Mr. Pretender

The sun hung low in the sky, painting the world in shades of gold and crimson as Kiyoshi and Takashi walked toward the staircase with his friends behind them.

As they reached the point where their paths diverged, Takashi turned, his confident grin intact.

"Alright, I'll see you around. My section's this way," he said, waving casually.

Kiyoshi nodded but remained silent, his thoughts a labyrinth of schemes and emotions.

He ascended the stairs to Section B, his movements mechanical, driven more by routine than intention.

The day unfolded like a blurred painting—colors merging without form.

Classes passed, voices droned, and yet Kiyoshi's mind clung to Aiko, weaving intricate plans like a spider spinning its web.

---

The Gathering Crowd

The final bell rang, releasing students into the twilight.

Kiyoshi, flanked by Ryo and Yuta, walked the familiar path toward the boys' hostel. The corridor buzzed with the hum of conversations, laughter, and the shuffle of footsteps.

But something unusual broke the monotony. A dense crowd of girls moved toward the girls' hostel, their voices an orchestra of excitement.

The scene was alive with energy, unlike the routine dispersal of students.

Kiyoshi's steps slowed as his gaze locked onto the crowd.

He squinted, focusing on the source of the commotion. The world around him seemed to dissolve, leaving only a single figure in sharp clarity.

Yuri.

She walked at the center of the group, her presence like the sun, drawing planets into her orbit. Her smile was radiant, disarming, and utterly enchanting, commanding attention effortlessly.

Kiyoshi's heart skipped a beat. His mind reeled as if struck by a sudden storm.

"Why is she here?" his pulse quickening.

The shadows of his past surged forward, drowning him in memories he'd buried deep.

Her laughter echoed faintly in the distance, but to him, it was a haunting melody. The kind that lingered long after the music had stopped.

Ryo's voice pulled him back to the present. "Hey, did you guys see the new girl in Section A?"

Yuta looked intrigued. "A new girl? In the middle of the year? That's unusual."

"Yeah," Ryo said, grinning. "She's cute, friendly, and smart. I heard she's kind of like you, Kiyoshi."

Kiyoshi's head snapped toward Ryo, his voice sharper than he intended. "She's nothing like me."

Ryo and Yuta exchanged knowing looks, their teasing smirks igniting.

"Whoa, someone's defensive!" Ryo teased.

"Yeah, why so annoyed, Kiyoshi?" Yuta added, chuckling.

Kiyoshi clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he stared at the fading silhouette of Yuri in the distance.

"She isn't the one like me," his mind a tempest of emotion.

"I'm the one like her."

"She's the original flame, and I'm just the shadow chasing her light, forever trying to catch-up, knowing I never will."

A memory surfaced—an uninvited ghost.

He saw them again, himself and Yuri, walking side by side on a quiet, endless road.

The sun bathed the world in a gentle glow, and their laughter filled the air like a symphony meant only for them.

---

The present yanked him back as the last of the girls disappeared into the massive building of the girls' hostel.

Kiyoshi turned away, his face unreadable, and walked into his own building.

Room 511 loomed before him. He opened the door, his friends' voices fading into the hallway as he mumbled a quick goodbye.

The door clicked shut. The lock turned. And then, the mask fell.

Kiyoshi gripped his head, his fingers digging into his scalp. His expression contorted with frustration, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

"Why is she here?" he muttered under his breath.

His pacing quickened, his movements restless. "What does she want? Why now? After all this time…" His voice cracked slightly, the weight of his emotions threatening to crush him.

He slammed his fist against the desk, the sound reverberating through the room. "Damn it! Why now, Yuri..?"

---

Flashback

The scene shifted, bathed in the golden hues of a setting sun. A young Kiyoshi walked alone on a serene, endless road a huge jungle in one side and village in another.

The world was quiet, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and his steady footsteps.

"Hey, Kiyoshi! Wait for me!"

Her voice pierced the stillness, carrying a melody of innocence and joy. He turned slowly, and there she was—

Yuri, her smile pure and radiant, her presence lighting up the entire world.

Kiyoshi's heart ached as he watched the memory unfold.

"That was the biggest mistake of my life,"

He thought as he layed on his bed with a calm expression.

"If only I had ignored her, kept walking, never looking back... I wouldn't be drowning in this hell."

---

The next morning, Kiyoshi laced up his shoes, his movements deliberate.

On the way to track, three boys—Hiro, Tatsuya, and Kenji—stretched, chatting animatedly.

"Did you guys know? Girls are coming for morning walks today, I've been talking to girls in massages lately" Hiro said, grinning.

"Yeah, as if you're the only one who knows it," Tatsuya joked.

"Other extra 6 guys were preparing for the morning workout in the passage today." Hiro added.

Kenji laughed. "It's not fitness; it's flirting disguised as jogging."

Kiyoshi joined them, his usual stoic demeanor intact.

"Look who decided to show up," Hiro teased. "Here for the workout or the girls?"

"You've never come before," Tatsuya added with a smirk. "But now that girls are showing up…"

The group laughed, their voices echoing. Kiyoshi smirked faintly. "If I were here for anyone, you'd be the last to know."

---

As they got there a huge ground of 200m radius showed up.

The ground was filled with girls and other athelatic boys. Doing their workout.

On the track, the group began running.

As the laps wore on, Hiro started to fall behind, panting.

"I can't go anymore, guys!" he shouted.

"Don't stop! Keep moving!" Tatsuya called over his shoulder.

Kiyoshi ran with ease, his breath steady.

The strongest runner in the group, Riku, glanced at him and smirked.

"Not bad, Kiyoshi," he said, increasing his pace.

Kiyoshi grinned. "Is that so?" He matched Riku's speed effortlessly.

The crowd around the track began to notice their rivalry.

Students cheered, their excitement building with every stride. "Go, go, go!" someone shouted.

The final stretch approached—200 meters left. The two runners pushed harder, each refusing to let the other gain an edge.

"Come on, Riku!" someone yelled.

"Kiyoshi, don't let him win!"

As they entered the straight stretch,

"Now's the time. Just a little faster, and

I'll Win." Kiyoshi thought as he was starting to struggle with his breathing.

But as he pushed himself, his foot caught awkwardly, and he stumbled. The world tilted, and he fell hard onto the track.

The crowd gasped in unison.

----

A crowed surrounded him quickly. Checking on him.

"Kiyoshi, are you okay?" A soft, worried voice broke through the commotion.

Kiyoshi opened his eyes, his vision blurry.

He saw her—Yuri—kneeling beside him, her hand extended. Her face held genuine concern, her demeanor warm and friendly.

For a moment, Kiyoshi stared at her, then a faint smirk tugged at his lips.

"BINGO."

To be continued...