"Ohh… n-no, I definitely couldn't join. I'm not good enough for that stuff."
She waved both of her hands in front of her face like she'd just been caught doing something illegal.
"What a shame… what about you?" the lady asked, turning her eyes toward me.
I grabbed my glasses instantly—
tears threatening to spill out.
I stood up, my legs shaking, and walked past them without looking back.
"I g-gotta go…"
My hands covered my face.
I didn't want anyone to see me like this.
I walked down the hallway, turned right into the men's bathroom.
My eyes stared at my reflection in the mirror—
What… just…
My mind couldn't form anything.
No reason.
No explanation.
Was she joking—?
Was it just a play—?
Or is she crazy—?
My thoughts tangled, tripping over each other until I couldn't breathe.
I forced myself into a stall.
My quiet place.
Where the world couldn't touch me.
Where the walls stared at me, and I could stare back without looking down.
I'll just wait it out…
I'll wait out lunch…
Then I'll go to class…
I kept repeating it.
Over and over.
Because… how do I deal with this?
My first kiss?
It felt like she took more than that…
Ten minutes passed.
The bathroom door creaked.
Soft footsteps tapped across the tiles—
then stopped right in front of my stall.
"Souta."
She followed me.
Into the bathroom.
Into the boys' bathroom.
Okay—
she's insane.
I didn't answer.
I pulled my knees to my chest and stayed silent.
Knock.
"Souta… I'm sorry. I didn't expect it to go that far. I was just… in the moment."
In the moment?
What kind of excuse is that?
"In the moment" so you can slap someone and kiss them!?
"I–I just… want to be left alone… okay?"
"I know I messed up! …It was my first kiss too, y'know."
Her voice softened.
Her feet shifted under the stall.
First kiss…?
So that gave her the right to take mine…?
I wanted to say so much.
But nothing came out.
"I can make it up to you! You can… get me back however you want."
She said it with confidence.
Get her back…
Does she mean—
I can do anything to her…?
"Soutaaa… come on."
She shook the stall door gently, begging.
My hand trembled as I reached for the latch.
I opened it slowly.
She stepped back, smiling like she'd been waiting for this.
"I knew that'd make you budge."
My eyes looked away, my body still shaking.
"Now, as promised… you can do anything you want to me."
My eyes shot up at her.
"A-anything I… want?"
Her smile widened.
Her eyes squinted playfully.
"Anything."
"No, no… I couldn't possibly do something like that…"
I waved my hands frantically.
"Soutaaa."
She moved closer—
and closer—
towering over me.
She grabbed my hands and leaned into my face.
"I promise. Anything you want."
She whispered it so close I could feel her breath.
For a second—just a second—
I pretended she was the bathroom stall.
Something I could stare at without falling apart.
My eyes dropped.
I failed.
"O–Ok…"
My voice cracked.
If I rejected her again… she'd push even harder.
And the truth is—
I didn't want anything from her.
"What, really!?"
She let go of my hands and spun around, almost jumping, like a puppy getting a treat.
She stopped and faced me again, smiling.
"So, Soutaa… what'll it be?"
"Oh, I… um…"
I didn't think this far.
What do I want?
A life…
A friend…
A friend…
But is that even a smart idea…?
"I mean… she did say sorry—"
"B–Be my… friend."
…
"Your friend…? That's it?"
"Y-yeah."
I turned away, embarrassed.
She stared.
Then laughed.
Hard.
"Man, Soutaa, you're funny!"
She laughed until the sound faded into a small breath—
her shoulders relaxing, her expression softening.
She let out a slow exhale.
"Okay… that's a deal."