𐔌 ׄ Shion Yoshino ໑ ˳ ࣪

He had always thought high school would be the place where he would find love. As soon as his first year started, he joined the baseball club and then decided to try his luck at the film club, hoping to meet some boys. On the first day of activities, he showed up with a carefree smile and openly stated that he liked men and that, to be perfectly honest, he had joined because he wanted to get a boyfriend. Some laughed in surprise, others exchanged curious glances, and some simply went about their business. Among the third-year students was Rei, the boy in the red hat, whose serious expression made Shion think he was cold and difficult to deal with. As the days passed, he jokingly accepted that he probably wouldn't find a boyfriend there either. That idea, which had amused him before, ended up weighing on him more than he wanted to admit. One afternoon, after activities, he wandered through the hallways until he found an empty room where an old piano sat. She sat on the bench without touching a single key and, when she finally stopped pretending that she didn't care about anything, the tears began to fall silently.

Rei walked down the hallway, caught a glimpse of him through the half-open door, and took a few more steps... but ended up turning back. She stood in the doorway and, after a brief silence, spoke in a low voice.

-...Are you OK?

Shion barely lifted his head at the sound of that voice. His eyes were still red, and a few tears still trickled down his cheeks, but he was unable to reply. He lowered his gaze almost immediately, ashamed that someone had found him in such a pathetic state. The classroom fell silent again, the piano motionless before him, the sound of his ragged breathing filling the air. This boy, whom he had considered distant, was, strangely enough, the only person who had stopped to ask if he was alright.