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~~~
"Sit down, Kei."
After gesturing for the stiff-as-a-board Kei Shirogane to take a seat, Rei Ao crouched in front of her and gently lifted her right foot.
"!?"
It took her a second to realize what was happening, and suddenly all the blood in her body felt like it rushed to her face. The moment Rei Ao's fingers touched her ankle, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
He loosened the laces of her worn-out sneaker, slipped it off, and then carefully put the new shoe on her foot. The instant her foot slipped inside the new sneaker, Kei froze. She had never worn anything so comfortable—it felt like she was stepping on clouds.
Of course, a bigger shock was the swirl of emotions from having Rei Ao personally put it on for her.
Rei Ao's fingers lightly pressed the tip of the shoe to check the fit.
"How's that? Too tight?"
"It feels… really nice," she whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
He nodded, then slipped the other shoe on for her. When he finally stood up, he said, "Walk around a bit and see how it feels."
Kei stood carefully, taking a few tentative steps. Each one felt like a dream. Rei Ao watched her walk, then announced, "Let's try a size 37 for comparison."
They repeated the entire routine, and by the end of it, Kei was so overwhelmed she could hardly think straight. After trying the 37s, Kei admitted they felt better. Without hesitation, Rei Ao picked them.
"These fit you better. They won't slip when you run."
He turned to the store clerk.
"We'll take this pair. Please wrap up her old shoes."
At that point, Kei finally regained her voice.
"Senpai, I really can't—"
"It's already paid for."
Rei Ao swiped his card, ending the conversation.
"…"
Blushing, Kei took the bag with her old shoes inside, her heart pounding wildly.
…
Across the street from the shoe store, three girls were watching from inside a café.
"So they just went shoe-shopping."
Yumiko pursed her lips but didn't take her eyes off Rei Ao as he knelt down on one knee to help Kei with her shoes.
"Wow, Rei Ao actually put her shoes on for her…"
Yui pressed her hands to her cheeks. "That's so romantic… He's so sweet!"
Yukino was silently observing them through the window. Her face was calm, but her grip on her coffee cup was so tight her knuckles had gone pale. Suddenly, she stood up.
"It's time to go."
"Eh? Let's wait a bit longer,"
Yumiko protested.
"What if they go on a date afterward?"
"That's enough."
Yukino's voice was colder than usual.
"We have no right to interfere in other people's choices."
…
Inside the shoe store, Kei was wearing her new sneakers, feeling lighter than air. Rei Ao carried the bag with her old pair and said softly, "They suit you."
That simple statement made her eyes well up with tears again. Glancing down at her brand-new shoes, she felt a quiet shift in her heart. This wasn't just about having a new pair of sneakers—it was about feeling treasured by someone for the first time in her life.
"Thank you, Senpai…"
She said in a choked voice. "I promise I'll take really good care of them."
Seeing her eyes redden, Rei Ao's mouth lifted in a near-imperceptible smile.
"I'll be cheering you on at the sports festival."
Kei's head shot up, meeting his pale gaze. Her heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. The evening sun cast a warm orange glow through the store's glass, bathing them both in its light.
"Yeah, I'll do my best!"
…
"I'm home!"
Kei Shirogane's voice was at least eight octaves higher than usual as she came through the front door. She stared down at her brand-new running shoes, a smile tugging at her lips. She couldn't help it—they were a gift from Rei Ao-senpai. She could practically still see his warm, bright grin in front of her eyes.
In the living room, Miyuki Shirogane was buried in a heap of study guides. Hearing his sister's unusually bubbly greeting, he looked up in surprise. Ever since starting high school, she'd become more reserved, rarely so animated.
"Something good happen today?"
Kei was bent down at the entryway, untying her laces. She froze for a second when her brother asked.
"N-nothing special," she responded, trying to keep her tone level, but she couldn't hide the excitement in her voice.
Miyuki narrowed his eyes. He prided himself on his keen observation skills, and Kei was definitely acting off today. He set his pen aside and walked over to the doorway, just in time to see her gently place a brand-new pair of running shoes into the shoe cabinet.
"New shoes?"
He asked, noting that they were nothing like her usual footwear.
"Kei, when did you buy those?"
Caught off guard, Kei visibly stiffened for a moment.
"Uh… recently,"
she mumbled, quickly shutting the cabinet door.
"They look expensive. How much did they cost?"
Miyuki pressed. He knew their family's financial situation better than anyone—his sister was always thrifty, so blowing cash on pricey shoes was suspicious.
"I-I didn't waste money!"
Kei's voice rose suddenly, and a faint blush crept over her cheeks.
Miyuki frowned. Her reaction was definitely sketchy.
"Kei, if someone gave them to you—"
"None of your business!" she yelled, cutting him off. Like a startled rabbit, she dashed upstairs into her room, slamming the door behind her.
Miyuki stood there, dumbfounded.
"…Sigh."
He sighed and massaged his temples. Ever since his sister hit her teenage years, he'd found it harder and harder to figure out what was going on in her head.
…
Up in her bedroom, Kei flopped onto her bed, burying her burning face into a pillow. She knew she'd overreacted, but she just couldn't help it. If her brother found out the shoes were a gift from Rei Ao-senpai, who knew what he'd say?
Even though there was nothing going on between her and her senpai.
…Well, not yet, anyway.
With that thought, she rolled onto her back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Why had Senpai given her the shoes? Was it really just a thank-you for that dinner? Or was there another reason?
She opened her phone's photo gallery and gazed at a candid shot she'd taken of Rei Ao's profile.
"Senpai…"
She murmured to herself, smiling softly without realizing it.
~~~
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