Chapter 2: “What Comes Next”

The warm afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the café where Ryuuji, Taiga, and their friends had gathered. It had been a whirlwind day since Taiga's return. She had been greeted like a long-lost hero, Minori practically tackling her in excitement, Kitamura grinning ear to ear, and even Ami offering her a rare smile. It had been a while since they'd all been together, and there was an air of bittersweetness in the air—they were now in their final year of high school.

Ryuuji had been about to ask Taiga what was bothering her. He'd noticed her hesitation earlier, the way her eyes flickered with something unsaid, something weighing on her mind. But before he could even get the words out, Minori bounded over, wrapping Taiga in a tight hug.

"Taiga! Oh my god! It feels like it's been years! We missed you so much!" Minori beamed, pulling away just enough to shake her friend by the shoulders. "You better not disappear on us again, got it?"

Kitamura and Ami joined in, greeting her enthusiastically, and Taiga gave a tight smile. "Yeah, yeah. I'm not going anywhere," she muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.

As they all settled into their usual hangout spot, the conversation drifted towards their future plans—the inevitable talk of what lay ahead after high school.

"So, Kitamura," Ryuuji began, trying to lighten the mood, "you still thinking about politics? I mean, student council president's just a stepping stone, right?"

Kitamura laughed, pushing his glasses up. "That's the plan. I'm aiming for bigger things."

"I'm not surprised," Ami chimed in. "You've always had that serious vibe. Meanwhile, I'm just planning to live the good life. Modeling, traveling… you know, the usual."

Minori clapped her hands together. "Oh! I've been thinking about sports journalism or maybe even coaching. Imagine me as a gym teacher! Wouldn't that be wild?" she joked, flexing her arm dramatically.

Ryuuji chuckled along with them, but when it came to his turn, he found himself pausing. "Me? Well… I guess I could open a restaurant. I like cooking, right?"

In his head, he started picturing himself in various careers—Ryuuji, Master Chef, with a ridiculous chef's hat, cooking gourmet meals while Minori, Taiga, and the others applauded his creations.

Or maybe—Ryuuji, Professional Wrestler—tackling Kitamura in a ridiculous wrestling ring, Taiga acting as his tiny but fierce manager on the sidelines.

Then came a less savory thought. Ryuuji, Garbage Collector, just like his dad had been. He cringed, quickly shaking the image away.

"No, no… definitely not that," he muttered to himself, his face scrunched in disgust. The others stared at him for a moment, puzzled by his sudden reaction, but before anyone could ask, the conversation shifted again.

"What about you, Taiga?" Minori asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What do you want to do after high school? Any big dreams?"

Taiga's face stiffened for a brief second before she forced a smile. "Oh, you know… I haven't really thought that far ahead," she said lightly, waving her hand dismissively.

Ryuuji noticed the slight crack in her expression, the way her eyes darted away from the group. He could tell something was wrong, but before he could press her on it, Taiga jumped in with a sudden burst of energy.

"Anyway! Have you guys tried the new curry at the cafeteria? It's insane! Like, it's so spicy you'll cry for days," she babbled, clearly trying to change the subject. "They've also got this weird purple jello now, and honestly, I don't know if it's food or alien goo."

Minori laughed, nudging Taiga. "You're such a dork. Is food really all you think about? We're talking about serious stuff here! Come on, don't you have any plans for the future?"

Taiga's smile faltered slightly, and her hands clenched into fists under the table. Ryuuji saw it—the momentary flicker of frustration—and before anyone could notice, she shot up from her seat.

"You guys seriously never stop, do you?" she said with an exaggerated sigh, her voice dripping with false enthusiasm. "I'm going to grab another drink. Be right back!"

With that, Taiga hurried away, leaving the group behind. She had managed to keep her façade intact, but as soon as she turned the corner, her pace slowed. Her legs felt heavy, and her chest tightened. She found an empty classroom nearby and slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind her.

"Why can't I just tell him?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. The secret she had been holding onto was like a weight on her shoulders, dragging her down every day. She didn't know how to face it, let alone how to tell Ryuuji the truth.

Alone in the empty room, Taiga sank to the floor, her back against the cold wall. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. She couldn't cry. Not now. Not when she had no idea how to fix what was breaking inside her.

Back in the café, Ryuuji realized Taiga had been gone for a while. He glanced around, trying to spot her, but she was nowhere to be found. His brow furrowed in concern.

"Hey, where'd Taiga go?" he asked, standing up. "She's been gone a long time."

Minori shrugged, Her eyes were filled like something was silently troubling her. "Maybe she's off causing trouble, as usual."

But Ryuuji wasn't convinced. He excused himself and made his way out of the café, heading towards the hallway. His gut told him something was wrong. He checked a few classrooms before finally stopping in front of one with the door slightly ajar. Peeking inside, his heart sank.

There she was, sitting alone on the floor, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. She was trembling, her face buried against her arms.

"Taiga…" Ryuuji whispered, stepping into the room.

She didn't look up at first, but when she did, her eyes were red and wet with unshed tears. She tried to wipe them away quickly, but it was too late—he had already seen them.

"Go away, Ryuuji," she muttered, her voice cracking.

But Ryuuji wasn't going anywhere. He walked over and crouched down next to her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "Taiga, what's going on? You've been acting weird all day. Talk to me."

Taiga shook her head, refusing to meet his gaze. "It's nothing. I'm fine. Just leave me alone."

But Ryuuji didn't move. He stayed by her side, silent but steady, waiting for her to open up. Because whatever was weighing on her, he wasn't going to let her face it alone.