THE FORGOTTEN SPRING

CHAPTER 3

"THE FORGOTTEN SPRING"

by: Dark Flame Master

KAI'S POV

I really don’t want to go to school today. PE class is the worst. Why does it even exist? But skipping isn’t an option, so here I am, forcing myself out of bed.

“Mom, where’s Dad?” I asked as I sat down at the kitchen table and started eating breakfast.

“He’s in the bath,” Mom said as she set my bento on the table. “By the way, he wanted to give you something last night, but you were already asleep.”

I glanced at her, feeling a little guilty. “Actually, I wasn’t asleep. I was just too tired to get up,” I admitted.

A few minutes later, Dad came out of the bath. He saw me at the table and walked toward me with this excited look on his face. But then, as if he remembered something, he turned around and headed to their room. When he came back, he was holding a plastic bag.

“Kai, mite! Kore, mezurashii anime figure da yo." (A/N: Kai, look! It’s a rare anime figure) he said, grinning like a kid. “Kou iu no suki dayo ne.” (A/N: You like stuff like this right)

Dad was more excited than I was, but that’s just how he is. I smiled and stood up to give him a hug. “Arigatou, Dad.”

Honestly, I’m not that into figures, but I know he just wants to make me happy, and I appreciate that.

“Ittekimasu,” (A/N: I'm going now) he said, kissing Mom on the cheek before whining, “Honey, Shigoto....ikitakunai yo. Tada kimi to koko ni itai dake.” (A/N: Honey, I don’t want to go to work. I just want to stay here with you.)

“Dad, Chikoku suru yo,” (A/N: Dad, you're going to be late) I said, trying to hide my smile as Mom gave him a playful slap on the shoulder.

“Go now,” she said, laughing as she kissed him back.

They’re always like this—so showy with their affection. It’s embarrassing sometimes, but deep down, I don’t hate it. It makes me wonder if I’ll ever be able to do something like that with someone.

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“Hana, why are you staring at me like that?” I asked as I walked into the classroom.

“Kai, why are you dressed like that again?” she said, frowning at my choice of clothes.

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” I asked, pulling at my jacket.

Kerk rolled his eyes as he put sunscreen on his face. “Hana-chan, haven’t you figured it out by now? Kai wears this all the time. Today’s PE day, remember?”

“Exactly!” Cyrus said as he joined the conversation. “Kai, I know you like your mask and turtlenecks, but do you really need to wear a thick jacket on top of it? We’re playing basketball today, for crying out loud!”

“Say whatever you want. I don’t care,” I replied, pulling my jacket tighter around me. Why does everyone always have something to say about my clothes? Can’t they just leave me alone?

After the first period, it was time for PE. The girls always get to change in the classroom first, while the guys wait. But I don’t change with them—I always head to the bathroom instead. Taking off my mask is uncomfortable, but it’s required during PE, so I had no choice.

In the bathroom, I looked in the mirror, combing my hair with my hands to cover my eyes as much as possible. It wasn’t much, but it made me feel a little less exposed.

When I got to the gym, Kerk and Cyrus were already waving at me. I jogged over to them, and soon, the game began. As usual, no one passed me the ball except for Cyrus and Kerk. Not that it mattered—I always missed the shots anyway. I could feel my classmates’ annoyance, their stares burning into me.

The discomfort of not wearing my mask made it even worse. I caught a glimpse of Eli sitting on the sidelines, smiling and chatting with her friends. She looked so cute, as always.

“Kai! Watch out!” someone shouted.

I turned just in time for the ball to smack me right in the face. The pain wasn’t the worst part—it was the embarrassment. I wish Eli didn’t see that. My classmates started walking toward me, and panic surged through me. Thankfully, Cyrus stepped in, telling them to back off.

“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, crouching down beside me.

“I’m fine,” I muttered, sitting up. I got to my feet and made my way to the clinic.

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As I was about to leave the clinic, the door opened, and Hana, Kerk, and Cyrus walked in.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Hana asked, with a worried expression.

“Hehe… I’m fine,” I said, trying to reassure them.

“Here, take this,” Hana said, handing me a new mask.

“Thanks,” I replied, slipping it on gratefully.

“Oh, and here’s your uniform,” Kerk added, holding out my regular clothes. “You should change. Your PE uniform has blood on it.”

I looked at the three of them standing there, genuinely worried about me, and that familiar pang of guilt hit me. Times like this are when I feel guilty because I know they’re good people. They treat me well, better than I deserve, yet I can’t fully see them as friends. It’s something I hate about myself, but I just can’t change how I feel.

“Thanks, guys,” I said quietly, trying to hide the conflict swirling inside me. They smiled, and for a moment, I felt a little lighter.

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Lunch came, and we headed to the cafeteria. As usual, I saved us a spot while they bought their food. I always brought a bento from home, so I didn’t have to deal with the long lines.

Once we were all seated, Hana leaned in, her mischievous grin making me uneasy. “Hey, Kai, I have some bad news for you,” she said, snatching a piece of karaage from my bento.

“What is it? And stop stealing my food!” I snapped, glaring at her.

“Don’t be sad, okay?” she said, ignoring my protest.

“What is it?” I asked again, feeling a bit on edge.

“Well,” she began, dragging it out for dramatic effect. “I was sitting near Eli earlier, and I overheard her friends asking her about a guy she was with. They ask if she is going out with him. And you know what she said? She smiled and said, ‘Maybe. Maybe not.’”

Kerk choked on his water, coughing loudly before blurting out, “Wait, Eli? As in our classmate Eli? The one Kai likes?”

I felt my stomach drop, but I forced myself to stay calm. “R-really?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“Yup,” Hana said. “She smiled while saying it too. Isn’t that suspicious?”

“Oh, come on, Hana-chan,” Cyrus said, rolling his eyes. “She didn’t even confirm anything. Stop jumping to conclusions.”

“I’m telling you, she’s going out with someone,” Hana insisted, pointing her chopsticks at Cyrus. “Why else would she smile like that?”

“Let’s just stop talking about it,” I said quietly. The table fell silent after that.

I poked at my food, the appetite I had earlier completely gone. It’s fine, I told myself. I always knew Eli was out of my league. She’s kind, beautiful, and everyone loves her. Of course, someone would’ve noticed her before I even got the chance.

“It’s fine,” I muttered to myself, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. As I walked home, I thought about what Hana had said. It’s not like I ever had a real chance with Eli. I’ve always known that. But knowing and accepting are two different things, and right now, I was struggling with the latter.

By the time I reached our house, I was exhausted—physically and emotionally. “Mom, I’m home,” I called out as I stepped inside.

“Welcome home!” Mom greeted me with her usual warm smile. “Are you hungry? Dinner is almost ready.”

I shook my head. “I’m just going to my room.”

“Alright,” she said, though I could see the concern in her eyes.

Once I was in my room, I dropped onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling. “It’s fine,” I whispered to myself again. “I’m fine." But deep down, I wasn’t sure if I believed it.