[Scene 1: Whispers in the Classroom]
The next morning there was unusual noise in the class. As soon as Aya entered the room, she felt that the girls were saying something in each other's ears and the boys were suppressing their laughter.
"I heard Kawashima and Haruto were sitting together in the library!"
"Is it true that both of them…?"
"Can't believe it. She is everyone's favorite, then why would she spend time with him?"
Aya's steps stopped. She felt a strange kind of burden in her heart. She saw that Ryo was sitting at his seat completely indifferent, as if he didn't care about anything.
[Scene 2: Miko's Worry]
Miko held Aya's hand and took her aside.
"Aya! What is going on? Everyone is talking about you. That boy is absolutely not right for you. If you are seen with him, people will think you are the same as him."
Aya softly said:
"Miko… he is not as bad as people think. Yesterday I saw him… he was drawing."
Miko sighed:
"Drawing? So what? Aya, you don't know, his reputation is very bad. I don't want you to lose your image because of him."
Aya smiled in reply, but somewhere inside her heart she became confused.
"Am I really doing wrong? Or are people just thinking wrong about him?"
[Scene 3: Ryo's Attitude]
At noon Aya gathered courage and went to Ryo and said:
"Do you know what people are saying about us?"
Ryo closed the book and shrugged his shoulders.
"I know. But I don't care."
"But I do care!" For the first time Aya used a slightly firm tone.
"I have always wanted people to remember me in a good way. And now if they are connecting me with you then—"
Ryo cut her words.
"So what? If you care so much about what people think, then don't come near me."
Aya became silent. She looked into Ryo's eyes, there was a strange emptiness there. As if long ago he had already become indifferent to people's opinions.
[Scene 4: Evening of Loneliness]
That evening Aya was sitting alone on the school rooftop. The wind was blowing strong and the sun was setting.
"I have always smiled for others… always tried to become everyone's favorite. But when for the first time someone forced me to speak truthfully… it was Ryo."
There was restlessness in her heart, but along with it a slight attraction as well.
[Scene 5: First Defense]
The next day a girl loudly said in the class:
"Kawashima, a girl like you should not be with a boy like Haruto. He will ruin your respect!"
The room became silent for a moment. Everyone's eyes were on Aya.
Aya took a deep breath and for the first time clearly said in front of everyone:
"You people talk about Ryo without knowing him. I have seen with my own eyes that he is more hardworking and talented than all of you. If you don't know the truth, then it's better you stay quiet."
The class was shocked. Miko looked at Aya with worry, and Ryo… for the first time, a faint smile appeared on his face.
[Scene 6: Ryo's Thanks]
After that day, when everyone had left the class, Ryo came near Aya.
"You didn't need to say all that."
Aya softly said:
"Sometimes truth has to be spoken. Otherwise rumors change us."
Ryo slightly lowered his eyes and slowly said:
"Thank you… Kawashima."
This was the first time when in Ryo's tone there was not coldness but gentleness.
📖 End of Chapter 3