I thought our conversation was over, but before I could get ready for bed, Mom called me downstairs. She'd brewed some tea and was sitting on a barstool near the stairway. She pointed to the seat next to her, but I shook my head.
"It's okay, Mom. I'll stand."
"I'm twice your age. I'm not as naïve as I look," she sighed. "This is your first relationship, and I'm sure the feelings are intense... but please be careful. I'm here if you need any advice."
Her sincerity touched me, so I asked what had been on my mind.
"Were there any signs before Dad proposed to you?"
Her face froze—clearly, she wasn't expecting that. She fidgeted and took a breath before answering.
"He... asked me to meet his closest friends and family. He planned a trip for just the two of us. He'd ask questions like what I thought about marriage, how many kids I wanted—casually, so I didn't realize he meant with him. I was so stupid."
"Oh... that makes sense. I think Shion might be planning something for my birthday or graduation. He keeps dropping hints, and it's making me nervous."
"YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO PROPOSE?!" Her tone was a sharp mix of shock and disbelief.
"I'm not sure," I replied timidly.
"You have your whole life ahead of you—there's no need to get married so soon," she said, clearly trying to stay composed.
"There's no way being with Shion would hold me back. We can be engaged for years. I can't imagine being with anyone else, so why would I say no?"
She rolled her eyes and sighed again. "It's just because he's your first love that you feel that way."
That stung. I instantly regretted opening up to her.
"I'm not stupid. I know there are other guys. I know relationships fall apart. But I've never been interested in anyone else. Maybe there's a reason I'm so attuned to him, even though I'm usually oblivious. And I know that if he asked me to marry him right now, I'd say yes—no hesitation, no doubts, no regrets!"
I couldn't handle her response. I rushed upstairs, locked my door, and collapsed against it. I wasn't sad, but the emotions were too much. My eyes overflowed, and I sat there crying until I finally drifted off to sleep on the floor.
I woke up to the door creaking open and something nudging me gently.
"...Honey…" Mom whispered.
I groaned and sat up so she could enter. She knelt beside me.
"It's time for school," she said, maybe just to break the silence. I nodded, eyes fixed on the wall.
"I'm... also sorry," she added. "I'm just worried you're rushing into things. But you're a smart girl. I shouldn't have belittled your feelings."
Still groggy, I gathered my energy to respond.
"I'm sorry for yelling. I know you mean well. I've just... never felt like this before. I don't think I could handle losing him."
Mom frowned. "No person is that important."
I nodded, slowly. "I just... enjoy being around him. It makes me happy to see him smile, to hear his voice. Maybe it's selfish, but I'm only thinking about how he makes me feel."
She laughed softly and pulled me into a hug.
"Don't you want to go to college? Travel? Start a career?"
I thought for a moment. "I've never really thought about those things. The only thing I'm sure of... is that I want to be in Shion's future."
"Get ready for school," she said, standing up and leaving the room.
I got dressed, grabbed a muffin, and hurried outside.
Serco was waiting for me again—just like he said he would. My heart did flips the moment I saw him. I thought I was prepared, but...
He smiled. "Good morning, Akina."
His warm expression made my flustered state worse. When he noticed me trying to keep a straight face, his smile took on a slightly teasing edge.
"Good morning," I replied.
He extended his hand, and I took it without hesitation.
POV: Nacina
As I stepped outside, I spotted Tiren standing near my mailbox. My heart jumped—if my parents saw him, they'd definitely get the wrong idea. I grabbed his wrist and tried to drag him away, but he was stronger than I expected and pulled free.
"What are you doing?" he asked. His voice was deeper than usual—flat, almost cold.
"I just want to go somewhere private... so my parents don't see you."
He clicked his tongue, then gave me a small smile. "Oh. Got it. My bad."
He motioned for me to lead the way, so I walked to the end of the block—far enough from Akina's house that she wouldn't see us.
"What are you doing here?" I asked in a hushed voice, even though no one could hear us.
"I was hoping I could walk to school with you and Aki."
It was strange, hearing him call her that.
"I... don't think she likes you yet," I admitted.
He frowned and muttered, "Of course… because of that fu—" He stopped himself, then forced a smile. "Well, we can just walk together then."
Even though he sounded casual, I could tell he was disappointed.
"Do you... have a crush on Aki?" I asked.
Disgust flashed across his face before he masked it.
"No. I don't know her. I just want to understand the girl my brother's so obsessed with."
He sounded sincere. But something in me still felt uneasy.
"You want to hurt Shion, don't you?"
His eyes widened. He stared at me for several seconds in silence, and then said,
"I... changed my mind. I'll walk with you another day. There's something else I need to do."
And just like that, he left—clearly in a bad mood.
We'd been texting pretty often since we met. Through texts, I'd grown fond of him. But whenever he was near me in person... I felt gross. Unsettled. Maybe I'd always sensed his bad intentions but hoped he genuinely wanted to be my friend.
Oh well. No use moping.
I turned and jogged toward Akina's house, hoping she hadn't left yet. Shion was in front of her place again. They were holding hands, smiling like nothing else in the world mattered.
I was hurt—for more than one reason. No matter what I did, I'd never made Akina smile like that. And... as much as I hated to admit it, part of me was drawn to someone I absolutely shouldn't be.
"Hey!" I called out.
Akina looked over and smiled, waving me over.