Chapter 7: The Battle Between Dreams and Feelings

That night, Ryo stayed up later than usual. His desk was cluttered with open books, but his eyes were empty, unable to focus. Outside, the night breeze blew gently, carrying a cool air that should have been soothing. Yet, Ryo felt too anxious to sleep. Thoughts of Mika, Ayumi, and Haruka continued to haunt him. Each of them had their own way of approaching him—Mika with her kindness and care, Ayumi with her desire for fun, and Haruka with her wise and understanding perspective. The feelings that had just begun to grow within him were becoming stronger, but his academic goals remained his top priority.

Taking a deep breath, Ryo closed his book. The big exams were approaching fast, and he knew that the opportunity to earn a full scholarship only came once in a lifetime. Every day he spent without preparation meant drifting further away from his dreams. Yet, every time he tried to focus, their presence always lingered in his mind, like shadows he couldn't escape.

The next day, during break time, Mika approached him. Ryo was sitting in the quiet school garden, trying to calm himself, but as soon as Mika suddenly sat beside him, the awkwardness returned.

"Hey, Ryo," Mika said softly. "Did you get any rest this morning? I'm worried you're overworking yourself. If you keep going like this, you'll exhaust yourself."

Ryo forced a smile. "I'm fine, Mika. I just need time to think. There's a lot I have to prepare for."

Mika looked at him with gentle eyes, though there was a hint of concern in them. "You don't have to carry everything alone. We can study together, right? Maybe that'll help."

Ryo felt a slight pressure. Mika had been giving him attention for quite some time now, but responding properly was becoming increasingly difficult. He knew Mika only wanted to help, but could he accept her help and still stay focused on his dreams?

Just then, Ayumi came running toward them with her usual boundless energy, as if she didn't care about the atmosphere around her. "Ryo! I heard there's a big event outside school tomorrow! Let's go! You need to have some fun, and I'm sure you'll be able to focus better afterward!"

Ryo wanted to refuse, but seeing Ayumi's unstoppable enthusiasm made it hard for him to say no. "I… I can't, Ayumi. I have to study," he hesitated.

Ayumi just laughed cheerfully. "Come on, don't be so serious, Ryo! You need a little freedom! Life isn't just about exams!"

Before Ryo could say anything more, Haruka appeared from a different direction. As always, her expression was calm and full of thoughtfulness. "Ayumi, you know very well that Ryo needs to focus on his exams. Don't distract him with unnecessary invitations," Haruka said in a quiet but firm voice.

Ryo looked at the three girls standing before him, each with their own approach—Mika, who was caring, Ayumi, who was energetic and full of excitement, and Haruka, who always gave wise advice. All this attention only made him feel even more confused. A major decision awaited him, and he knew the time to choose was drawing near.

Haruka gazed at him deeply. "Ryo, you know what's best for yourself. But if you keep wavering between these choices, you'll only lose your opportunity. Choose a clear path."

Ryo lowered his head, feeling the weight of it all. Mika and Ayumi looked at him with hopeful eyes, while Haruka warned him to stay focused. Every word they spoke seemed to guide him toward what he should do, yet it also made him feel more trapped.

"Haruka, I…" Ryo wanted to speak, but the words felt heavy in his throat. "I don't know what to choose. I don't want to disappoint any of you, but I also can't ignore the goal I've set for myself."

Haruka gave him a small smile, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We don't want to stand in the way of your dreams, Ryo. We just want you to be happy. But this decision has to come from you."

Mika and Ayumi nodded, though there was still hesitation in their eyes. Ryo could tell that all three of them genuinely cared about him, but at the same time, he felt trapped. What should he do? He didn't want to hurt their feelings, but he knew that without fully focusing on his exams and his dream, he might lose the opportunity of a lifetime.

After that conversation ended, Ryo walked home with a mix of emotions. The path ahead was becoming more unclear, and more choices awaited him. But one thing was certain—he had to make a decision soon, or he would lose the one great chance he had been striving for all this time.