Yuki No Furu Machi (The City Where Snow Falls)

The next day, Naomi was sitting at her seat, watching the clock as the first class was due to begin, but something was troubling her: neither the teacher nor Kotaro had arrived. She rested her face in the palm of her hand and averted her gaze to Kotaro's empty seat. Without a word to anyone, she opened her bag and looked at the package she had prepared the night before, remembering her own words.

- "Don't worry, I'll be glad to."

Minutes passed, and the professor still did not appear. Naomi scanned the room, feeling how the atmosphere around her contrasted with how she felt. Her classmates were chatting amongst themselves, animated and carefree, while she felt increasingly isolated, unable to integrate or form a friendship with anyone. Although she was not the only one without company, to her right, Akane was sitting alone, reading a book. Unlike Naomi, Akane's presence seemed to command respect, and her classmates preferred not to interrupt her.

Distressed, Naomi leaned back on her desk, hoping the teacher would arrive soon. Just as she closed her eyes, a voice called out to her.

- Naomi.

Raising her head quickly, she saw that it was Akane.

- Hello, Miyazawa... - Naomi replied.

- The teacher hasn't arrived yet. As a representative, you should find out what happened - commented Akane in a straightforward manner.

- Oh, yes... I'm sorry, you're right.

- But since it's only been ten minutes, I think you could take advantage of it and tell the class about the sports festival. You could organize the categories in which everyone is going to participate, as we decided yesterday - suggested Akane.

- Now...? - asked Naomi, surprised.

- So we don't waste time while the teacher arrives.

The very thought of standing up in front of the whole class made Naomi's stomach churn. She felt as if the distance between her station and the front of the class was endless. What was she going to say to them? Would they pay attention to her? With those doubts invading her mind, she slowly stood up.

Each step became heavier than the last, as his mind replayed over and over again, "Why is this happening to me? Why is this so hard for me? I just hope they will listen to me...". When he finally reached the front, his voice trembling and barely audible, he tried to speak.

- Co-fellows... - she murmured, but only the closest students could hear her. The rest were still chatting without paying attention to her. Naomi tried to raise her voice some more, but again she was ignored. At that moment, Makoto, who never missed a chance to tease her, noticed the situation and, instead of helping, decided to start talking louder to his friends, causing the laughter to increase.

Akane, watching from her post as they ignored Naomi, gave a faint smile. She waited a few more seconds, until she abruptly stood up, pushing her chair back, which caused a loud noise in the room.

- Fellows, please! Hanazawa has important information for all of you. Listen to her - said Akane, with an authority that made everyone keep silent.

Immediately, everyone went to their seats, while Akane walked to the front, placing herself next to Naomi to support her.

- Good morning, classmates. As you can see, the professor has not yet arrived. That's why we decided to take the opportunity to give you information about the sports festival to be held next week - said Akane confidently.

-Thank you, Miyazawa - stammered Naomi, trying to continue. - Yesterday it was established...

- Speak up, four-eyes! - interrupted Makoto, provoking laughter from some classmates. Naomi, embarrassed, tried to raise her voice more, though her discomfort was evident.

- Yesterday it was established that the festival will be held on Friday...d-during the whole day, and.... everyone must participate in at least one category.... The categories will be written on the board - Naomi finished, with great effort.

Akane began to write the activities on the board: races, team and individual games. Then she took the floor again, with much more confidence.

- As you can see, there are several options for participation. In addition, it is our turn to represent the blue team. The idea is that you choose the category where you feel you can perform best - he explained calmly.

All the students began to choose the categories in which they wanted to participate, some voluntarily and others by voting. After most of the categories were selected, there were only two left to fill.

- There are still the women's 100 meters and the men's 100 meters to go," announced Naomi, checking the board.

- Why isn't Akane participating in the 100 meters? She was last year's winner, we'll surely win with her," suggested a teammate, causing the others to agree and start asking Akane to run.

- Okay, I'd like to participate," replied Akane calmly, showing a slight smile of acceptance.

- Now all that's left is the male," announced Naomi, looking around the room. An awkward silence settled in. All the boys had already chosen a category. - Any volunteers, please? -she asked, waiting for an answer, but received only evasive glances.

