Life ≠ Movies¹

It’s been four days since Ono-kun from the neighboring class, class 78, disappeared.

The video’s staticy…

The fifth day… This is the day the building exploded. All of the footage looks like this.

It got corrupted.

We heard something getting closer to us, so Ushio got scared and panicked. Then we all started running.

I didn’t record anything right before and right after the explosion, even though they were the most important parts. And the cops tell me I can’t, but…

If I release this footage… If everyone sees it…

Maybe those other guys will see me in a better light.

Maybe they’ll understand that I didn’t cause the explosion.

Everyone’s gonna know about me. Everyone’s gonna be looking at me.

(I lost that egg… It was proof that I’m special, but…)

Do you think I could make another miracle…?

Akuta-kun… Why would you go that far…?

When all my relatives got together for Obon one time, an old lady in my family said some bad things about my mom. But I didn’t really get anything back then.

I didn’t really get why my uncle decided to write my name in hiragana…

‘Cuz I thought the kanji for “Akuta”³ looked so much cooler.

I didn’t know anything. I was dumb.

But I know now. I know everything…!

Y’know, I think…that I’m alone.

I’m lonely. I really am.

Akuta-kun…

So I want everyone to look my way. I wanna be at the center of things.

Everything that happens is just foreshadowing to a happy ending, so they all can say whatever they want, ‘cuz they’ll see eventually!

I didn’t really think about it. I just believed in it!

But I don’t really have anything, right?

That’s why my name’s Akuta, right? I’m empty on the inside…right?

Akuta-kun.

I’m not the universe’s top intergalactic movie director. I’m just some empty piece of garbage that doesn’t matter to anyone.

When I was a little kid, I still believed in everything without a doubt in my mind. I thought that the sky and the city and humankind and even the wind all existed for me.

I should’ve had the power to get through anything.

But every day, every time someone said something to me, it was like the magic spell slowly wore off. The world started to change. No, I started to change…!

I’m just…

I’m nothing but an annoying, worthless nobody! I know I am!

Uuuuuwaaaaaaahhh…! Waaaaaaaaahhhhh!

Akuta-ku…!

Uuuwaaahhh! Waaaahhh!

Akuta! *hug*

Ah…

There’s not a single person out there who’s an empty, worthless nobody!

Real geniuses never give up!

Even if they compromise, or quit, or fail…

Even if they get hurt, or people say awful things to them! They always steel themselves and try their hardest to hang in there!

……

They always have the courage to believe in themselves until the day inspiration strikes them!

Sakujiro-san and I…and everyone in the Noon Team… We all know that you have the talent to make people happy. There are people who you’ve saved.

There are people who you’ve inspired. There are people who want to be like you so bad, but they can’t.

Everyone believes in you, Akuta-kun!

……

If you can’t believe in yourself, then…

Can you believe in us? Because we believe in you.

Be brave. Keep going. Don’t lose. I know it’s hard right now, but that just means you have the chance to change how this story ends.

So don’t give up and don’t run away. Because if you see things through, then this summer will…

Even when you lose your way. Even when you stop in your tracks…

This summer will give you courage.

So you have to hold on! You may think that you’re insignificant, or pathetic, or worthless, but you still have to hold on!

……

…Yeah… You’re right…

Okay…

Akuta-kun…

*sniff…*

Teach… Tissue…

Okay… Here, go ahead.

……

I’m sorry for…being mean to you before.

It’s okay.

And…thanks.