Hours had passed, but that moment… that innocent, flustered gaze she gave me in class—it clung to me like a second heartbeat. I couldn’t stop replaying it.

Her desk stood empty now, but my eyes lingered there as though her presence still shimmered faintly around it. What was she thinking? Did she feel what I felt?

Finally, with a sigh, I gathered my bag and stepped out into the quiet corridors.

That’s when I saw her.

Tsukiko.

She was at the school gate, standing with someone. A tall boy, clean-cut, confident—the class representative, Akihiro.

I knew him. Everyone did. He was good-looking, responsible, the kind of boy teachers praised and classmates admired.

But why… why was he standing there with her?

I slowed, my chest tightening with something I couldn’t name. An ache. A pull. Something sharp and bitter.

I shouldn’t care. I had no right to.

And yet—my heart stumbled when I heard his voice.

“…I like you. Will you go out with me?”

The words hit me like a blow.

I froze.

Time stopped.

Tsukiko didn’t answer. She stood there, her hands fidgeting with the strap of her bag, her hair falling slightly forward to hide her face.

I couldn’t hear what she said—or if she said anything at all.

But when Akihiro finally left, she remained at the gate, rooted there.

She glanced at her watch. Tugged nervously at a strand of her hair. Waited. For what? For someone?

My footsteps carried me before my thoughts could stop them.

“Tsukiko,” I said softly.

She turned, startled, then her lips curved into a small smile. “Ah… Haruto. Hi.”

Something heavy pressed against me—the confession I had overheard, the silence that followed. Words tumbled out before I could stop them.

“I… I’m sorry.”

Her brows lifted in surprise-making the cute innocent face she always makes. “Sorry? For what?”

I looked down, ashamed of the sudden knot in my chest. “Because of me… you got dragged into that awkward situation with your friends.”

For a moment she just stared at me, then—she shook her head, smiling gently. “No, no… don’t apologize. It’s not your fault. My friends just… get carried away.”

Her voice softened, almost like a whisper meant only for me. “If anything… maybe you should say sorry for worrying so much about me.”

I blinked up at her. And in that instant—she looked so fragile, so human, so unguarded.

Her cheeks carried a faint pink, her fingers twisting nervously at her sleeve. And then—her voice trembled, yet carried a sudden courage.

“Umm… Haruto… would you go out with me tomorrow? I mean—only if you want.”

The words left her lips in a rush, like she feared they might disappear if she hesitated.

I froze. My face burned crimson. My heart pounded so hard it felt like the whole street could hear it.

“…Yes,” I managed. “Of course.”

Her eyes widened, then curved into the brightest smile I had ever seen. “R-really? I mean… okay, good.”

Still flustered, she quickly pulled out her phone, scribbled her number onto a slip of paper, and pressed it into my hand.

Then, cheeks scarlet, she turned and hurried away. “I—I’m in a rush, see you tomorrow!”

Her footsteps faded down the street, leaving me standing beneath the falling twilight, my hand clutching that slip of paper as though it were a lifeline.

My face was burning. My heart refused to calm down.

“Tsukiko… actually invited me?”

The words slipped from my lips, half disbelieving, half intoxicated with joy.

And for the first time, the world around me felt brighter—like fate itself had tilted toward me.

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