At 5 PM, the meeting room that had just hosted the second round of discussions on the cultural festival finally quieted down. Only the soft murmurs of the student council vice president handling trivial matters and the faint scratching of pens on paper remained.
On the right sat a second-year middle school student in uniform, organizing the meeting notes. He seemed troubled, often rubbing his chin in thought or casting glances at the student council vice president beside him.
In the far right corner of the room, a beautiful girl with golden-pink hair was speaking to someone nearby. Her poised demeanor left a strong impression, and the occasional smiles she showed stirred the boy's heart.
Perhaps responding to an interesting suggestion, her sea-blue eyes were filled with laughter. Her impressive figure made her every gesture captivating. Though he had heard that the school's vice president, Ichinose Honami, was renowned for her beauty and sociability, this was his first time interacting with her up close since being chosen as the class's festival committee representative.
After the initial awe faded, he quickly became infatuated. Throughout the meeting, he had done his best to make suggestions and contribute, feeling energized every time Ichinose's sparkling eyes lingered on him for even a second.
Disappointingly, although Ichinose Honami was not cold or distant—in fact, she was kind and gentle to everyone—she still gave off a sense of mechanical politeness. Perhaps it was just his wishful thinking that he could be treated more specially.
It was about time.
From the past few days of observation, he knew that Ichinose usually left around 6 PM, exiting through the school's east gate and taking the subway from the nearest station.
As expected, just after the clock passed 6, Ichinose said her farewells. The boy swiftly packed his things and followed, hoping to speak to her alone, to at least become friends.
Sudden love stories only happened in romance manga.
With that in mind, he slowed down after catching sight of Ichinose's back, keeping a moderate distance.
It seemed like she was on a call.
Noticing her action, he halted again. Unlike her cheerful demeanor in the meeting, Ichinose looked a bit troubled as she spoke on the phone. Her lips pressed tightly together, and she lightly bit her lower lip. The boy almost instinctively wanted to comfort her.
"Okay, I got it."
Ichinose hung up. The boy noticed they had already exited the east gate. Just as he mustered his courage to approach her with a casual "Is something bothering you, Ichinose-san?", a black Mercedes S600 pulled up in front of her.
The boy in the passenger seat rolled down the window and waved. Ichinose opened the back door and got in, leaving the boy with nothing but tail lights and a trail of exhaust.
"Her boyfriend came to pick her up again."
"He's not her boyfriend. They're just childhood friends. I heard he's the student council president at some prestigious private school and the captain of the soccer team."
"Isn't that school super famous?"
"Plus, his family is rich."
"And he's handsome."
Nearby girls gossiped nonchalantly, but the boy standing there experienced his first heartbreak.
-------------------------------------
After rolling up the window, the inside of the car became a sealed space. Their breathing felt loud and distinct. Ichinose's anxious and unsettled sighs were especially noticeable.
"It's gotten cooler today. Keep warm."
Autumn had arrived. Kitagawa Ryo spoke gently. With his head tilted to the right, Ichinose couldn't see his expression from the back seat. His concern came through like lukewarm syrup.
"Mm."
Ichinose gave a soft reply and looked out the window. She knew where they were headed.
"Hotaru lived to nine. That's already impressive for a cat."
After a brief silence, she was the one to speak first.
"Yeah."
This time, Ryo's voice was light as smoke, as if it might disappear in the next moment.
"Where do you plan to bury her?"
"She's your cat."
"She's our cat."
"I gave her to you."
After this short and urgent exchange, Ryo clicked his tongue heavily.
The car soon stopped at an abandoned park. Ryo and Ichinose got out. He carried a cardboard box.
Withered plants and thick layers of fallen leaves filled the desolate park. The crunch beneath their feet sounded like shattered glass—sharp, cold, and unbearable.
"We used to come here a lot as kids."
Ichinose looked at an old phoenix tree. Two shovels had been placed beneath it.
"Hotaru loved chasing birds there, though she never caught any."
Ryo placed the box on the ground and squatted silently for a while.
The autumn grass had yellowed. Unkempt wild weeds grew wildly. Ryo half-knelt and began digging. Leaves spun down in the wind, falling on his head and shoulders.
Ichinose gently brushed the leaves off his shoulder. She seemed to want to say or do something—maybe pat his back or hug him or offer comforting words.
In the end, she picked up the second shovel and dug with him.
