"WHYYYY!!!"
The shout echoed through the quiet hostel corridors, breaking the stillness of the night.
Inside his room, Izumi stood with his phone in hand, frustration written all over his face.
He was a third-year high school student, just one and a half months away from graduation. Most students would be excited—but not him.
Not tonight.
"…This doesn't make any sense," he muttered under his breath.
A few seconds earlier, he had been on a call with his parents—who were currently living far away from his hometown.
And the result?
A straight rejection.
"I told you already," his father, Mr. Stephen, had said firmly over the phone. "I won't be able to take leave and come pick you up."
"I can come by myself," Izumi insisted.
"You're still too young to travel alone," his father replied without hesitation. "It's not safe."
"…But—"
"No, Izumi. You'll stay with your grandfather during your vacation. That's final."
The call ended.
Just like that.
Izumi slowly lowered his phone,
staring at the dark screen.
"…Seriously…?"
He fell back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Until his chest tightened.
"…This is so unfair…"
[Next Day — School]
Izumi sat quietly at his desk, his chin resting on his hand.
He hadn't spoken much since morning.
Not that it was unusual.
But today—
Something felt off.
"…Oi."
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Mark.
"…You look dead," Mark said, pulling a chair and sitting beside him.
"…Thanks."
"…I'm serious."
"…I know."
At lunch break, Mark dragged Izumi out of the classroom.
"…Come on, let's eat."
"…I'm not hungry."
"…You never skip food."
"…I said I'm not hungry."
Mark stopped walking.
Then grabbed Izumi's wrist and pulled him toward a quieter corner of the campus.
"…Alright, enough."
Izumi looked at him.
"…What?"
"…What's wrong with you?"
"…Nothing."
"…Don't lie."
Silence.
"…You've been acting weird since morning," Mark continued. "Something happened, right?"
Izumi hesitated.
Then sighed.
"…I talked to my parents yesterday."
"…And?"
"…They said I can't visit them during vacation."
"…That's it?"
"…That's not 'it'."
Mark crossed his arms.
"…Then what's the real problem?"
Izumi looked away.
"…They want me to stay with my grandfather."
"…That's not bad."
No response.
"…Hey," Mark's voice grew sharper. "Why are you so against it?"
Still nothing.
"…Is there some problem or what?"
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Izumi took a deep breath.
Then finally spoke—
"…I like someone."
Mark blinked.
"…What?"
"…There's a girl…"
Now Mark was fully focused.
"…Okay… go on."
"She's going to leave this city in one and a half months," Izumi continued. "And after that… she'll be near the place where my parents are working."
"…So?"
"…I need to go there."
Mark stared at him.
Processing.
"…Wait… you want to travel all that way just to confess?"
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…You're serious."
"…I am."
Mark scratched his head.
"…Then just confess now?"
Izumi shook his head.
"…I can't."
"…Why not?"
"…I don't know where she lives."
"…You're kidding."
"…I'm not."
Mark sighed deeply.
"…You're unbelievable."
Just then—
"Are you guys done chatting?"
Both of them turned.
Ken stood there, arms crossed.
"…Lunch break's over," he added.
They both froze.
"…Wait—WHAT?"
[Evening — Hostel Room]
Back in his room, Izumi checked his phone.
A missed call.
From his grandfather.
"…Oh."
Then suddenly—
Something clicked.
"…Wait…"
His father's words echoed in his mind.
"You can't come alone."
"…That means…"
"…I can go… if someone comes with me."
A slow smile formed on his face.
He quickly grabbed his phone and called Mark.
"…I won't be coming to school for a few days."
"…What?" Mark sounded confused.
"…I'm going to my grandfather's place."
"…You're planning something, aren't you?"
"…Maybe."
"…I don't trust that 'maybe'."
Izumi chuckled lightly.
"…Anyway… wish me luck."
"…Yeah… good luck, man."
[Next Morning — Grandfather's House]
The sun had barely risen when Izumi arrived.
The air felt fresh.
Calm.
He saw his grandfather outside, watering plants.
"…Grandpa."
The old man turned.
Then smiled.
"…It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"…Yeah," Izumi smiled back. "I think I got taller."
"…Hmm… a little."
They both laughed.
Inside, they sat together with tea.
Time passed quickly.
Later, when they were alone, Izumi spoke.
"…Grandpa… I need a favor."
"…What is it?"
"I want to go meet my parents."
His grandfather listened quietly.
"They won't allow me unless someone comes with me," Izumi continued. "…So I was thinking…"
A pause.
"…Can you come with me?"
His grandfather sighed softly.
"…I wish I could."
Izumi's expression fell.
"But you know my condition," he added. "Traveling like that isn't easy for me anymore."
Silence.
"…I understand…"
Then—
"…I wish you had an elder brother."
Izumi blinked.
"…Wait…"
His eyes widened.
"…That's it!"
"…What?"
"…Goutham!"
His grandfather smiled slightly.
"…Ah… that might work."
[Phone Call — Goutham]
"…Hello?"
"…Hey! Long time no talk!"
"…Two years."
"…Yeah… that long."
"…So?"
Izumi didn't waste time.
"…Come with me to meet our parents."
"…No."
Silence.
"…You're joking, right?"
"…I'm not."
"…Why not?"
"…I have plans here."
"…But—"
Call ended.
Izumi stared at his phone.
"…Seriously…?"
[Goutham's Side]
"…That was harsh…"
Goutham leaned back, sighing.
Then—
"You should go."
He turned.
His grandmother stood behind him.
"…You haven't seen your parents in years."
He stayed silent.
Then—
A memory.
Selena.
"…I never got to confess…"
He clenched his fist.
"…Maybe…"
He picked up his phone.
[Final Call]
"…Hello?"
"…I'm coming."
Izumi froze.
"…Really?"
"…Yeah. Just tell me when you book the tickets."
A smile spread across Izumi's face.
"….Got it."
For the first time—
Things were finally starting to move forward.