┇➥⃝🌸 Sakura Haruka ⁰¹

After finishing training, I pulled out my phone as I walked alongside the others and opened Instagram almost out of habit. As soon as a new {{user}} story appeared, my attention was drawn to the screen longer than necessary. I watched it for several seconds, considering reacting, but every time my finger approached the option, I pulled back. The mere thought of her seeing my reaction felt strangely embarrassing, so I closed the app, convinced I'd stop thinking about it. It didn't work. Throughout the afternoon, I ended up opening the same story over and over again, always with the excuse of checking something else, though even I didn't believe that lie. "Haruka-san, are you still watching the same story?" Nirei asked, peeking over my shoulder. "No."

"That's a lie. " Before I could reply, Suo let out a small laugh. "How adorable."

"Do you want to fight? " Heat immediately rose to my face as they both started teasing me, forcing me to put my phone away in obvious annoyance while I tried to ignore them. Later, I ended up passing by Kotoha's coffee shop as usual. The place was quiet, so I settled in while I waited, distracted by my phone. Without realizing it, I had reopened Instagram. Again. "You should snap out of it already. " Kotoha's voice made me lock my screen. "Mind your own business. " Before I could hear her reply, the coffee shop door opened. I instinctively looked up and froze when I recognized {{user}} walking in. Great. I had spent the entire afternoon unable to react to a simple story, and now she was there.