Makoto, taking advantage of the silence, was quick to chime in with his mocking tone.

- Hey, four eyes! You said we should all participate, didn't you?

- Yes... that's right," replied Naomi, trying to keep her composure.

- So you and your beloved gang member haven't chosen yet. What are you waiting for? -said Makoto, making clear his intention to provoke.

Naomi, surprised, immediately looked towards Kotaro's empty seat. "Gang member?" she thought, as she felt the tension rising in the atmosphere. Some classmates began to murmur and support Makoto's idea, while insults towards Kotaro began to echo. Naomi felt the pressure mounting, unsure whether she should intervene or not. It hurt her to hear her classmates talk about Kotaro like that, but she didn't know if she should make that decision for him. She hesitated, her hands shaking and her heart racing, until she clenched her fists, determined to defend him. However, just as she was about to speak, Akane stepped forward.

- We should respect our partner," Akane said firmly and calmly. I'm sure that, if he were here, no one would dare talk about him like that. Let's not talk behind his back, because that only makes us look like cowards. And yes, I agree that he should participate, as we have been asked to get everyone to do so. So Hanazawa will let him know.

The hall fell silent at Akane's words. Her calm but determined tone had silenced everyone, and some felt embarrassed by what they had said. Naomi watched Akane, impressed by the way she had stood up for Kotaro, feeling a little envious of her confidence and assurance.

- Y.... I won't be able to participate in the games," said Naomi, picking up the conversation. As a representative, I will be part of the logistics of the festival.

Just as Naomi and Akane finished talking, the professor entered the room, visibly agitated.

- Good morning, guys, sorry I'm late," he said, as he settled in.

- Thank you for listening to us, that was all the information," Akane finished with a confident tone.

- Thank you, girls, for taking advantage of the time," commented the professor, gratefully.

Naomi walked back to her station, feeling a mixture of admiration and frustration towards Akane. "She's so determined and strong.... I wish I could be like that," she thought, lowering her gaze.

- Thanks for your help, Miyazawa," he said to Akane, with an attempt at a smile.

- It was nothing, but I don't understand how they chose you as a representative if you're not good for that," Akane replied coldly, without even looking at her.

- I'm so sorry," Naomi muttered, embarrassed, lowering her head again.

The school day passed quickly after that. At the end, Naomi handed in the day's report in the teachers' lounge. Exhausted, she went out into the hallway to head home. As she was walking, she ran into Saori.

- Nao! I was looking for you! You can go without me today, I'm going to stay for training. This beauty is going to participate in the festival race, and I'm going to win! -said Saori, with her usual enthusiasm and energy.

- Okay... I want to go to rest now, I haven't had a good day. See you," replied Naomi, discouraged.

As Naomi walked home, she couldn't stop thinking about the gift she had promised Kotaro and the notice of her participation in the sports festival. "Again in this situation, I don't know if I should go. Maybe I'll annoy him," she thought, as her feet already directed her unnoticed towards Kotaro's house. With each step, she remembered how awkward their last encounter had been. 

The very thought of the possibility of facing him again made her pause. She turned around, determined to return home, and to avoid regret, she quickened her pace. However, in her haste, she turned a corner and collided hard with someone, falling to the ground.

- Ouch!

- Sorry! -a familiar voice exclaimed.

- Sorry, I was distracted... -said Naomi, as she looked up and was met with surprise. - Kotaro!

- Naomi! -he replied, equally surprised.

- I'm... sorry, it wasn't intentional," said Naomi, quickly, as she tried to get up.

- Don't worry, I didn't see you, you appeared suddenly," replied Kotaro, offering her his hand.

- I... I'm sorry, I was too distracted," insisted Naomi, taking his hand to stand up, feeling embarrassed.

- Don't worry about it, but... What are you doing here, do you live in this area? -Kotaro asked, frowning slightly.

- Hey! I... no, no... -Naomi replied, flustered. "Now what do I do?" she thought, looking for an excuse.

- Are you alright? -Kotaro asked, noticing her discomfort.

- Sorry! -Naomi exclaimed, suddenly, and broke into an awkward run as if trying to escape the situation. However, it didn't last long before she tripped and fell again, this time face-first into the ground. - "Why me?" she thought, wishing the ground would swallow her up.

