"Italicized" = Signed

"Regular" = Spoken

Italicized = Yō typing

= Someone else typing

----- = A spoken word Yō can't understand (or at least not lip read)

...

Yō's POV:

Everyone was staring at me with very shocked faces. I expected this reaction. Who wouldn't react this way? I'm going to be leaving them again.

I don't want to go. I really don't. I've tried reasoning with mom, but she wants me back with her. I get where she's coming from. I really do. But, I don't want to leave all my friends again.

"You're leaving us?" Chika was obviously the most upset by the news.

I frowned and nodded, "It seems so. I've tried everything to convince her to let me stay."

"You can't leave!" Chika ran over and hugged me tightly. I returned the hug.

I wish there was something I could do. I don't want to repeat what happened last time I left. I want to stay with everyone. I made awesome friends here. I don't want to lose all of that again.

But, there's nothing more I can do. I've exhausted all of my options. My mom wants me back. Unless I could get her to move back here, there's no hope for me to remain.

Everyone looks really sad. This is just as hard on me as it is on them. After all the memories we made together, I have to leave them again.

"There's nothing we can do to keep you here, is there?" Riko asked.

I shook my head. This is it. I'm going to have to go again. I better make the most of the time I have left here. I don't have much longer here. It won't be long before I have to go. I'll be leaving once school ends for the year. And who knows when and if I'll come back.

...

Chika was avoiding me. No matter how much I reached out to her to talk, she kept brushing me off. I know she's hurting a lot, but I can't try and help her if she won't let me.

I've asked the others to talk to her for me. She keeps avoiding talking about me. If anyone asks her, she'll change the subject.

It's hurting me a lot too. I just want to talk to her. Because I don't want to lose her. I don't want what happened last year to happen again. I want to remain dating her, but we need to discuss this before I go.

I really don't know what to do. Even at school she won't come near me. I can't even get that time to talk to her. I'll have to be forceful if I want to get her to talk to me. I really don't want to have to do that, but she's left me with no other choice.

I approached herduring school. When she tried to run, I grabbed her arm and refused to let go. She looked at me, pleading silently to be released.

"We need to talk. You can't keep running and avoiding it." I stated.

Chika looked at the ground. She sighed. Is she going to do it without any more of a fight? Is it safe to let go of her?

"Please leave me alone. I can't do this again."

"It doesn't have to be like that again. Please. We can work something out, Chika." I was desperate. I can't lose her again.

"I need time." Chika got out of my grip and walked away.

It's over for us, isn't it? She isn't willing to try this again. I guess she doesn't want to deal with the thought that we could fall out again. But I swear we could do it. We know what we did wrong last time. We can fix it. But... if she isn't willing to, I can't do anything about it.

...

Before I knew it, I had to leave. Everyone but Chika came to see me off. It hurt to not have her there. I really wished I could have seen her one last time. I guess I don't get a happy ending...

I boarded the plane. I was alone. I was all alone again. I started crying. Even if we all still had each others' numbers, it would never be the same. I couldn't be there with them. I was too far away.

I would be here for a year minimum. Maybe I could go to college in Japan? Then I could come back and see everyone again. If... if they still want me. What if everyone moves on from me since I'm gone? What if I get forgotten about?

I'm scared. I'm scared I could lose my only friends all over again. And there would be nothing I could do about it.

...

It had been a while since I returned to America. I was depressed. It was hard being alone again. In a place where no one understood me.

I was in my room. I was flipping through a magazine. My phone buzzed. It was a text. A text from... Chika. I quickly opened it up to read. This was the first contact I've had with her since I left.

She's willing to try this relationship again. I have a chance to keep her. I definitely have to take it.

Of course. I'm so happy to hear from you again. We should FaceTime as soon as possible.

I can't wait. Maybe I do get a happy ending after all? I'll do everything I can to make this work. I really want to keep Chika. I don't want to lose her. She was my first true friend. Losing her would be like something ripping a piece of my heart out.

I still have her. And I won't lose her. I'll do what I can to return as soon as I can again. So, everyone... wait for me. I'll be back. I promise.