Hi, everybody! I'm finally back with another fic and I hope you all enjoy the-

Actually, no. I guess it'd be more accurate to say that I hope this fic makes you cry. Why? Because the sole goal for this fic was to write something sad. Something sad and beautiful.

On with the fic then! You can't say I didn't warn you…

Disclaimer: I do not own GochiUsa. It belongs to Koi.

Unrequited

"Have a safe trip, Syaro-chan! Make sure to call me as soon as you reach the city. And don't forget to have lunch when you get there. And I won't be able to come visit you much so make sure to eat properly! I know you're going there to study but you also need to take care of yourself! And you need to sleep proper-"

"I know, I know! Could you calm down, Chiya? I'm not a baby!"

"But…" Tears welled up in Chiya's eyes. "I'm so worried! Are you going to be okay, Syaro-chan? Are you seriously going to be okay?"

Syaro let out a long sigh. Jeez. Chiya was acting like she was moving to another country or something. She was just going to the city! And it wasn't like she planned to live there forever. As soon as she was done with university, she was coming back to the wood-framed town she called her home. And she was going to use whatever she learned there to help Chiya with her Ama Usa An expansion dreams.

…Not that she was going to tell Chiya that.

A small smile graced Syaro's lips as she took a look at her friends. They'd all come to the station so early in the morning just to see her off. Truly the best friends she could have ever asked for. The Jinja sisters and Fuyu couldn't make it because Bright Bunny happened to be opening a new store today. Cocoa wasn't here either; she'd left for the city a week before. But everyone else was here. Which was both good and bad. Because while it was obviously nice to be able to see everyone one last time before she left...

There was one tiny issue. Chiya and Cocoa had both bawled their eyes out last week when they'd all come to see Cocoa off. And it looked like Chiya was planning on doing that once more. Syaro bit her lip. She didn't want Chiya to make a scene again. Last week was embarrassing enough, what with the concerned looks everyone at the station had thrown their way. She didn't need a repeat of that.

So Syaro took a step forward and pulled Chiya into a hug. It took a while for Chiya to hug her back; she was clearly surprised by the move. Syaro felt her cheeks heat up a little. She wasn't doing this because she wanted to. She was just doing it because she didn't want Chiya to cry! She definitely didn't want to hug her childhood friend goodbye. And she definitely wouldn't miss the airhead. Nope. Not at all.

Syaro swallowed the rather uncomfortable knot that had formed in her throat. Damn it, what was with this heavy feeling in her chest? Syaro forced herself to pull away and take a step back. Chiya gave her a soft smile, her expression betraying a hint of amusement. There were still tears in Chiya's eyes but at least she looked happy now. Good. Crisis averted.

"You shouldn't worry so much, Chiya-san. I'm sure Syaro-san will be fine."

Syaro turned her head to give Chino a smile. "Thank you, Chino-chan!"

Maya laughed. "Is this how it's going to be when I leave town next year?"

"As if we'd miss you, Maya-chan."

"Eh? Megu, you're so mean!"

As everyone burst out laughing, Syaro felt yet another knot forming in her throat. She was going to miss this. She was going to miss everyone so much. But out of everyone, the one she was going to miss the most was…

Syaro threw a sideways glance at Rize, a sharp pang of pain shooting through her heart. It hurt to look at that face and know she wasn't going to see it much anymore. It hurt to remember that she wouldn't be hearing her senpai's voice much anymore. And even more than all of that, as selfish as it seemed, it hurt to see how happy Rize looked.

Syaro looked away. No, she was being too harsh. Rize didn't actually look happy. But Rize didn't seem particularly sad either. The fact that she was leaving clearly wasn't tearing her senpai apart. The fact that they would rarely see each other for the next few years didn't make her senpai want to shut herself in her room and scream out crying. The fact that they might slowly drift apart didn't make her senpai's heart so heavy that it became hard to breathe.

No, that wasn't how Rize felt. That was how she felt. And the pain was beginning to become a bit too much for Syaro to handle.

Syaro plastered on the best fake smile she could muster as she turned to face Rize. She had to. There was no point in worrying everyone.

Rize smiled back at Syaro. It truly did seem like a genuine smile. "I'm sure you'll do well, Syaro. There's no way you won't."

"Th-Thank you, senpai."

"Just remember to take care of yourself."

"I will."

Rize's smile grew a little wider and she took a step forward, leaning down a bit. Syaro's eyes widened, startled by the sudden proximity. Rize leaned closer and Syaro drew a sharp breath, clearly feeling Rize's breath on her skin.

Rize whispered into Syaro's ear, "You're going to that university for Chiya's sake, right? So I'm sure you don't want to worry her."

Syaro gulped as Rize pulled back. She struggled to keep a straight face as she willed her racing heart to calm down. Her heart rate always spiked whenever Rize got too close and it was nothing short of a mystery how Rize hadn't noticed yet. Syaro knew she wasn't that good at hiding just how much Rize being near her affected her. Did Rize seriously still not know anything?

