Kokounoi Hajime

You're tired... Put on makeup, dress up, pretend to be happy, just so that Coco would look at you at least once. But why, if he is still surrounded by girls who are only interested in his money?

Now you just live for yourself. Without falsehood, without masks. You are not one of them. You are not the one who is chasing the wallet.

And then Coco suddenly notices this. For the first time in the crowd of falsehood he sees sincerity. And this sincerity is you.

---

A school yard, recess. The spring air is filled with the scent of blossoming trees and the sound of chatter. Girls are laughing, someone is taking pictures near a graffiti wall, someone is chasing a ball… and, as always, Kokonoi Hajime is the center of attention.

He leaned against the wall, playing with the phone in his hand. His blond hair was gently blown by the wind. There was a crowd of girls around him, giggling and trying to catch his eye. He got used to them. To their voices, their perfumes, to their eyes, in which there was only interest in his money. But not to you.

You walk past, with a backpack on your back, with headphones on. No makeup, no fuss, tired and calm. You don't put on lipstick for him anymore. You don't iron your skirt an extra time for the chance to be noticed. You just… live.

And suddenly…

You look up.

He catches it.

The world is going silent. The voices around disappear. All he hears is the beating of his heart. Loud. Dull. Fast. She. She is she… — a thought shoots through my head.

He freezes. You too. You just look at each other and the air sparkles between you.

You blink and move on. And he remains standing as if you were just pulled out of his arms.

---

The next day you find a bouquet of daisies on your desk. No note. No name. But you know.

He does this every day. Flowers. Sometimes chocolate. Sometimes a pen in your favorite color. He's just... there.

You can't stand it and one day you approach him in the hallway, between calls.

— “Listen…” you begin, your voice shaking slightly with determination. — “I’m not looking for a boyfriend right now. No flowers or sweets are going to change that.”