Chapter 3.2

“Hey, careful.” he said, guiding me with his wrist that I so desperately held onto.

“..Yeah…” I muttered, accidentally swaying towards him—leaning too forward as we walked.

We passed through the school gates… and all of a sudden..

It’s become really.. cold…

Suddenly—my foot landed incorrectly.. I lost grip on Hayashi’s wrist and was about to fall onto the pavement but… he caught my wrist, keeping me held up.

“We’ll go another day, come on.” his voice.. somewhat fading.

I held onto his wrist tightly, but…

I really couldn’t… why is it so hard to walk.. just the mere act of walking.

..I kept tripping.

I kept stumbling.

Until I finally fell backwards… or so I thought.

…I stared at the pale sky.

Leaning my head against him.

Still really.. chilly… it’s so cold..

..Where is he even… bringing me..?

He still.. won’t let me down…

Wait… I recognize this hallway.

…Did I tell him where my dorm is..?

I must’ve… told him..

Although it didn’t hurt, my head just felt empty.

My body just felt.. heavy…

When he stopped moving, he suddenly put me down.

He said something… though I couldn’t understand him.

Once my feet reached the floor, I immediately lost balance—until he caught me, his hand firmly holding my waist, keeping me standing as he held my body towards him.

I remained still, leaning against him as he held onto me.

Almost as though the world kept getting blurry, I fell backwards again—back to seeing the ceiling.

..Is he carrying me again?

A moment of silence passed until—I was placed on something soft…

A bed..?

Ugh..

Where am I…?

This comfort… it feels like my room..

..It’s darker than usual…

Hayashi..?

I reached outward, until I could feel something.

“Aihara.” he called.

It’s him…

..For a while, I held onto him.

I remained on the bed.

Till slowly.. my mind cleared.

“..Hayashi?”

“What is it?” he asked.

“...” I somewhat opened my eyes, and there he was.

I just laid there, staring at him.

He said something again—I still couldn’t understand.

“..Hm?” I mumbled.

I looked at him, seeing him a lot clearer..

“I’m.. sorry…” I muttered, unsure if he could hear. “I don’t understand… what’s happening..”

I slowly looked down.

He’s sitting on my bed.

I’m… holding his arm.

Hayashi..

..Please…

Please don’t leave me here..

…It’s so quiet.

It’s so suffocating..

Just like.. earlier…

…Stay with me..

“Please… hold my hand…”

Don’t leave..

As fear continued to settle within me, I felt something wet leave my eye…

Am I really.. crying..?

I just… don’t want to be alone…

Hayashi…