The white cat named Hotaru no longer moved. She was gently laid in the small pit, looking pure and peaceful. Ryo looked up. His eyes, like freshly polished glass, held the entire blue sky.
"I remember when I first found Hotaru, she was this small. She never really grew."
He began filling the hole with soil. The pale dirt slowly buried the white body, like watching an apple oxidize into ugliness.
"It was raining then. You were soaked when you brought her to my house."
Ichinose moved even faster than Ryo, thinking that the sooner they finished, the sooner he might feel better.
"Say a few words."
Soon, the last handful of dirt was added. A small mound appeared.
Ryo childishly threw the shovel aside and crouched, hugging his knees.
When he came to, he realized he was crying. And once he acknowledged it, he wept freely. Tears fell, seeping into the soil.
He suddenly wanted to dig the grave back open, thinking Hotaru might be waiting for him, just like in the rain-soaked box long ago, ready to blink her glowing eyes and step on his hand again.
"Ryo…"
Ichinose called his name, clearly flustered. In fifteen years, she had never seen him lose control like this.
"Hey, Honami."
He sniffled, voice raspy and exhausted.
"What did Hotaru mean to you?"
"…A very good cat."
"Maki loved her. Mom sometimes complained, but she didn't hate her. She even brought snacks now and then."
"And you gave her to me as a birthday present. I was happy."
Ryo stood. Once, he was the boy who feared being patted on the head, afraid he wouldn't grow. Now, he towered over her.
"Honami, did you love Hotaru?"
"…Of course I did."
"Then why bring others into it? If Maki didn't like her, would you not like her either?"
"Does my opinion matter that much? And Maki isn't 'others.'"
"Because she's your cat!"
Frustrated, Ryo grabbed his hair and shouted.
"I don't understand. Hotaru was found by you and raised by us. What's wrong with that?"
"Whew…"
He exhaled deeply to calm himself.
"Even without me, didn't you want to take her home from the start?"
"I'd never do that. Taking her home would only cause trouble."
Recalling that rainy day, Ichinose denied it.
"That's why…"
Ryo gave a bitter smile, leaning against the tree.
"Ichinose Honami is always the sensible one."
He gazed at her from head to toe.
"The perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect vice president. Even if not now, someday, she'll be everything."
"But not the perfect… childhood friend."
He pulled out a small hairpin from his pocket.
"Maki really wants this."
"But if I gave it, you wouldn't accept it, would you?"
He put it back.
"Because you know Maki won't beg. You trust she'll understand, since you're smart, pretty, kind, hardworking. You're perfect."
"But if one day Maki does cry and beg, you'll make it happen, right?"
"What are you trying to say, Ryo?"
She was stunned. His sarcastic tone was hard to believe.
"I thought even if Maki didn't get it, you of all people would."
"I do. I've known you just as long. Our lives have always intertwined."
Ryo stared into her eyes.
The sunset glowed red, but her sea-blue eyes reflected his burning heart.
[Because I know you, I ache for you.]
"Honami."
"Mm?"
"You know Maki confessed to me?"
"Yes."
"No reaction?"
"She's just a child. You rejected her, didn't you?"
"No."
Ryo shook his head, smiling.
"I rejected her because I like someone else. Her name is Ichinose Honami."
"Kitagawa Ryo likes Ichinose Honami."
He said it again, waiting quietly.
[No.]
Those were the words Honami had heard countless times from her mother.
Pretty hairpin? No.
Nice stationery? No.
Adopt a cat? Of course not.
Her mother's lips could easily kill any desire.
But at the same time, she taught Honami to be someone others could rely on. That meant always saying yes to others.
Can you do class duty? Yes.
Can you tutor? Yes.
Join the student council? Of course.
Her mind blanked.
She looked at Ryo, like the kitten who once struggled to lift its head to see her.
Their eyes—so alike. So beautiful.
"No… I can't."
Ryo heard her answer.
"Yeah, it's okay."
He said, stumbling away.
[Goodbye, Hotaru. Goodbye.]
Ichinose watched his back. She could've chased after him.
But her legs gave out—or maybe she didn't know what chasing would change.
She bit her lip, nearly white from the pressure. In the end, she didn't chase him. She looked at the little grave one more time, then turned and left.
[I like the cat he gave me. I like cats. I like him.]
[But today, I'm still like a satellite, orbiting the words I want to say, only ever responding.]
[CG Scene: She and His Cat – Complete]