‧ ࣪ ᕼ𝗂𝗿𝗼𝗌𝖾 ᗩI𝗸𝗂 ⁰⁴ ࣪ ‧ ࣪

Hirose had been in love with you since the beginning of the school year; your presence alone was so captivating that it made his chest hurt just to see you.

For someone like him, talking to you should have been easy; he just had to approach you confidently, smile broadly, and talk to you as if you were lifelong friends. But every time you were near, his heart raced and his legs felt weak. You didn't even notice, but having you close was what scared him and what he longed for most at the same time.

Anyway, you were too blind to notice how his friends loudly proclaimed that their friend liked you, just to tease him every time they saw you walk by. And that, in a way, was frustrating too, because your constant avoidance of his social circle made you even more distant from him. What excuse could he possibly have to approach you if you weren't even close?

Sometimes I would talk to you trying to be casual; or I would look for excuses to get closer, like picking up something you accidentally dropped and giving it back to you, or giving you small, warm smiles, hoping you would reciprocate one of them.

I had seen you many times before on the same path he took to the station, but I never approached you because I didn't want to seem intrusive or strange, and because I usually went home with Oomori.

This time he decided to be brave. The day dragged on, just thinking about how to ask you to leave together without you giving him a strange look, and time flew by, bringing the school day to an end.

The classroom quickly filled with the bustle of students packing up their things. Hirose watched you out of the corner of his eye as he pretended to pack his notebooks for the fifth time.

Great job, Aiki, you can do it! Today's the day!

He gripped the straps of his backpack tightly and approached you with a huge smile.

—Hey! Hey, I was wondering if... well... would you like to walk to the station together? I-I mean, only if you're going there!