Bitter Sweet Days
Chapter 1
University courtyard, autumn afternoon. Students bustle around. Kazama sits on a bench, checking his watch.
Shinnosuke, carrying a smoothie, casually dressed in jeans and a bomber jacket.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Yo, Kazama! Still punctual like a tax auditor, huh?
Toru Kazama
Shinnosuke?! (Eyes widen, voice raises half an octave)
Toru Kazama
What The —? Why are you here?
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Grinning): Enrolled last week. Transferred into the media program.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Suprise!
Toru Kazama
(Flat):- You are in my University?
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
And it's already the best decision I've made. Mostly because your face looks so punchably nostalgic.
Toru Kazama
Please don't say things like that in public. Also– don't talk like we're close.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Ouch.... Cold as ever. Still salty about that thing in highschool?
Toru Kazama
(Tense): You know exactly why I'm not thrilled to see you again.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Teasing): Aw.. I missed our dramatic flair. Just like good old days. You used to glare at me with that same exact frown. Cute.
Toru Kazama
(Blushing, deflecting): Don't flirt. It doesn't suit you..... Why'd you really transfer here?
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Pauses): Guess i just wanted to start over.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Softens): And maybe.... I missed someone.
Toru Kazama
(Turns away): don't expect things to be the same.
Awkward Silence. Shinnosuke sips his smoothie, watching him.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
You haven't changed at all.
Toru Kazama
(Quietly): But you have.
Nene Sakurada
KAZAMAAAA... I brought your notesss....
Nene Sakurada
(sees Shinnosuke) oh no. Not him
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Winking): Missed you too, Nene-chan
Nene Sakurada
(Deadpan):- Kazama, if he tries anything funny, I'll stage a public break-up scene.
Toru Kazama
Sighs... God help me.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Too late. I'm here to stay, baby.
Chapter 2
University café. A modern bustling place filled with chatter. Nene sits across from Kazama, dramatically sipping a matcha latte.
Nene Sakurada
Kazama. We need to talk strategy.
Toru Kazama
Are we at war?
Nene Sakurada
Yes... And with him.
Nene Sakurada
(Leans forward) we can't let Shinnosuke slither back into your life. You've finally stabilized.
Toru Kazama
(Sighs) He's just in the same school. I'm not planning on marrying him.
Nene Sakurada
(Glares) Don't joke about that. The last time he smiled at you, you flunked calculus.
Toru Kazama
That was 3 years ago.
Nene Sakurada
Exactly. He's like a plague of butterflies. Pretty, disarming and emotionally destructive.
Toru Kazama
You are being dramatic.
Toru Kazama
I'm dramatic. I run the drama club. This is literally my jurisdiction.
Shinnosuke, talking with Bo and Masao at a nearby table.
Masao Sato
(Anxious) Are you really okay seeing Kazama again? You guys.... Didn't end well.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Shrugs) I'm good. I just wanna talk to him. Maybe fix things.
Bo Suzuki
(Quietly) Paper hearts tear easy.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Deep...
(Smirks) And true. But I'm not here to rip anything. Not anymore.
Masao Sato
You sure you're not still in love with him?
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Hesitates, then)......What if I am?
Bo Suzuki
Then you'll need glue. Not charm.
Masao Sato
(Fretful) This sounds like a terrible idea. You two used to argue in Morse code. Through glares.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Laughs) Yeah. But he never looked at anyone else that way.
Nene Sakurada
We need to keep him at a distance. Distract him. Confuse him. Maybe.... Set him up with someone else.
Toru Kazama
(Tired) You can't manipulate people's emotions like that.
Nene Sakurada
(Already texting) Too late. I just invited him on a double date. With me and Bo.
Toru Kazama
You what? I never agreed to that!
Nene Sakurada
You'll be there too. As Bo's fake date.
Toru Kazama
You're throwing me into this like it's a soap Opera.
(Pulls out paper heart shaped fan from her tote bag)
Toru Kazama
(in disbelief) You are unhinged.
Nene Sakurada
You're welcome.
Later that evening, A trendy ramen bar. Warm lighting. Bo , Kazama and Nene are seated when Shinnosuke arrives.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Wow... You're my rival date? This night just got spicy.
Toru Kazama
(Awkwardly) Don't get any ideas.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Too late. I already had three. Maybe four now.
Nene Sakurada
Keep it up and I'll monologue mid-soup.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Grins) can't wait. Hope it comes with subtitles.
Bo Suzuki
(Watching them) This feels like emotional dodgeball.
Toru Kazama
Bo, say something neutral.
Bo Suzuki
Noodles are hollow. Like trust.
Bo Suzuki
Wow... That's..... poetic. Are you guys writing a joint blog?
Toru Kazama
(Dry) only if it ends in psychological breakdown.
Nene Sakurada
You two bicker like a married couple.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Hey, don't tease him. He's still pretending not to miss me.
Toru Kazama
(Tense) I don't miss you.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Then why are you blushing?
Toru Kazama
It's chili oil.
Masao, at another table hiding behind a menu.
Masao Sato
(to himself) This is going to end in tears. Possibly mine. I didn't even order anything spicy.
Lights din slightly as music starts playing in the ramen shop. Shinnosuke taps his foot to the beat, still watching Kazama.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Softly) He always hated this song.
Bo Suzuki
Maybe it's time he listened to the lyrics.
Chapter 3
Campus library. Quiet study zone. Kazama and Shinnosuke sit at opposite ends of a table. A notice board reads: "Group Pairing: Psychology of Human Communication."
Toru Kazama
(Staring at the list): You've got to be kidding me.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Grinning) Partnered again, huh? Almost like fate's playing favorites.
Toru Kazama
Fate must hate me.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Nah. I think it just likes good television.
Toru Kazama
(Mutters) This is not television. This is torture.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Come on. You and me ? We'll ace it. You bring the brains, I bring the charm.
Toru Kazama
If this ends in disaster, I'm blaming you. And your charm
They sit. Shinnosuke spins a pen between his fingers.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
So.... "The Psychology of Miscommunication." (grins) Appropriate, huh?
Toru Kazama
Only if we write it as an autobiography.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Great. You start with how you avoided my texts for a year.
Toru Kazama
(Glares) You ghosted first.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Suddenly serious) Yeah. And I regret it. Every damn single day.
Pauses. Silence thickens between them.
Toru Kazama
(Softly) You hurt me, Shinnosuke.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
I know.
Masao and Bo outside, watching from a window like gossiping owl's.
Masao Sato
Should we intervene?
Bo Suzuki
They're boiling in their own soup.
Masao Sato
But what if it spills?
Bo Suzuki
Then let it. Some flavors only surface under heat.
Back to library. Shinnosuke slides a notebook to Kazama.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Let's make this project count.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(Lowers voice) even if we don't.
Toru Kazama
(Looking down) Don't say things like that.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
Why? You scared it's true?
Toru Kazama
(Angry whisper) I'm scared it still matters.
Long pause. Shinnosuke's smile fades.
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
It does. To me.
Suddenly,Nene burst through the door.
Nene Sakurada
(Out of breath) Kazama! I brought snacks and — oh.
Nene Sakurada
(Notice tension) Is this..... Emotional progress or pre-breakup energy?
Shinnosuke Nohara (MC)
(without looking up) Both.
Toru Kazama
(quietly) Shut up and hand me the highlighter.
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