The Gal Sitting Next to Me Hated Me Very Much

It's been five months since Hinata and I started dating. Everything between us was going just fine—our dates, our conversations, our moments of laughter. It felt... natural, like this was how things were meant to be. 

Until that night. 

"I need to tell you something," Hinata said, her voice unusually serious. Her sharp gaze pierced through the soft glow of my room's light. 

"Y-yeah?" I stammered, unsure what to expect. 

"Um…" She hesitated, her expression wavering like she was searching for the right words. 

"Hinata?" I asked softly, leaning forward. 

"Yukito… I want us to break up." 

… 

…

2 December

The cold wind swept through the streets of Shinjuku, painting the city in hues of frost. As second-year students, we found ourselves buried under the weight of final exams. The chilling air had forced everyone to bundle up in scarves and jackets. 

"Haa… It's freezing," Hinata said, her breath visible in the air. My gaze shifted to the seat beside me. There she was—Futaba Hinata, my girlfriend. Her presence alone had always brought me comfort, even now. 

"Are you okay?" I whispered, trying not to draw the teacher's attention. 

Hinata turned to me with a faint smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for asking." 

I nodded and returned to my exam paper, focusing on filling in answers I had crammed for the night before. 

...

The chime rang out, signaling the end of the exam. The teacher instructed us to submit our answer sheets, and with that, the tension in the room dissolved. 

"Let's celebrate!" someone called out after class. 

A group of us decided to hit a karaoke place to mark the end of exams. Naturally, Hinata and I tagged along. As we walked, laughter and chatter filled the air, but between Hinata and me, silence lingered. 

Our classmates seemed to notice. They subtly gave us space, walking ahead while glancing back at us occasionally. 

"They're considerate, aren't they?" I said, breaking the awkward quiet. 

"Haha, yeah…" Hinata replied, her voice soft, her smile delicate. 

The cold air nipped at my skin. Without thinking, I reached out. "Here, give me your hand." 

Hinata blinked in surprise but slowly extended her hand. I grabbed it and slipped it into the pocket of my jacket, the warmth of her fingers meeting mine. 

"Thank you, Yukito-kun," she murmured, her cheeks tinged pink, though I wasn't sure if it was from the cold or something else. 

I said nothing, only responding with a small smile.

…

At the karaoke, the large group meant splitting into multiple rooms. By some twist of fate—or Shuuta's scheming—Hinata and I ended up in the same room. 

"Aki-kun, how did you and Futaba-san start dating?" a girl from our class asked, leaning forward with curiosity. 

"Yeah, spill the details! Everyone remembers how you two used to bicker all the time," another chimed in. 

"Well…" I scratched my cheek awkwardly. "I think I'll let Hinata tell you that." 

"Eh?!" Hinata shot me a sharp glare. 

Before she could unleash her fury, I slipped out of the room with the excuse of getting some air. 

…

I sat in the lobby, scrolling through my phone. A message from Yumi popped up. 

[Big bro, when are you coming home? Buy me some ice cream, okay? Love ya! ❤️] 

"Seriously…" I muttered, shaking my head at her shameless request. 

"You are…" 

A voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see a familiar figure standing in front of me. 

"Ohtani-san?" 

"As I thought, it's you, Aki Yukito-kun," she said with a teasing smile. 

"Please don't say my full name like that," I replied with a sigh. 

She glanced at her uniform—a karaoke staff outfit. "Surprised? I work part-time here." 

"Figures," I said, nodding. 

The silence between us was interrupted only by the faint hum of the heater and the occasional sound of laughter echoing from the rooms. 

"How's Hinata doing?" Ohtani asked, her tone suddenly serious. 

"She's fine. She passed the exams, as usual," I said cautiously. 

"Sounds like her." Ohtani smiled, though there was something bittersweet in her expression. 

Before I could say more, Hinata's voice called out from behind me. 

"Yukito-kun?" 

I turned to see her standing there, eyes wide with confusion as she glanced between Ohtani and me. 

"Hinata…" 

Ohtani gave me a knowing look before stepping away. "I'll leave you two to it." 

As she walked off, Hinata crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on me. "What were you doing with her?" 

"She just works here," I explained. 

"That's not what I meant!" Her voice cracked slightly, her frustration spilling out. 

"Hinata, calm down—" 

"Forget it!" she snapped, spinning on her heel and storming toward the exit. 

"Wait! Hinata!" I called after her, but my voice barely reached. 

She disappeared into the December night, leaving me behind in the cold, biting air.