Tuesday morning was strangely crisp. The air carried a quiet bite, as if nudging people to wake up, to move, to act.
Sora felt it in her fingertips.
She stood in front of the mirror longer than usual. Her uniform looked the same. Her bangs were still slightly too long. Her expression was neutral.
But something inside her had shifted.
Maybe it was Hana's words echoing in her mind.
> "If you're gonna regret something, make sure it's because you acted, not because you didn't."
Maybe it was the way Leo had smiled at Aiko.
Not in love. But familiar. Comfortable.
Sora didn't want to lose before even trying.
So she made a decision.
No more hesitation.
---
During lunch, instead of going to her usual shady spot under the sakura tree, Sora walked directly toward Leo's classroom.
She caught him just as he was putting his bento on his desk.
"Leo."
He looked up, surprised. "Oh. Hey."
She didn't wait for small talk. "Come with me."
"…Now?"
"Yes."
He blinked, but nodded. "Okay."
---
She led him to the rooftop garden—a quiet place usually locked, but Sora had a key. No one asked how.
Wind brushed through the flowers. The city stretched far below.
Leo stood beside her, uncertain.
"…Sora?"
She turned.
"I need to say something. And I don't want you to say anything until I'm finished."
Leo nodded.
Sora took a breath. Her hands tightened at her sides.
"I've liked you for a long time."
Leo's eyes widened.
"Not from the first moment. Not because of your face or your height or your quiet eyes. I liked you because you're steady. Because you care even when you don't say much. Because you listen."
She looked away, gaze settling on the sky.
"And maybe I was too slow. Maybe I was too scared. But I'm not going to stay frozen anymore."
Silence.
A long silence.
Then Sora said, voice lower now:
"I'm not asking you to choose me. I just wanted you to know I'm here. That I'm not running away."
Leo stepped closer, gently.
He said softly, "Sora—"
But she held up a hand.
"No. Not yet. I'm not done."
She turned to face him fully.
"I know about Yuki. About Hana. And I saw Aiko. I know what I'm up against. But I'm not going to pretend I don't care. I do care. About you. And about what happens next."
Then she smiled.
Not her usual blank expression. Not her cold smirk.
But a real smile. Honest. Bright. Nervous.
"I'm not good at this. I don't flirt well. I get awkward. I freeze. But I'll try. I want to try."
Leo was quiet.
Not because he didn't care.
But because something in his chest was twisting—tight, warm, scared, and grateful.
He nodded slowly.
"…Okay."
---
They stayed on the rooftop for a while.
Talking. About nothing. About everything.
He told her about the time his little brother put salt in the sugar jar.
She told him about the first time she tried curry and cried because it was too spicy.
It was… normal.
It was perfect.
For a moment.
---
Later, Yuki found Leo outside the broadcasting room.
She handed him a drink.
"…You were with her," she said simply.
Leo nodded.
"I'm not mad," Yuki said. "I'm just… a little scared."
He looked at her.
She added, "But I'm still in this. You haven't seen the last of me."
Then she winked.
And walked away.
---
In her room that night, Sora lay on her bed, phone beside her, open to a half-written message.
She didn't send it.
But she smiled.
Because for once, she didn't need to hide behind a screen.
She had spoken.
And that was enough.