“I’m sorry to say, but this boy’s growth plates have already closed.”

“What?! You mean to say my son won’t even reach five feet?! What about the treatments we gave him?!”

“This boy’s body… is unusually frail. It refuses to grow. Perhaps it’s because of the illness?”

“Tch! Then I’ll make him exercise!”

“Please remember… His body is easily overwhelmed by physical activity. And regardless, he’s not growing another inch.”

“I don’t care about height anymore! Strength! I will make him strong!”

This is my last resort. If I cannot grow stronger now, I don’t know what will happen.

Five years ago, I fell ill with the coronavirus that ravaged the world. I was already frail and small, but the virus made everything worse. Without my parent’s resources, I would have died.

Even with my recovery, the damage was already done.

That illness ruined me.

My muscles, my lungs, my growth…

I cannot exercise. I cannot run. I can try, but before long, my body will break.

And yet, I dream of being strong?

How pathetic.

How embarrassing.

I should tell her the truth, but…

Akira trembles on his bed, covering his head in his hands. “Damn it all!”

Later, he stumbles out of his residence hall, wearing restless eyes. He hugs himself as he exclaims, “It’s so windy! Isn’t it still summer?”

But he hears footsteps, and then a handsome voice, “Seems it gets cold over here quickly.”

Akira looks up and beams. “Akari!”

Akari smiles back. “Good afternoon. Ready to go to the gym?”

Akira drives, humming to himself. He and Akari both wear sweatshirts. Akira’s is too big on him (like most jackets), but Akari can’t help but find him beyond adorable in it.

“Did you have a nice day?” Akira asks.

“Well,” Akari replies, her voice uncertain, “I already had a couple skirmishes.”

“Really? Gosh, I’m so sorry, Akari.”

“It’s only been a day since move-in, and already…”

“Well, I actually had a run-in too, but I was able to get away.”

“Tch! You too?!” Akari growls.

“Ah, e-excuse me!” Akira exclaims remorsefully. “Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up,” he murmurs.

“Oh, no no! It’s just…” Akari sighs. “I hate the idea of anyone laying a finger on you.”

Akira smiles. “You’re very caring, Akari. You’ve really been looking after me.”

“You don’t deserve to get hurt,” Akari responds, softer. “Of course I’ll look after you.”

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs, “that I can’t defend myself.”

“No, it’s okay!” She doesn’t yell. Still, she insists passionately, for his sake.

“Ah…” Akari… You’re so…

Akira then pulls into a parking spot. Turning off the car, he comments, “You know, not a lot of people tell me that.”

“That’s wrong. Nobody has the right to criticize your body.”

Akira gulps. My body…

“Earlier today,” Akari explains, her face growing stern, “a man I defeated called me an eyesore. Honestly, I often feel like a monster. I’m far from an appealing woman. But I won’t tolerate people insulting me, because I know it’s wrong. It’s the same for you. Regardless of how you may feel about yourself, other people don’t have the right to insult you. Our bodies are not their business.”

“Well,” Akira starts gently, “that’s true, but it’s those insults that cause your insecurity, right? Then, wouldn’t that make the insecurity itself wrong? If a person can’t call you a monster, isn’t it because you aren’t a monster?”

Akari pauses, looking down at her legs with uncertainty. And then, she mutters, “Once insecurity latches onto you, it’s a massive struggle to dispel it.”

Akira frowns. He stares at Akari’s face, his eyes widening with empathy.

It truly confuses him. People consider her beauty to be unappealing? When there’s so much elegance, so much charisma…

“I’m sorry people don’t appreciate you,” Akira murmurs. “I… I don’t think you’re an eyesore, Akari. And I only see your strength as a good thing.”

Akari whisks her head away to the window, gazing outward with quite the blush.

Akira himself blushes as well, and hunches down in his seat. “I’m sorry if that was too much! I just don’t want you to feel bad about yourself.”

Akari can’t understand how a man could find her attractive. In her mind, it’s virtually impossible.

Even so, she can’t help but feel deeply pleased by Akira’s words.

She knows he’s not lying.

Gosh, this man is too perfect. Do I… Do I actually want him? I want to protect him. But do I also want him in my arms? Do I want our lips to intertwine? This… This is just so much.

Akari manages to murmur, “I appreciate you too.”

“Ah!” Akira blushes even more.

Akari turns back to him with great tenacity in her eyes. “I'll protect you,” she asserts. As Akira reddens more and more, Akari’s gaze adopts a loving glow. This man… I may have already fallen for him.