And just like that, Yui Yuigahama finally moves on.

I didn't shed any tears, because I already cried a lot.

That's why, during the entire time I was watching him leave, during the entire time I was waving my hand, I closely watched his back and burned the sight into my eyes.

When he finally disappeared, my hand flopped down.

The bulky plastic bag wasn't heavy in the least, but it started to feel that way all of a sudden.

His words echo in my ears over and over again.

Well, it's not like I hadn't expected this.

It was obvious who he liked. I never truly had a chance from the beginning.

But I still had hope. After all, it was him that told me once boys knew how hard you were trying, it would make them like you.

What a lie.

I really tried my best, you know? I've tried every trick in the book.

But I should have known. I should have known all the way back when we went to the festival.

I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, and turn around to leave.

"Care for a talk?"

A voice stopped me. It was someone I knew.

I turn around.

"... Hiratsuka-sensei."

She is in her usual lab coat, wearing a black vest with a dress shirt underneath. Her long black hair was flowing in the wind, and she was carrying a plastic bag.

She sits down on a bench and pats the seat beside her.

"Come on, sit with me, and let's have a chat."

Very reluctantly, I sit down, eyes to the ground. I still wasn't feeling anything, except the pain in my chest.

"... Did you hear everything?"

She nodded.

Ah, so that is what this is about.

I grasp my palms, and put on a smile, the usual smile that Yui Yuigahama has, the one that everyone likes, and face Sensei.

"It's alright, Hiratsuka-sensei! I knew this was going to happen in the end!"

But she doesn't buy it. She just stares at me, with a serious look on her face, waiting for me to finish.

"We were never meant to be together anyway! Our personalities don't match, heck, I doubt we would last long, haha!"

What am I saying. Who am I trying to convince? Sensei or myself?

"I've gotten over him already! So you don't have to worry about me! You should go check up on Hikki and Yukinon, I'm sure they'll be in some problem again…"

I laugh and put my hand on my hand. To do what I don't know.

Hiratsuka-sensei sighs, and looks away.

"Yui, is this what you truly think?"

I gulp and push my feelings down.

"Yeah… it is."

"Then why are you crying?"

"...Huh?"

I touch my face, and on my fingertips, I could feel the dampness of my skin.

I thought I had no more tears to cry.

My smile disappears, and I look to the ground again.

I don't want her to see my miserable face. I must look like an idiot. A wreck.

Sensei then pats me softly on the head.

"Rejection hurts. There is no two ways around it. I've been there before myself."

The tears start to come out, but I wipe them, and hold them in.

"... I've never felt this way before, Hiratsuka-sensei."

"Well, obviously. This is your first love, after all. Especially since you are young, it's hard to deal with all the new emotions you are experiencing."

"...Does it get easier as you get older?"

Sensei laughs bitterly.

"Every rejection hurts, no matter what age you are. You just get better at hiding it."

I don't respond to that.

We sit in silence for a few moments, watching people walking by and listening to the wind, until Sensei breaks the silence.

"You tried your best, Yui, but sometimes, the best isn't enough, and that is sadly the harsh reality. Nothing will change that."

I grasp my chest. It hurts. It hurts so bad. I don't understand. I won't understand. I can't understand.

"... Why?"

"Hm?"

"Why wasn't it enough!?"

And so, my dams burst, and tears start to freely flow from my eyes. And my thoughts, thoughts that have been swirling for so long in my mind, came flooding out of my mouth.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, I tried so hard. I really did. I became selfish for him. I even did bad things to Yukino. All so I could get him to look at me. But he never turned my way. Not even once."

I cry and cry and cry. It's different from before. It's almost like I'm crying out my pain and emotions for the world to hear.

"I already knew that I would get rejected. Deep down, I already knew the outcome. Yet I still tried to be selfish and have it all."

Sensei pats my head again while I cry, comforting me.

"That's right Yui, let it all out. Let out everything you want to say."

And so I do. I talk about everything.

The date we went on. The fight the three of us had. Me sleeping on his shoulder. My selfishness. Jealously of Yukino. His confession to Ebina.

There was no real meaning nor structure to what I was saying, yet still, Sensei was listening and patting my head.

And soon, I was saying nothing, just crying, and Sensei was hugging me, and my tears were dropping onto her lab coat.

…

When I finally finish, Sensei gives me a tissue to wipe my tears.

"Feeling any better?"

I nod.

I wasn't lying. The pain was still there, but I felt something on my back has been lifted. It really did feel great, letting it all out.

However, there was still something on my mind.

"Hiratsuka-sensei?"

"Yeah?"

I pause for a moment, biting my lip, before finally saying it.

"... Did I truly like Hikki?"

Sensei raises an eyebrow in confusion, and quickly I explain.

"You know that Hikki saved my dog, Sable, right? What if-"

Before I can even finish my sentence, Sensei interrupts me.

"You wouldn't be here crying and hurt from the pain of rejection if you didn't love Hachiman. Don't doubt your feelings. Maybe you didn't actually like him at the start, but now clearly, you've fallen for him."

… I see.

So I did… truly love him.

I look up at the reddish pink sky that was dotted with a few clouds.

Sensei continues to speak.

"But it's time to move on, Yui. There's no point in hurting yourself anymore."

I nod.

Sensei smiles at that, and gets up.

"I have to go now, and you seem a lot better. Go home, have a warm drink, and go to sleep. It'll all be better tomorrow. Trust me. It's all uphill from here. And if you still don't feel better and can't move on, give me a call and I'll take you for a ride."

I nod meekly.

Sensei rubs my head one last time. I smile at this affection.

"Well, bye bye, Yui."

"Bye, Hiratsuka-sensei."

And as she leaves, I get up too.

I slap my cheeks, and start walking.

It was time to face reality.

My first love ends here.

But hopefully,

down the road,

just like them,

I will find my Genuine too one day.

I will leave my feelings behind on that bench and move on.

Hey there, Author here.

I wrote this because I hate how the series makes Yui still pursue and hung up on Hachiman, unable to move on, causing a whole lot of unnecessary drama in Shin (Sequels). Like, they show her coming to terms that Hachiman and Yukino like each other, yet the series still refuses to let her excit peacefully. By writing this, I give Yui the best ending she can have. One where she moves on and searches for HER Genuine.

Hope you enjoyed it.