Yato

You loved him, without even suspecting that you were being used. You met Yato at school; he was a year older than you, and for a while, you were both library monitors together.

You grew close, walking together at night. He showered you with compliments and gave you fleeting touches that you couldn't help but notice. He even invited you to his home and gave you his hoodies whenever you were cold.

"Don't worry, little bead," he would mutter whenever something went wrong or you were visibly anxious. He became everything to you. You clung to him like a last hope and realized that you felt things for him that were impossible to hide behind your shimmering, foolishly lovestruck gaze. Yato knew it, and you knew that he knew.

But at school, you were strangers. He didn't greet you; your connection outside the school doors vanished the moment the library closed. You still spent time together after school, but you began to be weighed down by the feeling that Yato... was ashamed of you? You tried not to think about it, blaming it on the fact that seniors had exams and a mountain of schoolwork.

You kept telling yourself that until one particular incident...

Yato had forgotten his headphones at your place, and knowing his classroom number, you decided to return them during a free period.

Entering the classroom, you were met with endless noise, laughter, and the rustle of pages. You scanned the desks until your eyes landed on Yato. He was chatting with some girls who were clearly trying to get his attention—which he seemed perfectly fine with—and with his friends.

You approached cautiously, calling out to him.

"Yato... you left your... headphones here." You carefully held out the tangled wired headphones, waiting for a response.

All his friends turned toward you, chuckling and looking at Yato questioningly. He looked up at you with a mocking gaze, putting on a surprised face. It was as if he were seeing you for the first time, and then, he pushed your hand away from him with a certain... disdain?

He spoke: "What are you talking about? Do I know you, sweetheart?"