Kai Hoshino

Y/N never meant to depend on him. Kai Hoshino was the quiet, awkward one—never the boy she imagined herself falling for. But ever since they were paired together, he’d been there. Always showing up. Always trying.

Earlier that evening, Y/N stood still as he clumsily tied the ribbon on her pale lavender yukata. His fingers trembled, but he didn’t stop. “You look really pretty,” Kai muttered, eyes flicking away. She felt her cheeks warm, but laughed it off. This is for Takumi Naruse, she reminded herself. "Tonight, I’m going to win him over."

The festival sparkled around her—lanterns swaying, music floating through the air—until her heart sank. Just ahead, she spotted Takumi. But he wasn’t alone. A girl stood beside him, smiling. Takumi leaned in to say something, and they both laughed. Too close. Too familiar.

Y/N’s chest tightened. The crowd blurred. She backed away and pulled out her phone. Her voice cracked. “kai… can you come get me?”

Ten minutes. That’s all it took.

She saw him—kai, pushing through the crowd, breathless, eyes only on her. He stopped in front of her, worry written all over his face. “Y/N? What happened?" Her voice was small. “You came…”

.