When she tried to get up, she saw Kotaro already approaching, and before she could say anything, Naomi, still kneeling, confessed:

- I'm sorry! I was going to your house, but I didn't know if you would get mad like last time," she admitted quickly, closing her eyes, expecting the worst.

When she dared to open them again, she found Kotaro crouching in front of her, holding out his hand.

- Are you all right? I told you not to apologize to me so much," said Kotaro, with a slight smile, as he helped Naomi up.

- I'm sorry," Naomi muttered, embarrassed, lowering her eyes.

- See, you did it again," Kotaro joked, making Naomi smile shyly.

After Kotaro helped her to her feet, they both stood in silence, not looking directly at each other. Several seconds passed before Kotaro broke the silence.

- Excuse me, but... Why were you going to my house? -he asked, curious.

- Uh... yes, I was going to bring you this," Naomi answered, hurrying to take something out of her bag. It's the dessert I promised your little sister.

- I see, thank you very much. I'm sure this will cheer her up," said Kotaro, with a somewhat distant expression.

- Will it cheer her up? Is she all right? -asked Naomi, worried.

- Yes, yes she's fine... We had a little problem, but it's nothing serious. Really, thank you for the dessert and for coming all this way. I promise I'll pay you back somehow.

- Don't worry, I gladly made it for her," Naomi replied, smiling sheepishly.

- Would you like me to walk you home? -asked Kotaro, surprisingly.

- Walk me home? -repeated Naomi, puzzled.

- Yes, it would be a way to thank you for the dessert," replied Kotaro, looking towards the road.

- Okay, I appreciate it," agreed Naomi, blushing.

They both started walking side by side, in an awkward silence. Naomi felt extremely nervous, desperately looking for a topic of conversation. From time to time, she would glance sideways at him, noticing how calm he seemed, although Kotaro, noticing her glances, turned to her.

- Is something wrong? -he asked, noticing her discomfort.

- Hey! No, no, nothing's wrong! -.... yes, I have something to tell you," she said, taking a breath. Next week is the sports festival and .... we have chosen you to participate in the 100-meter race.

Kotaro stopped his steps abruptly, and Naomi, noticing that he was no longer following her, stopped as well, turning to face him.

- They chose me? who? -Kotaro asked, his tone turning colder.

- Our classmates... -answered Naomi, feeling more nervous with every word.

- Why did they do it? -Kotaro asked, frowning.

- I-it's that everyone has to participate, it's the rule of the council. Since you weren't in class, you were the only one left to choose... that's why we chose you for the race," explained Naomi, trying to keep calm.

- I won't participate," answered Kotaro, categorically.

- But... everyone has to participate... -insisted Naomi, with a weaker tone.

- I said I won't," replied Kotaro, raising his voice slightly, which made Naomi take a step back.

- I'm sorry... -Naomi muttered, her voice breaking.

The silence that followed was thick. Kotaro remained motionless, while Naomi, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, searched for a way to smooth the situation.

- Can I... can I know why you don't want to participate? -Naomi dared to ask, breaking the silence.

- You don't need to know that," answered Kotaro, colder than before.

Those words deeply hurt Naomi, who bowed her head, hugging herself. Kotaro, seeing her reaction, took a deep breath and spoke in a softer tone.

- I'm sorry... I shouldn't have responded to you like that. It's just that I don't have good experiences with people, especially at school. I was... mistreated by my classmates in high school," Kotaro confessed, his gaze now more distant.

- But... but that's over now, isn't it? -Maybe this school will be different, it won't always be like that.... -Her voice trembled with insecurity, but she wanted to convey hope.

- And what do you know about that? -Kotaro replied, with a harsh tone. You, who are always quiet, who don't talk to anyone, who don't stand out in anything. How can you know what it's like to be bothered if no one even notices you? -the words came out loaded with frustration.

Naomi, hurt by his words, lowered her head and remained silent, her hands clasped against her chest. Kotaro, realizing what she had said, sighed deeply.

- I have to go... -Kotaro said, turning his back on her. Thank you for the dessert, and please don't tell anyone about this. Find someone else for the race.

Naomi just nodded, her shoulders slumped. Kotaro walked away, leaving Naomi alone, trying to hold back tears.