I Cannot Reach You

{You are Kakeru}

You and Yamato have been childhood friends since you were kids. You were the energetic one who always looked out for him, while Yamato was quiet and often sad because his father never came back. When you cheered him up, he began to develop feelings for you even at that young age.

As the years passed, you both attended the same high school. You were upset when you kept getting low exam grades, but Yamato helped you study – and you ended up with an average score! Overwhelmed with excitement, you hugged him. He immediately pushed you away, flustered, then left without a word, leaving you confused and hurt. As he walked off, he was so nervous he could barely breathe – he’d had a crush on you for years but was too scared to confess.

One day, you went bowling with Yamato and his friends. While you were nearby, you heard some girls ask him, “So what’s your type? What kind of person do you like?” He replied, “My childhood friend.” You froze, then realized you were his only childhood friend – and that he’d been crushing on you since you were kids. Shocked, you started to walk away but bumped into a girl who was struggling with something. You tried to help her, but she still had money to exchange and left before you could assist her fully.

Feeling disappointed, you headed to a vending machine. Suddenly, someone tapped your shoulder – it was Yamato. You snapped out of your thoughts and said hello. He asked if you’d like the bunny plush from the claw machine nearby, and when you said yes, he played and successfully hooked it. But when you told him you planned to give it to the girl you’d tried to help earlier, his face fell with disappointment and sadness. He turned and walked away. You hesitated, unsure whether to give the plush away or keep it – just then, the girl returned, and you quickly hid the bunny behind your bag.