2ECONDS TO STΔRLIVHT: My Heart's Reflection/Story/Chapter 3

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Viewpoint: Hakuno

Rise and Ai stop as the third girl interrupts them, saying they can wear the girl's uniform if they want, and that it's none of their buisness.

Hakuno continues crying as Sumire continues, calling out how they make fun of people who they think hurt them to give them comfort. She then asks what the new kid did to hurt them, saying they've been calling them a creep when they'd been perpetuating lies about them. Sumire asks how they could do that and not realize they're the monsters.

Ai attempts to say something, but Sumire shoves her and Rise against the lockers. Rise attempts to apologize, but Sumire refuses it, saying she isn't the person they hurt. As their argument continues, Hakuno begins blaming herself for Sumire standing up for her and throwing away her happiness. She begins to think her attempt to be herself had caused this, much as it with her parents. Overwhelmed, Hakuno cries that she can't take it anymore and runs out of the school crying.

Viewpoint: Sumire

Sumire watches the new kid run outside. She tells Rise and Ai this is their fault, and that they had always been like this towards others. The three suddenly become quiet until Sumire says she's going after the new kid.

As Sumire grabs her umbrella and runs outside, it begins to rain. She figures they couldn't have gotten far:

They ran down the street.

Sumire runs down the street, assuming she's on the new kid's trail. Sumire admits she doesn't know where she's going, but is sure they're somewhere she can find them.

---

They're probably somewhere around the school.

Sumire looks for them near the school entrance, but doesn't find them. Figuring they're nowhere near school now, Sumire heads back onto the streets to keep looking.

---

Suddenly, Sumire runs into the new kid.

Viewpoint: Hakuno

Hakuno flees outside as it begins to rain. She attempts to run home, but slips and falls on the sidewalk. Miraculously, her uniform is visibly undamaged and she doesn't skid her kness, but Hakuno feels like her heart shattered on impact. Hakuno begins blaming herself for what happened, believing she should have known it was nothing but a fantasy that could never be true. She notes how quiet this ending was as someone approaches her.

Viewpoint: Sumire

Sumire finds the new kid at the corner of the candy shop, lying on the pavement in the rain. She rushes over and offers the new kid her umbrella, saying they shouldn't ruin their new uniform on their first day. They hesitantly take the umbrella and thank her.

Sumire apologizes about Rise and Ai, saying they assume a lot about people before trying to know them. She assures them what they did was wrong, and that they hadn't done anything to deserve it. The new kid says they're used to it. Sumire offers to walk them home.

Viewpoint: Hakuno

Sumire pulls Hakuno up and walks Hakuno back home. Sumire asks what her name is, and Hakuno tells her to call her Hakuno. She thanks Sumire again, and Sumire smiles back at her. Sumire asks why she chose to wear the girls' uniform today. Hakuno says she just feels more comfortable in it, having been sent it on accident and wanting to try it. She admits she just wanted to be a girl, her true self, after having been trapped living as someone she isn't for so long.

As she tries to speak, Hakuno begins crying again before she realizes it, and says:

I...I don't deserve to wear this uniform anymore!

Sumire, to Hakuno's surprise, hugs Hakuno and tells her it's her uniform, and that she should wear it tomorrow no matter what others think. Sumire then says she looks like herself in it, and that it fits her. Hakuno asks if she thinks so, and Sumire affirms she does.

---

I w-won't wear it tomorrow...you don't have to ask.

Sumire, to Hakuno's surprise, hugs Hakuno and says she wasn't going to ask that. She says Hakuno doesn't have to mind what others say, and should wear it tomorrow regardless of them. She points out that Hakuno said she wasn't comfortable in her other clothes, which Hakuno confirms. Sumire says that if she truly feels comfortable in it, it'll show, and people will at least get it, and says she doesn't need their respect if they're jerks anyways.

---

Hakuno asks about Rise and Ai, afraid the two will continue harassing her. Sumire says they won't, and she'll make sure of it herself. Hakuno asks if it's worth it if they're her friends, but Sumire says if they're really her friends, they'll listen to her. Sumire promises Hakuno she can rely on her if she needs someone, and Hakuno's tears begin flowing again.

The two continue to talk during their walk, discussing Sumire's last attempt at baking for her grandmother. Hakuno asks Sumire if she could teach her how to cook, having wanted to learn but never getting the chance to, which Sumire agrees to. Hakuno then reveals she has a younger sister, Shion. She describes Shion as a cute, infectiously cheery person who could brighten up any room, and admits she's everything Hakuno wants to be. Sumire says she can relate, wanting to be more like her older sister Yumi.

Sumire offers to try baking for her and her family sometime, which Hakuno accepts. Hakuno says her parents would be surprised she hangs out with someone, though. Sumire says she might be able to soften them up a bit, which Hakuno tries to take her word for.

Hakuno is shocked at how she's able to be herself in this moment, for the first time in her life. The two reach Hakuno's house as the rain clears up. Hakuno realizes she shouldn't walk inside in her uniform, but assures Sumire she'll be fine if she takes the back door. The two exchange numbers, and Sumire offers to help Hakuno with her hair. The two part and Hakuno heads towards the back door.

Hakuno quickly sneaks back into her room and changes out of her uniform before climbing into bed. She realizes that Sumire was right; Hakuno never did anything wrong, and she can still be herself. Hakuno believes that with someone like Sumire, the person she wants to be could be the person she is. Her musing is interrupted as she drifts asleep.

Hakuno's bedroom door suddenly flies open as Shion flops onto her bed. Shion asks Hakuno how her first day went, and if anything happened at school. Hakuno tells her to let her sleep, but Shion says people will make friends with her if she could express herself more. Hakuno says that isn't quite the problem, but is interrupted by a notification on her phone from Sumire. Shion sees it and teases Hakuno about texting a girl, which Hakuno claims is not like that and tells Shion to leave her alone.

Shion leaves the room giggling as Hakuno lies back down and reads the text. Sumire asks Hakuno if she's been ok, which Hakuno says she is. She then asks how Sumire's been doing, which Sumire responds to by saying it's been a day.

Viewpoint: Sumire

After seeing Hakuno off, Sumire returns to her own home. As she's about to reach for the door, her phone suddenly begins blaring with notifications from her friends' group chat.

Rise apologizes for upsetting Sumire again. Ai asks if she wants to talk sometime, as Rise says they're at their usual place. Sumire says she's at home but offers to stop by to talk. Ai apologizes for offending Sumire, but Sumire tells them to promise to do better and try understanding people before judging them. Rise dismisses Sumire, saying she isn't their boss, which Ai agrees with, and argues they didn't do anything wrong, claiming it was a joke. Sumire counters they did hurt someone, and they need to apologize for it. Ai claims Sumire is getting too pushy, which Rise agrees with.

Ai tells her she can apologize later as Sumire fumes about their horrible behavior. Sumire blocks all of them and deletes the chat. She nearly throws her phone to the ground, but instead throws her umbrella, which snaps in half. Sumire slides to the ground, lying on the welcome mat, wanting to believe they could have changed. She admits to herself this would have happened eventually, but it doesn't make it easier to deal with. Sumire's grandmother finds her outside, and asks her if she's okay.

2ECONDS TO STΔRLIVHT: My Heart's Reflection Story Navigation
Chapter 2	2ECONDS TO STΔRLIVHT: My Heart's Reflection/Story/Chapter 3	Chapter 4
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