Rize gave a short laugh. "And you don't want to worry me either, now do you?"

Syaro froze. Rize was going to worry about her? Did that mean…?

Syaro looked up at Rize, a dizzying rush of hope coursing through her veins. This was something that happened far too frequently nowadays. Small yet beautiful moments that made her wonder if her dreams could possibly come true. Rize was an enigma at times and Syaro often found herself scrambling to decipher whether there was some special, hidden meaning behind the things Rize said and did. She'd find herself pondering incessantly over Rize's words. Over those seemingly insignificant actions that made her heart flutter. Over every beautiful smile Rize threw her way.

What if all those tiny things weren't just because she was Rize's friend? What if they meant something else? What if Rize felt the same way? Was it possible…?

Syaro swallowed thickly. She didn't think it wasn't possible but even so, could she ever really know? Rize honestly didn't seem to have ever even picked up on her feelings, let alone return them. And yet, Syaro felt like maybe she had a chance. Maybe, just maybe, Rize felt the same. Maybe Rize hadn't said anything yet because she was scared? Scared like Syaro herself was. So very scared.

Syaro had thought of confessing before she left. She'd spent countless hours wondering if it was worth the risk. These past three years, she'd enjoyed spending time with her senpai. It was enough to be near Rize even if she couldn't get any closer. Their relationship wasn't changing but that was okay. Because she knew she'd get to see Rize again before long.

But for the past few months, she'd felt this impending sense of dread. She wasn't going to be able to see Rize at all once she left for university. If they remained mere friends, things would definitely get worse once she left. They'd drift apart for sure. If she couldn't get Rize to look at her differently in three years, there was no way she'd find any success once she left. The moment she left, it would be over.

The only way to have a chance would be to confess. Syaro knew that. She knew that very well. But it could end badly. She knew that too. She didn't want to make things awkward between them by confessing if Rize didn't feel the same way. That would just make drifting apart even easier. And it would make the situation uncomfortable for all of their friends.

No, she couldn't do it. She couldn't tell Rize how much she loved her. She just couldn't.

Syaro snapped out of her thoughts as a loud whistle sounded from behind her. She threw a look over her shoulder. The train was going to leave soon. That meant she had to leave soon.

Syaro turned back to look at Rize. This was the last time she'd see Rize in a long time. She knew she shouldn't stare but how could she possibly peel her eyes away from her senpai? The girl who'd stolen her heart and never given it back. The girl who never failed to mesmerize her. The girl who was…

Beautiful. Tantalizing. Unobtainable.

Syaro forced herself to smile. A strained smile. She wanted to put on her signature fake smile but for the first time in her life, the pain was so overwhelming that she couldn't. She didn't want Rize to see through her pain, though. So she tried a bit harder to make her smile seem genuine. Her smile grew just a little wider but now she could feel her eyes stinging too. Damn it. This was dangerous. She needed to leave before she made a scene. She needed to leave now.

"Goo-" Syaro swallowed the lump in her throat, mentally cursing herself for the way her voice cracked. "Goodbye, senpai."

Rize gave her a small smile. Syaro wondered if there was a hint of sadness hidden in the softness of Rize's eyes but she couldn't be sure. She could never be sure when it came to Rize. After all, her senpai was kind to everyone. How could she ever be sure that she was someone special?

"Goodbye, Syaro. Try to make some time to visit us, okay?"

Syaro nodded. She'd come to visit for sure. She'd have to. Because even though it was her own decision to move to the city for the next few years, she was almost beginning to regret it already.

With a smile she was certain that everyone knew looked forced, she waved to all her friends. "Bye. See you all in a few months!"

With that, Syaro spun on her heel, grabbed her trolley bag's handle and made for the train. She tried to make the walk to those doors as swift as possible, almost afraid that she'd change her mind if she didn't reach them soon. But how could she move anywhere near as quickly as she desired when each step she took felt heavier than the one before? When it felt like the concrete below her feet was pulling at her like a magnet? When she felt like her body was moving forward but she was leaving her heart behind?

Syaro slowed to a stop, her fingers tightening around her trolley bag's plastic handle. Another whistle sounded. She needed to get on the train. She couldn't let it leave without her on it. She was being stupid, standing in motionless silence when she should be running toward her future. She knew what she needed to do. And yet…

Syaro let go of her trolley bag and slowly turned around, head hanging and her eyes glued to the floor. As much as she'd wanted to avoid making a scene, she could barely control herself right now. She clenched her fists. A burning desire to tell Rize how she felt surged through her. Because as much as she enjoyed being friends with Rize, she couldn't deny that she wanted more. So much more.

She wanted to wrap her arms around Rize and never let go. She wanted to look Rize in the eyes and tell her she loved her more than anyone in the world. She wanted to kiss Rize with all the passion in her soul.

