A Failure

Hinata's POV

The bell echoed through the corridors of Hikari High, signaling the end of another grueling day of sessions. I exhaled a sigh of relief as I stepped out of the classroom, clutching my notes tightly in my hand. The sense of accomplishment washed over me as I glanced at my finished task.

I slowly approached the announcement board to search for my name on it. Hinata…there it is!

Hinata

Science: 100

Mathematics: 98

Social Studies: 99

English: 97

As I scanned the announcement board and saw my name next to the impressive score, a wave of euphoria swept over me. A wide smile stretched across my face, brightening my features with a sense of pure joy and satisfaction. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, replaced by a buoyant sense of accomplishment. At that moment, I couldn't help but feel grateful for all the hours of hard work and dedication that had led me to this point. Seeing my efforts recognized in such a tangible way filled me with profound happiness.

Then…my heart sank at the sight of Haruto's name emblazoned in red beneath a sea of perfect scores. Guilt gnawed inside me as I recalled the countless hours I had spent studying, while Haruto had struggled alone in silence. I wonder if he's okay…

***

Haruto's POV

“I'm not okay,” I whispered to myself while having my cup of Americano at the deserted corner of the café. As I mindlessly scrolled through my phone, hoping for a distraction from the impending doom of my midterm results, a new message from my mum popped up, interrupting my futile attempts at procrastination.

With a sense of impending dread, I opened it, only to be greeted by a message that hit me like a punchline in a bad joke. "Another bad score in the finals and you're out of the house," it read, the words looming ominously on the screen like a comedic punchline gone horribly wrong. I couldn't help but scoff at the absurdity of it all – as if the threat of homelessness was the kick in the pants I needed to ace my exams.

I blew off a sigh as I pressed the crescent moon icon and buried my phone inside my pocket. I took another sip of my Americano as I placed my gaze into the cloudy sky… and the rain started to pour.

I continued nursing my cup of coffee and drowning in a sea of self-pity, the sound of rain pattering against the windowpane provided a soothing backdrop to my melancholy thoughts. Lost in my own world of despair, I barely noticed the door swinging open, allowing a gust of cold air and the sound of hurried footsteps to intrude upon my solitude. Startled from my reverie, I glanced up to see Hinata standing there, her hair dampened by the rain and a look of determination etched upon her face. It was as if her entrance had brought with it a ray of sunshine amidst the gloom, casting a warm glow over the dreary surroundings and chasing away the shadows that had threatened to consume me.

"Welcome," Yuto's greeting danced softly in the air, his voice a melodic invitation to the realm of coffee. "Can I have your order?" he continued, his words a gentle caress against the bustling ambiance.

“The usual coffee please,” she answered.

Lost in the symphony of the café, I pondered the volume of her voice, uncertain if it was her or the melody of life playing tricks on my ears. Before I knew it, Hinata sidled up to my table, balancing a cup of joe in her hand.

“Hey, mind if I join you?" she asked, sliding into the seat across from me.

“Sure,” I replied.

She slowly sat across my seat, placing her notes inside her bag. We stayed silent for a while before she finally broke the silence.

We sat in silence for a beat before she finally spoke up. "You alright?" she asked, concern lacing her words.

Putting on a fake smile, I shrugged. "Yeah, I'm good."

Out of nowhere, she hit me with, "So, what do you do for fun, Haruto?”

I scratched my head, struggling to come up with an answer. "Honestly, I spend most of my time just... zoning out.”

Her gaze locked with mine, a playful innocence gleaming in her eyes, akin to a puppy seeking affection from its master.

Unable to withstand her gaze, I shattered the silence. "What?"

With a tender gesture, she bridged the space between us, her hands almost grazing mine. "Don't be too hard on yourself.”

Caught off guard, I blinked in disbelief, seeking solace in the familiar warmth of my coffee cup. But before I could respond, she pressed on.

"Well, how about we try something new today? Let's go for a walk in the park or explore the bookstore downtown.”

I hesitated for a moment, my mind was filled with uncertainty. I don't want other people to interfere in my business because it will only be troublesome. "No, don't mind my business," I immediately refused as I packed my things and prepared to leave.

But she wasn't giving up that easily. Pulling out a notebook, she tore off a scrap of paper and scribbled something down.

"Here, hit me up if you ever need a hand," she said, passing me the paper with a grin.

And just like that, she was gone, disappearing into the drizzle with her umbrella. “So, she got an umbrella with her all the time? She's not here to take shelter?” I questioned myself.

I'll just wait for the rain to stop. I should've brought an umbrella with me.

But as the sun began to set on the horizon, reality came crashing back down, reminding me about the failure I had become.

***

Alone at home, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. "You're such a failure, Haruto," I muttered under my breath.

Crumpling up the paper she'd given me, I tossed it aside without a second thought.

My parents' words echoed in my mind like a broken record, a constant reminder of the burden I carried on my shoulders. And as I drifted off to sleep that night, the fear of failure loomed over me like a shadow, threatening to consume me whole.

“useless.”

To be continued…