Have you tried to move on?

His thoughts broke off when he spotted Nobuhiko. He wasn't here earlier, even as tired as he was. He could still tell that much. He probably came here after Lila finished treating him.

Kiryu looked at his friend. "Still alive, Nobu?"

Nobuhiko laughed. "Kiryu-san, are you trying to get rid of me that quickly? Don't worry. I won't stand in yours and Kotori-chan's way."

"So now you're going to tell me, aren't you?"

"I heard Mayu-chan came to see you the other day. Since she already told you about the incident's truth, I should come clear. I am that man's brother."

So that explains it. Kiryu thought it was unusual how fast the two got along with each other, especially since Kotori even went so far to push him away.

"So about Kotori coincidentally having the same work as me. You're the one who did that, right?"

He thought it was strange. Earlier was not the first time he saw her in the assembly building. Although earlier was the first time he ran into her. Kiryu has recently spotted her in the same building as him nearly every day. At the start, he thought it was a coincidence, but then he realized only one person could have tampered with it so casually.

"It's a long story. There are reasons why people tend to be so overly protective with Kotori and why she has such a confrontational attitude. She was a victim of one of her teachers in elementary school."

Kiryu blinked when he heard those words, a victim? Is that-

"Kotori was already entering the entertainment industry then, or at least she was at the starting point. So she began doing the usual fashion promo's like appearing in magazines. Her teacher thought it was unusual and started treating her as a woman rather than a student."

He frowned when he heard those words. Well, now that makes more sense. Even though she attended a co-ed school, the girl seemed to have more female than male friends. Moreover, during the dream stars tournament, it seemed like she avoided being left alone with the male instructors.

"Did that lead to violence?"

Does she have another mental scar?

"The teacher attempted to. But that girl has an incredibly strong will. She recorded the whole thing on a handheld recorder. So she tried to bargain with him, she asked him to resign and go peacefully. But that man was awfully stubborn, so she posted the recording and exposed the school on a random site. She chose a popular website that students often went on, and it quickly became the top post. It did not take long before the school heard about it."

What strong will indeed? Although that was a clever move of her, it still feels off after being put in that situation at a young age. 'Normally, would you be able to come up with that idea? In most cases, your head would be in a mess.'

Even though she gave this quiet girl impression, it did not take long before he learned that she had a tough side too. But who would have thought she would stay strong even during a situation like that? Where does she get that strength from?

Nobuhiko continued, "After that, the incident kept getting more and more attention. And eventually, that previous teacher got what he had coming to him. Sorry to put you in such a bad position where you didn't know the situation. However, this was the only way. I just want Miu to get used to being around guys. Kiryu-san, you're a good person too, and you're already devoted to Miss Lila. So I knew you wouldn't treat her like those scum."

"But you should know as her childhood friend—Kotori she-" Kiryu did not know how to phrase this.

"She has always liked you; of course, I knew. I think my brother knew that too, but he wanted to try it anyway. It hurts more, backing away and not saying anything. Even if you know you do not have a chance anymore, it is better to say your feelings."

At those words, Lila's image appears in his head. There is no point in telling her that he loves her anymore. It would only trouble her. Besides, he is fed up with seeing her cry.

Nobuhiko must have understood what he was thinking. "Regarding Miss Lila, I think you should know better than anybody by now that you have lost this fight."

"I know. I'm not stupid. Their relationship has changed. The barriers that prevented them from being together before have all vanished. Now those two can openly express their love."

"Where does that leave you, Kiryu-san? How much longer are you going to love her? Have you tried to move on?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"I may be overstepping my boundaries here, but could you give it some more thought? There is a perfect candidate nearby who you could grow to love."

"Nobu, that's-"

"You can't decide that for me." A familiar sharp voice cut in. The two of them glance over and see Kotori at the doorway.

She walked over and looked at Nobuhiko angrily. "Nobu! I told you already not to bother Kiryu-kun about this."

"But you're always crying, Kotori-chan; you could at least let me try."

His eyes widened when he heard Nobuhiko's words. Did she cry? Did she cry because of him? Kiryu recalled their conversation earlier, and he frowned. He always found her behavior strange, and even when she told him that she was content already, he noticed something wrong.

"That-"

"Nobu, sorry, could you leave us alone?" Kiryu asked.

Nobuhiko swiftly exited, and he turned to the auburn-colored-haired girl. "Kot-" His sentence fell short when she crouched down, and moments later, he heard her silently sobbing.

It seems she has reached her limit.

He found it strange; ,how could she cope with seeing him love somebody else if she truly loved him for so many years? How can she be satisfied staying by his side as his friend?

Now that he thought about it when they first started to get to know each other, she seemed hesitant. So this was the reason why.

"Kotori."

"I'm sorry." Kotori trailed off. "I was truly okay with keeping my feelings for you hidden forever. The two of us live in completely different worlds, after all. Even if I entered the entertainment industry, I knew that our working together was slim. I never entertained the idea of dating you, let alone becoming part of your close circle. I got close to Lila-chan because I was curious and admired her voice. But even then, I didn't think that she would introduce us to one another."