Here I am, standing alone in the bamboo grove. Thinking about the words they said.
"I hate your way."
"Think about people's feelings more!"
If you're thinking about their feelings, why did you accept the request, Yuigahama? We all know it would be risky and reckless, but despite that, Yukinoshita also accepted it; You said you'll leave it to me, do something about it, but...
But in the end, what did you guys do? Every time, every single time, no matter what request it would be, in the end, it's me isn't it? After all, it's me, right?
Why do I have to be despised? Why do I need to be denied? Why am I the only one... to feel sad? Why am I here? Why do I need to suffer? Every single day, every single night, every day.
Stop it. Please. I hate it, my heart hurts. Make it stop. I don't want it, I want to stop it. I can't take it anymore. Someone, please, I beg of you, help me...
Before I knew it, I was crying without even me noticing. Tears are flowing from my eyes like a waterfall, even though it was hard and how many times I tried to wipe it with my hands, it showed no signs of stopping at all.
"Hikigaya-kun..." A nonchalantly voice said, I lifted my face upward, only to find a short brownish haired infront of me.
Amidst all of this, I failed to notice that Sagami was there.
After parting with Haruka and Yukko, I was walking alone in the grove forest when I found Hikigaya-kun and approached him.
At the school festival, I noticed that he helped us so I want to apologize and thank him. But when I approached him, I was surprised at the sight.
Hikigaya-kun is crying.
No matter what, he didn't falter, let alone crying. I am disappointed that I didn't know what to do, but for the time being, I called out to him.
"Hikigaya-kun, are you okay?"
"Sa... gami..." The voice he uttered conflicted with an emotion as if he was about to disappear; It was so fragile and weak that it made my heart ache, but I can't stand such a vulnerable sight so I hugged him with all my might.
I know I am not qualified to do that, but if I didn't do something, Hikigaya-kun might shatter completely. So for now...
"I don't know what happened, but for now, you can let it out. Do all what you want , and I'll take it..." When I said that, he began crying, cry after cry, crying and crying, until his voice died as he spit out all the suffering he had been through.
Seeing Hikigaya-kun like that, I've made up my mind. I'll protect him. Just as if I were helped by him, I decided to protect and help him. No matter what it cost.