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Chapter 28: I like you. Shiori’s POV I was lying on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, tears quietly trailing down my face. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t get the image out of my mind—Haru-kun standing there, listening as that girl confessed to him. My chest tightened painfully every time I replayed it. Why am I like this? Why does it hurt so much? I told myself it was because I feared being alone again if Haru found someone else—someone better than me. That was always the excuse I used to make myself feel better. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t the truth. It wasn’t the fear of being alone that haunted me. It was something deeper, something that cut into my very core. It was the fear of seeing the person I loved—the only person I’ve ever truly loved—be happy with someone who wasn’t me. It wasn’t just loneliness; it was jealousy, heartache, and the unbearable feeling of losing something precious. Is this what they call unrequited love? 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂 What would I do if Haru-kun and that girl ended up together? Could I still look him in the eye? Could I pretend to be happy for him? The thought was unbearable. A loud knock on my door shattered my thoughts, making me jump. "Shiori-san! Are you there?" That voice... Haru-kun? I hurriedly wiped my tears, though my hands trembled as I did so. Why was he here? What did he want? Part of me was thrilled to see him, but the other part was terrified. What if he came to tell me he was going to start dating her? What if he wanted to cut ties with me? I hesitated for a moment, but then my legs moved on their own. Before I knew it, I was at the door, my heart pounding like a drum. Slowly, I opened it. ### Haru’s POV As soon as the door opened, I saw her. Shiori-san’s eyes were red and swollen, her face pale, and her expression hesitant. She had been crying—there was no doubt about it. Seeing her like this made my chest ache. "Shiori-san," I began softly. "Can I come in?" She didn’t say anything, just stepped aside to let me in. Her apartment was dimly lit, and there was an unmistakable mess on the floor—books, papers, and a blanket tossed carelessly. It was unlike her usual neat and organized self. We sat on the edge of her bed in silence. I took a deep breath, steadying myself. I had come here for one reason, and I couldn’t let myself falter now. "Shiori-san, did you... Did you see me on the rooftop earlier?" She flinched at my question, her gaze darting away. "N-No! What are you talking about?" She was lying. It was obvious. "Shiori-san," I pressed gently. "You really saw, didn’t you? Shino told me she’s the one who sent you there." Her expression tightened, and she crossed her arms defensively. "So what if I did? You’re guilty, aren’t you? Might I remind you that dating under my advisory is strictly prohibited?" "Eh? But I didn’t say yes to her confession." Her head snapped toward me, her eyes wide. "You’re lying! You came here to ask me to leave you alone so you can date her, didn’t you?" "Of course not!" I replied firmly. "You’re just being paranoid again. Calm down, Shiori-san." She blinked, stunned into silence. For a moment, she just stared at me, as though trying to figure out if I was telling the truth. Finally, she let out a long, shaky breath. "So... you’re not dating that girl?" she asked quietly. "No, I’m not," I said. "Just calm down, okay Shiori’s POV I felt the tension drain from my body at his words. So, it was just me being paranoid again... All that crying, all that heartache—it was for nothing. I don’t know why, but tears welled up in my eyes again. Except this time, they weren’t tears of sadness. They were tears of relief. Relief that Haru-kun hadn’t left me, that he still cared enough to come here and explain. Before I knew it, I had thrown my arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. I didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want to lose him. For the first time in so long, I felt safe. He didn’t push me away. Instead, he gently patted my back, his hand warm and comforting. We stayed like that for a while, and when we finally pulled apart, he looked at me with a mixture of concern and determination. "Shiori-san," he began. "I have something I need to tell you. And this time, I want you to listen without interrupting, okay?" I nodded, my heart racing. Was he... Was he going to say what I thought he was? ### Haru’s POV I took a deep breath. This was it. The moment I had been building up to for weeks. No more hesitation, no more second-guessing myself. I needed to tell her how I felt. "Shiori-san," I said, my voice steady. "I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time now. Please go out with me." Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she just stared at me in shock. Then she shook her head, a small, disbelieving laugh escaping her lips. "Haru-kun," she said softly. "I told you before, you need to consider the mood and place for these things. This isn’t exactly the most romantic setting, you know." I scratched the back of my head, feeling a little sheepish. "Well, I was planning to confess on Christmas Eve, along with the gift I’ve been saving up to buy for you. But... I couldn’t wait anymore. I needed to tell you now." Her expression softened, and she reached out to take my hand in hers. "Haru-kun, are you sure about this? I’m older than you. I’m your teacher. People will talk, you know." "I don’t care what other people think," I said firmly. "I like you, Shiori-san. And I want to be with you. That’s all that matters to me." She looked at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face. "Alright, Haru-kun," she said softly. "Let’s give it a try. But on one condition." "What is it?" I asked. Her smile turned mischievous. "You’re spending the night here. I’ll call your mom and let her know." Shiori’s POV As I looked at Haru-kun, his face a mixture of shock and embarrassment, I couldn’t help but laugh. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt truly happy. Not the fleeting happiness of a distraction or a temporary escape, but the deep, unshakable joy of being with the person I loved. I didn’t know what the future held for us. There would be challenges, of course—people would judge us, and we’d have to keep our relationship a secret for now. But none of that mattered. Because for the first time in my life, I wasn’t alone. And neither was he. A/N: Volume 1 will soon end. Sorry for some long updates since I’m busy as hell with my exams. After this volume, I’ll release a bonus Chapter before proceeding to volume 2. Thanks for staying with me.