And she really, really wanted Rize to love her back.

Without really thinking, Syaro broke into a run. She heard her friends gasp as she crashed into Rize. She had never been as grateful for Rize's strength as she was in this moment. It was only because Rize was strong that she managed to remain standing. That the impact didn't send them both tumbling to the floor. That would have only made the situation more awkward than it already was.

Because Syaro was holding Rize tighter than she had ever held anyone before. She buried her face into Rize's chest, savoring the feeling of Rize's body against her own. Rize was warm and soft and Syaro found herself snuggling even closer.

Syaro knew she shouldn't be doing this. She shouldn't be confusing her senpai. She shouldn't be making Rize uncomfortable. But she wished Rize would hug her back, if only for just a moment. She wanted to feel Rize hold her. Even if Rize didn't love her back, was a hug too much to ask for…?

A whistle sounded and Syaro knew her time was up. "I… I'm going to miss you, senpai."

"Sy-Syaro?"

Syaro gritted her teeth at the sheer confusion in Rize's voice. Syaro knew this was going to torment her forever. The fact that not only did Rize not love her back, but she didn't even know how much Syaro loved her.

Syaro tore herself away from Rize, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She spun around and ran as fast as she could, hoping nobody would see the raw pain she was sure was clearly written on her face. She grabbed her trolley bag mid-run, reached the train within seconds and jumped off the platform.

As Syaro's feet touched the floor of the train, her grip on her trolley bag's handle became tighter. She dragged herself inside the compartment, the sound of the doors closing behind her sending a jolt of pain through her body. She plodded over to an empty seat and let herself fall onto it with a thud. That hurt. She let go of her trolley bag. Her fingers hurt too.

Syaro squeezed her eyes shut and let her head hit the wall behind her. As the train pulled out of the station, she let out a shaky breath. Her whole body trembled as she tried her best to contain the sobs that threatened to wrack her body.

She didn't want to cry. She really didn't. This was her own decision. She was the one who wanted to go to the city. She knew when she made that decision that it would mean not seeing Rize for a long time. But she wanted to prioritize her career. And even though she knew it would hurt, she never imagined it would hurt this much.

But of course it hurt so bad. Because Syaro realized something the moment she stepped onto the train. It was over. It was all over. For real. Somewhere deep down, she had hoped that Rize would tell her she loved her today. That even though Rize hadn't ever said anything of the sort in the three years they had known each other, her leaving would spur Rize into action. That if Rize loved her, today was the day she'd say something.

But Rize didn't say anything. Anything at all. Rize couldn't even hug her back.

A whimper escaped Syaro's lips. She couldn't hold her tears back any longer and she didn't even want to anymore. Because it was over. It was truly over. This train was taking her to her future. And that future wasn't with Rize.

Rize stared at the train until it vanished into the distance. She forced herself to keep a straight face even as her vision blurred. She blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear her tears, hoping nobody would notice.

Rize bit her lip, her whole body still feeling a bit numb from that hug. That hug… It didn't mean anything, did it? For a moment she thought it meant Syaro was going to tell her the words she wanted to hear the most. She thought Syaro had come running back to her to tell her she loved her.

Rize let out a shaky breath. She'd wanted desperately to hug Syaro back but… But she wasn't sure she should. She didn't know what Syaro was going to do next. She didn't know if Syaro wanted her to return the embrace. And above all, Rize didn't trust herself to be able to let Syaro go if she allowed herself to hug the girl.

Rize squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears to go away. She couldn't cry here. Everyone would ask her what was wrong and she knew she couldn't afford to give them an explanation. She couldn't tell anyone about how she felt. Because she knew if she did, Syaro would end up hearing about it eventually. And she didn't want that.

She didn't want Syaro to know she loved her. Not when Syaro didn't love her back.

Rize slowly opened her eyes and stared into the distance. She'd been wondering for ages now if the way Syaro looked up at her was simply admiration or something more. She'd been tempted to confess so many times in the past few months. Every time Syaro looked up at her with that ridiculously adorable smile on her face, she'd felt her resolve crumble. It took her more strength than she'd ever needed in her life to keep her feelings to herself.

Yet another shaky breath escaped her lips. It was the right decision, clearly. Because if Syaro loved her too, she'd been sure today was the day Syaro would tell her. But she didn't. Syaro didn't say anything at all. All these years…

It really was just admiration, wasn't it?

"Rize-chan, let's go home."

Rize turned to look at Chiya and gave her a weak smile. "Yeah. Let's go."

As they all exited the station and started on their way home, Rize couldn't help but feel like she was leaving a part of her behind. But she had to keep moving. That was the only choice she had. Bury her feelings. Bury them so deep that they never dared come back to the surface.

But first, she was going to go back home and cry. She deserved that much at least.

This fic hurt to write. It really hurt. I hope the manga doesn't end like this…

Read and review, folks! I'm always open to feedback and constructive criticism.