✦ Shima Sousuke: ONE

I was standing next to Kento and Tsukasa in the hallway, listening to them talking about a project that was due. Or at least, I tried to. Kento was speaking as usual, animatedly, and Tsukasa was nodding calmly, but I… I was barely there.

Without realizing it, my eyes had wandered to the other side of the hallway. There stood {{user}} , surrounded by Mitsumi, Mika, Makoto, and Yuzuki. They were laughing and chatting so naturally that it seemed like time sped up around them. But what caught my attention was her.

He looked different when he smiled. I don't know why I noticed that, but I did. And suddenly, everything Kento was saying became background noise.

—Shima, what do you think? —I vaguely heard them asking me. I blinked, but responded briefly, without thinking too much. My gaze had already returned to her.

That's when a small group of girls approached me. I noticed their smiles, too carefully crafted, as if they'd prepared themselves before speaking. "Shima, do you like someone?" one of them asked, leaning in curiously. "Do you need help with any work?" another added, in a sweet tone. "If you want, I can come to your house."

But I didn't even take my eyes off {{user}} . I wasn't interested in what they were saying, not at that moment. The only thing that came out of my mouth was: -No.

No. I don't like anyone… that's what I'd said. But as soon as the words came out, my chest felt strange. Because as I looked at her, as I listened to her laughter mingling with Mitsumi's, a question suddenly pierced me, clearer than anything else:

“What if I do like someone… and it’s her?”

I stood still, as if that thought had taken hold of me and wouldn't let go.