4. Sudden Change of Attitude

When their teacher for their last-period class dismissed them and leaves the room, Miyazaki Nana started stuffing her things inside her bag along with others.

She was just about to zip her bag when she felt her friends' presence surrounding her now.

"I can't wait for your big party tonight," Ito Yui squealed in excitement. If Nana remembered it well, this would be the second time hearing this girl saying the exact same thing.

On her right was her boyfriend, Miyamura Kai, standing near her with one of his hands draped around Yui's shoulder like a possessive boyfriend.

"I'm sure it's going to be a blast," Kai said with some unnecessary exaggeration that's inserted into his tone.

But little did they know that Nana can see right through them as she read what is exactly on their minds right now.

Even though Yui doesn't tell it right on her face, Nana knows that she is madly jealous of her. Yui's father is currently the director of High Rise Telecom of which her dad is the chairman.

Base on what she can read on her mind at the moment, Nana is fully aware that Yui wanted to have everything that Nana possesses right now, may it be popularity, power, money... and her boyfriend's love? 

Whoa. That is pretty messed up, to think that they are now in a relationship but Kai here likes somebody else.

As Nana further reads on her mind right now, the very reason why Yui is sticking her ass around a girl like her is that her dad tells her to and nothing more-- which kind of hurt her on so many levels right now.

Does this mean that all Yui did after being friends with her since their freshmen days is all an act that her father planned all along?

Shifting her gaze to Miyamura Kai, Nana learned that the girl he secretly likes was her all this time yet doesn't have the courage to say it. 

For him, the reason he asked Yui to be his girlfriend and not her is that he wanted to stay close to Nana as much as possible, which is kinda sick if you ask Nana about it.

At the right time, her other fake friend, Watanabe Rin, also arrived behind Yui and tackled her by the shoulder which surprised the latter.

Rin smiled oh-so-sweetly at Nana which the latter returned out of obligation.

"So, where are we hanging out before Nana's big party arrives? Technically, we still have a few hours left before Nana prepares for her debut party. Isn't that right, Nana-chan?"

On the other hand, Nana wasn't able to answer her directly and just dead-ass stared at her as Rin's hidden thoughts were gushing out in the form of whispers that she could totally hear right now.

"Let's delay her for a bit, shall we?" says Rin's thoughts as if she has ill plans for her not to make it to her party on time.

Nana could not help but feel sad as the realization slowly dawned on her that none of these people she had thought of as friends are true to her when she thought she had their back when they needed her, just as she is to them.

Instead, she discovers that they are just waiting for her downfall and everybody would be happy when that time comes.

Knowing all of this since this morning, how could Nana even bear to look them in the eye and act like she doesn't know everything?

Pursing her lips, Nana replied, "You guys just go ahead. All I wanted to do right now is to go home and read some books perhaps."

Saying this earned Nana several confused looks from her friends on the spot. Even when they aren't saying something, Nana could pretty much tell that they are now getting confused and curious with her sudden change of attitude towards them.

Well, what can she say? After learning the truth, the once happy-go-lucky Nana that they used to know is now gone and Nana also isn't sure if she will still continue hanging out with them after her birthday party.

Rin awkwardly laughed at her response and asked, "Are you sure you want to spend your leisure time reading boring books instead of actually having fun with us?"

For some reason, Nana was quite offended by what Rin said and snickered.

"Well, what do you know about fun anyway?" Nana spat before she stood from her chair, picked up her bag, and left the room without waiting for her response.

Rin was just left dumbfounded to where she is currently standing and looked at her friends as if she was asking what the hell just happened.

***

Miyazaki Nana was walking straight to the parking lot, where she knows Mr. Sawada was waiting for her with her BMW, when she felt someone grabbed her right hand that made her turn around.

She began to relax once again the moment she saw Endo Hiroshi in front of her, looking a bit confused with her surprised reaction just now.

As Nana read his mind right now, she was somehow comforted to know that she still had a genuine friend left among her social circle, when all she did during their high school years was treat him like invisible from time to time.

From the moment you became famous, you already knew that your social circle would expand overnight. She was focused on hanging out with her fake friends rather than paying any attention to the genuine ones.

Nana's popularity grows, so does her group of friends, ultimately leading her to ignore the one person who has never left her side all this time.

Thinking about it now, Nana starts to regret what she actually did with her childhood friend.

On the other hand, Endo Hiroshi arches one eyebrow at her while noticing her growing anxiety that is now showing all over her face right this instant.

"Are you alright?" Hiroshi finally asked. "I've noticed you've been acting strange lately. Is there something that I can help you with, maybe?"

Instead of answering him directly, Nana just pulled her friend into a tight hug and that confuses Hiroshi even more.

"I'm sorry, Hiroshi. Don't ask what I'm sorry for... but I just wanted to know that I am so sorry for everything."

After Nana pulls away from their hug, Hiroshi was still stunned into his place until he raises both of his hands in defeat.

"Okay... apology accepted-- whatever that means."

To help her feel better, Nana eventually invites Hiroshi to spend the rest of the afternoon with her playing video games in the gaming room just like they used to do when they were kids.

"Sure, I would love to," replied Hiroshi before he hopped inside Nana's backseat and fastened his seatbelt.

Though Endo Hiroshi finds Nana weird today, still it made him happy to know that for the first time since they went to high school... Nana preferred to hang out with him rather than with those spoiled brats in her social circle.