As the county competition is approaching, the activities of the women's basketball department have become busy. The members of the cheerleading team not only have to rehearse dances, but sometimes also help the manager of the basketball department with some chores. But because Girl A is with me, I don't care at all.

No conflict.

That day, after the basketball club activities, the captain of the basketball club came to me and asked me what my relationship was with my brother. I answered truthfully, we are brother and sister.

Really? Great! She said excitedly, and bluntly, I like your brother Nishino, Nanase, can you help me?

Most of the members of the basketball club gathered around. I really didn’t know how to answer. I wanted to refuse and tell her that this had nothing to do with me, but under the gaze of so many people, I was so nervous that I couldn’t speak.

She took out a letter from her bag. Although I had never seen it before, I knew it was a love letter after just one glance.

She said, give it to your brother for me, and remember to give me a reply. Then she walked away gracefully. At this time, girl A came to me, and I complained a little that she didn't help me.

She smiled and apologized, saying, does Nanase really want to help her?

I said, there is nothing we can do about it.

After dinner that day, I went to my brother’s room and explained the situation. My brother said he would not accept the letter. Only then did I know that my brother had secretly made a girlfriend from another school without telling his parents, and even his good friends

He didn't even know about it, so he asked me not to tell anyone about it.

What to do with this love letter? I asked.

Just give her back, say I'm not interested in her, or just throw her away. My brother said.

In the end, I didn't make up my mind to throw away the love letter. I hesitated all night about how to respond, tossing and turning. The next day, I secretly told the truth to the team leader, saying that my brother already had a girlfriend and I couldn't accept this letter.

love letter.

The other party called me a liar with a look of disgust. She said she had inquired about her brother, and I was lying. If I said I didn't want to help her, just say so. There was no need to beat around the bush.

After saying that, she turned around and left, leaving me alone in the basketball club's preparation room.

My heart was instantly filled with grievances. I had not kept the promise I made to my brother and was unreasonably scolded. I squatted on the ground and my eyes soon became wet with tears.

At this time, the girl A who was passing by saw me. She comforted me and asked what happened. I didn't say anything, thinking that although I felt very sad, the incident was finally over.

However, what I didn't expect was that the incident had just begun.

Accompanied by girl A, I returned to the basketball club and found that everyone was looking at me with unfamiliar eyes, whispering, and malicious knives roaming around my body. The captain passed by me and snorted heavily.

After that, I became an anomaly in the basketball club.

There are always a lot of chores assigned to me, and team members often pretend to be casual and make trouble around me, making it impossible for me to complete the work at hand smoothly. The cheerleading uniforms are often wet every time I put them on.

When I dance, I always feel a strong sense of shame emerging from my chest.

They went too far, and I wanted to report it to the instructor! Girl A wanted to drag me to report the situation more than once.

(ex){}&/At this time, I heard the cry of girl a outside. At this time, she was the only one chasing me out.

Girl A shouted loudly, Nanase, Nanase.

I waited silently, waiting for her to come to me, then hold me gently, stroke my head, apologize to me, and said she shouldn't ignore me.

But the sound gradually faded away.

Girl A didn’t find me.

She left me alone again. She failed to find me and comfort me.

The promises she made outside the bathroom that day were all lies.

First it was the Internet, then my brother, and finally, Girl A, the existence I relied on, became pale.

I don’t know how long I sat there quietly. I just remember that at a certain moment, I accepted the fact that no one would help me anymore. It was a wonderful feeling, and an unknown power instantly filled my emptiness.

chest.

I stopped crying, stood up, and opened the door with my own strength.

It was dark outside, but the rain had stopped, and I walked out of the door with a calm state of mind that even I found incredible.

After that, I never went to the basketball club again. I met girl A in class and we became strangers. Soon the first semester ended.

At the beginning of the second semester, I submitted an application to withdraw from the department, and it was easily accepted. On the first day of school, the class teacher announced in front of the podium that girl A had transferred to another school and left.

On the contrary, I felt a little lucky, but at the same time, there was an empty place in my heart.

I began to actively communicate with her and joined the art club. When I was lonely and empty, I would paint, sketch or gouache in the activity room.

The instructor praised me for my talent in painting, and my seniors in the club would ask me questions about painting. Before I knew it, I was able to communicate with them smoothly.

After I entered high school, I joined a dance club. Perhaps because I had cheerleading experience in junior high school, I was able to master dance relatively smoothly. The activities of the club were relaxed and enjoyable, and the seniors were also very friendly to the juniors.

I gradually realized my mother's good intentions. At that time, my mother just wanted me to spend such a carefree time.

Later, with the encouragement of my mother, I signed up for the selection of Nogizaka46. Unexpectedly, I stayed all the way to the end and passed the selection.

Even though I am like this, I can become an idol and a shining presence on stage that warms others.

In the face of this huge sense of identity, I was powerless to resist. The incident in the junior high school basketball club has always been a shadow in my heart. The memory of being abandoned and left behind became a thorn in my heart.

.

I want to unplug it, I want to escape the shackles of the past, I want to stand on a stage where the shadows cannot catch up.

I want to change myself and say goodbye to my past self.

I left the shadow in Osaka together with the memories I didn’t want to be mentioned.
Chapter completed!