looking into an iceberg frozen solid.

“Your answer is pretty interesting.”

With that, she turned her head away from Sakuya and didn’t speak further, pressing the window button and casting her dull, lifeless gaze out the car window.

In the front seat, the driver, Yamamoto, deliberately kept the speed slow to ensure safe driving.

But the wind howling in through the open window was wild, like a tidal wave or a mountain storm. It cut across the cheeks like cold, sharp blades, slicing the heart.

Fujiwara Yuki let the wind blow her bangs into a mess. She looked like a poor puppy abandoned on the roadside, lying beside a pile of trash.

Shimizu Sakuya couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Maybe she’d said too much…

Looking so lost like that—she must be really upset.

So Sakuya lightly coughed twice and tactfully added a few words to comfort Fujiwara Yuki.

“It’s not over yet. Love is an elusive thing—it’s normal to fall for different people at different times.

Someone you didn’t click with a moment ago, you might fall in love with the next second. The future’s still far away, and memories might not be accurate either, so just do what you want to do now.”

Even after that long string of words, Fujiwara Yuki still didn’t turn around.

She murmured in a muffled voice: “I hope so.”

But Sakuya clearly noticed her shoulder tremble slightly, as if touched.

Seems like she still needed a bit of time—and truthfully, so did Sakuya.

After a whole morning of mental strain, plus staying up half the night, her delicate body had no strength left to keep her eyes open.

Sakuya adjusted the seat to recline, and sleepiness inevitably set in. At a comfortable angle, she closed her eyes and leaned against the window for a short rest.

When she opened her eyes again, the car had already stopped in the school’s underground parking garage.

“You’re awake?” came Fujiwara Yuki’s flat-toned greeting by her ear.

Sakuya turned her head, meeting her gaze with concern.

Her eyes were calm now, like a windless lake, without a trace of emotion.

Has she calmed down?

“Mm,” Sakuya said, rubbing her still-drowsy eyes and yawning. “Why’d we drive into the school?”

Fujiwara Yuki unbuckled her seatbelt and handed Sakuya her schoolbag. “What do you think people would say if they saw us getting out of the same car and walking into school together?”

Sakuya followed her train of thought.

If Saori found out that she had become close with this new friend while ignoring her…

She might not go dark immediately, but it would definitely plant more fuses that could explode later. If everything blew up at once, it’d be a disaster.

Thinking of this, Sakuya couldn’t help but give Fujiwara Yuki a mental thumbs-up for her caution.

Nice job, Yuki!

“That’s true,” Sakuya nodded slightly in agreement, then tapped the window with her index finger. “Let’s stagger our entrances. Are you getting out first, or me?”

“You go first.”

“Alright then, see you later.” Sakuya waved goodbye, slung her bag over her right shoulder, and opened the door to step out.

“See you,” Fujiwara Yuki nodded in return, then added as if remembering something, “Oh—when I press the button, come find me in the third-floor lounge.”

“Got it.”

The car door closed heavily. Fujiwara Yuki watched Sakuya’s departing figure, lost in thought.

It was nearly time for morning reading. The parking lot of Shūchi High School was packed full of various luxury cars. Even rows of bright white lights could only dimly illuminate the underground garage.

Sakuya quickened her steps toward the elevator, walked through the dim, underground tunnel devoid of sunlight, passed the giant square stone stele engraved with the school motto, crossed a concrete path scattered with spring cherry blossoms, and finally stopped in front of the large, crooked cherry tree near the teaching building.

Because standing beneath that cherry tree was the underclassman who had emailed her last night—Natsukawa Amane.

She leaned against the crimson-blossomed cherry tree, her left leg propped up on the trunk, eyes bright and cheerful. She gave Sakuya a lively, enthusiastic wave.

“Good morning, Shimizu-senpai!”

Sakuya was a little surprised, because it was nearly too late for morning reading. Unless Amane had purposely waited here, there was no way they’d meet at this spot by coincidence.

“Good morning, Natsukawa-san.” Sakuya walked toward her while replying politely, but couldn’t help voicing her curiosity, “What are you doing here? Did you dream I’d show up here, so you came to wait for me?”

Natsukawa Amane bounded over in a few quick steps. “Why don’t you take a guess?”

Seeing her slightly smug smile, Sakuya instantly realized that Amane seemed to be in a pretty good mood today.

Her tone ended on an upward note, and she was even teasing her.

Well, at least it didn’t seem like it was bad news.

“Do you have good news to tell me, then?” Sakuya asked with a smile.

“I’ll tell you later. Did you wear the Cheese Cat I gave you?” Like a little puppy circling its owner, she walked a lap around Sakuya, her amber eyes scanning her from head to toe.

Crap! She’d left the Cheese Cat hanging on her bedroom headboard—forgot to bring it.

“Ah, um… I forgot to bring it when I left today…” Sakuya scratched her cheek, slightly embarrassed.

Amane frowned, her tone filled with disappointment. “Ah… it’s okay.”

“I’ll definitely wear it tomorrow,” Sakuya patted her chest in a vow of sincerity.

“Then I’ll come check tomorrow.”

“Alright~”

For some reason, Natsukawa Amane seemed a bit too energetic today—completely different from the panicked, timid girl she’d been when they first met.

But more than this bit of girl-to-girl playfulness, Sakuya cared more about what Amane had seen in her dreams. So she asked.

“So, what was that good news you wanted to tell me?”

“It’s not good news. But come closer first.” Natsukawa Amane crooked her finger, motioning for Sakuya to lean in to hear a secret.

Sakuya tilted her head closer. The warm breath of the younger girl tickled her ear, making her instinctively want to pull back—this kind of teasing closeness was far too suggestive.

“Tonight, don’t let anyone see your birthmark. It’s important for what you need to do.”

Sakuya’s pupils instantly widened in shock.

Did this mean Fujiwara Yuki might try to come confirm it directly tonight?

Amane took two steps back, mind racing as well—If she told Sakuya this and changed the course of events, would next week’s event of her and Senpai kissing on the Ferris wheel still happen?

That would be my first kiss, you know… Was it really worth throwing herself in, just to save her?