[Kenta's POV]
Pushing the thought out of my mind. I forced myself to sleep.
Morning came anyway, and I dragged myself out of bed.
The mirror showed me everything I didn't want to admit— dark circles around my eyes. I looked like someone who had been haunted by his own thoughts, and I hate to admit it was true.
In my defense, how could anyone sleep in this position? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that damn photo again.
I can still fix it..
I kept repeating it to myself.
Almost like I was the one at fault here.
By the time I arrived at school, the world seemed to weigh more. Everyone was talking, laughing, like normal. I was walking through it, pretending like I could still do the same.
Shiroi smiled at me when I came into the class. That same gentle smile that made my heart skip before now just made my stomach churn.
"Morning," she said.
"Yeah," I grumbled back, attempting to be normal.
For a second, it nearly worked. We cracked up at something stupid joke over lunch, exchanged a few words that sounded like they used to sound. But the entire time, I couldn't help but see that photo—her hair disheveled, that stupid keychain resting next to her.
I couldn't take it anymore. Every smile, every laugh, it all felt like a lie I was helping her tell.
When the final bell rang, I waited until most of the class had cleared out. My hands wouldn't stop shaking, but I called out anyway.
"Shiroi..."
"I… need to talk to you after school."
"Sure," she said,
"About what?"
I forced a small smile, trying not to let my voice crack.
"Meet me at the library."
For a second, her expression froze. Barely noticeable, but it was enough. Then she laughed, that soft, airy tone she always used when she was trying to act like nothing was wrong.
"The library?"
"Right. Of course."
As she walked away, I caught my reflection in the window. Dark circles. Empty eyes. I didn't even recognize myself anymore.
The sun had already dipped low by the time she showed up. The school courtyard was empty, quiet except for the hum of cicadas in the distance.
She looked the same as always — perfectly put together, calm — like nothing was wrong. But the moment her eyes met mine, I felt that wall between us.
"You wanted to talk?" she asked.
"Yeah," I said. My throat was dry. "Thanks for coming."
A small smile. "You sound serious. Did something happen?"
I hesitated. For a second, I almost lost my nerve. Almost told her it was nothing, that I'd just overthought it. But the image flashed again in my head — that picture, that keychain, that text.
"You've been going to the library a lot lately, right?" I asked.
She blinked. "...Yeah? Why?"
"Even at night?"
Her smile faltered for just a heartbeat. "What are you talking about?"
I looked down, forcing a breath. "You said you were busy. But I saw your phone, Shiroi."
Her body went stiff — not like someone caught, but someone deciding what kind of lie to tell next.
"You went through my phone?" she said, voice suddenly sharper.
"I didn't mean to," I said. "You left it behind. I just— I saw something I wasn't supposed to."
Silence.
Then, softly:"You don't trust me, do you?"
I laughed, but it came out broken. "I wanted to. God, I still want to."
She didn't answer. Just looked away, hands clutching the hem of her skirt.
Finally, I said it. "I saw the messages. I saw the picture."
Her eyes widened — not in surprise, but in recognition. She knew exactly what I meant.
And that's when she smiled. Just a small, tired, bitter smile."Kenta… you weren't supposed to see that."
I stared at her, waiting for something — anything — that could make this make sense.
"Shiroi… why?"My voice barely came out. "I thought we were alright. I thought you were happy. Did I… do something wrong?"
She didn't answer right away. Her gaze flicked to the ground, then back to me, cold and unreadable.
"You really don't get it, do you?" she said quietly. "You're always so… good. So careful. Always waiting, always thinking. But I'm human, Kenta."
I felt something twist in my chest. "What the hell does that even mean?"
"It means," she said, stepping closer, her tone trembling but her eyes sharp, "I got tired of waiting. Of pretending that holding hands and smiling was enough."
I shook my head. "So you just—"My words caught in my throat.
She smiled, that same soft, perfect smile that used to make me feel lucky — now it just made me sick."You made me wait too long."