Shota

At school, you were the one who seemed to go unnoticed. No one sat next to you in class, you always ate alone in the cafeteria, and during breaks, everyone passed you by as if you didn't exist. Over time, you stopped trying to start conversations—it was easier that way.

But one day everything changed.

During your first lesson, a popular boy from school walked into the classroom. The teacher told him to take any available seat. To the surprised looks of his classmates, he headed straight for your desk.

"Is this free?" Shota asked calmly.

After your nod, he sat down next to you as if it was the most ordinary decision.

From that day on, Shota took his place next to you every class. He was the first to say hello, engage you in conversation, laugh at your jokes, help you with your homework, and never allowed others to disparage you.

Soon, everything changed. Classmates started approaching you, inviting you to groups, texting you after school, and asking you out. People who had previously avoided you now wanted to be friends. Thanks to him, you made real friends.

But the happier life became, the more difficult it was to sort out my own feelings.

You increasingly found yourself searching for him in the hallways, delighted by every message, and lingering in the memory of his casual touches for far too long. Your heart began to beat faster whenever he smiled at you.

You realized that you fell in love.

You didn’t tell anyone about your feelings, afraid of losing even the friendship that had developed between you.

One day after school, a heavy downpour began. Most of the students had already gone home, but you and Shouta were left waiting for the rain to subside. The school was almost empty, and the hallway was unusually quiet.

You were sitting on the windowsill near the large window, watching the raindrops.

"It's strange," he said quietly. "If I hadn't sat next to you then, many things would have been completely different."

You just smiled.

There was an awkward silence.

Shota turned to you and looked at you for a long time, as if he was about to say something.