The boy named Ethan and Yuki Serizawa were very good friends. They often met and talked in the library. For Yuki Serizawa, who didn't have many friends, naturally, after spending a lot of time with Ethan, she developed a great affection for him.
It wasn't just her; Ethan actually liked Yuki Serizawa, too.
A beautiful, gentle, and pure girl like her—no man could possibly refuse her, and he was no exception.
He wondered if it was just his imagination, but he felt that Yuki was even more beautiful than usual today. Her cheeks were flushed with shyness, and her body, wrapped in the school uniform, was the same as always.
Yet, she exuded a special aura. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, but she was definitely more charming than before.
He was mesmerized.
"Ethan?" Seeing him stare intently at her without blinking, Yuki Serizawa tilted her head slightly. "What's wrong?"
"No, nothing," Ethan quickly looked away, regaining his composure. He scratched his head, looking like a bashful, innocent boy. After a moment of hesitation, he glanced at the graceful girl sitting in the chair and boldly said,
"I just think... you look very beautiful today, Yuki."
"Is that so?" Yuki Serizawa blinked. "Thank you."
Her feelings... were surprisingly calm. If it had been before, she would have been ecstatic to be complimented by Ethan. Now, however... she felt no emotional surge; it was just accepted as an ordinary compliment.
Yuki Serizawa suddenly bit her lip, feeling conflicted... Could it be because of Alex?
Ethan had no idea that the girl in front of him was only superficially engaging in conversation while her heart had already flown to another man. Yuki Serizawa, chatting just as she always did, was fundamentally different from the girl he knew.
"Oh? Alex?"
The black-haired girl was having a desultory chat with Ethan when the familiar figure of a boy walking in caught her eye. She gasped. I was just thinking about him, and now he shows up?
Alex? Who is that?
Ethan turned his head in confusion and saw an unfamiliar boy carrying a school bag enter. He had never seen him before... but Yuki knew him? I've never seen this guy whenever I came to the library before.
"Yo, Yuki," Alexwaved a greeting. His eyes lingered on the other male student for a moment before shifting his gaze away.
"Why are you in the library? Aren't you going to your club activities?"
"I'm not in a club. I'm just here waiting for someone," Alex pulled out his phone, checked it, and then waved dismissively. "Don't mind me."
"Waiting for someone? Is it a girl?" Yuki Serizawa asked instinctively. Her face instantly flushed upon realizing her words held a hint of sourness.
She didn't know why, but she suddenly cared about things like this.
She knew Alex had many female friends. She had seen it many times.
"Yuki, are you concerned?" Alex teased.
"I... I was just asking casually. It's not like I'm concerned," the girl lowered her head.
Ethan, standing nearby, looked at Yuki Serizawa and then at Alex, his expression rigid.
Should I leave?
What is going on with these two? Why does it feel like Yuki's smile increased the moment this person showed up? Is it just my imagination? And their conversation feels strange. Also, he's addressing her intimately by her first name?
What is the relationship between these two?
He watched with suspicion as the boy walked into the library, found a vacant corner spot, dropped his bag, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Ethan's attention returned to the black-haired girl.
Noticing that her eyes were also following Alex, a sense of crisis suddenly flared up in Ethan's heart.
"Yuki? Yuki?"
"Ah? What is it, Ethan?"
Yuki Serizawa's attention was clearly distracted, her mind wandering, and he noticed it. The male student grew even more anxious. "Yuki, who is he? Do you know him?"
"Yes, I do."
"Um, what is your relationship?"
"Relationship? That... I guess, friends," Yuki Serizawa hesitated. They were just friends, after all. They hadn't known each other long, and there hadn't been any confessions or anything. They were just ordinary friends.
But to call it ordinary... it wasn't. At least after what happened during P.E. class this afternoon, after being saved by Alex... their relationship was no longer ordinary.
At least for Yuki Serizawa, she couldn't view Alex as just a friend anymore. Friends don't do things that embarrassing, even if it was to save him at the time.
But what was done was done; the fact couldn't be changed.
Thinking of this, two red clouds bloomed on the girl's cheeks. Unfortunately for her, Ethan, who was closely watching her, saw the blush of shyness, and a frenzied alarm blared inside the boy's mind.
A strong sense of danger was born.
Something is wrong, completely wrong!
"Yuki, um..."
He opened his mouth but found himself speechless. Should he question their relationship? Yuki had already said they were friends, and besides, he had no right to question her. Should he ask if she liked that boy?
He couldn't bring himself to ask that question either.
After agonizing for a long time, facing the black-haired girl's searching gaze, Ethan glanced at Alex, who was playing on his phone in the distant chair. He seemed to gain courage.
"Um, I," He took a deep breath, finally speaking, "Yuki, the time I've spent with you, I've felt very happy. Even just talking like this makes me feel blessed."
"Eh?"
Why is he suddenly saying this? Yuki Serizawa was bewildered.
I have to say it now, or I might not get another chance. The sense of crisis made him boldly confess his feelings, his tone firm. "But, I don't just want to talk to you. I hope... we can take a step further."
"Yuki... I've always liked you. Please go out with me."
"..."
"Can we?" He reached out and grasped Yuki Serizawa's arm.
However, the action startled the girl. Yuki flinched and quickly pulled her arm away.
The boy froze.
Yuki was also stunned for a moment. Then, with trembling lashes, she turned her head away. She never expected Ethan to confess here. "Ethan... hearing you say this, I'm actually very happy."
If it were before, I would definitely say yes to his confession. But now... She found herself filled with resistance—resistance to his closeness and resistance to his confession.
"But, I still think it's better if we remain just friends than to start dating."
"..."
"I genuinely enjoy talking to you, Ethan; it's very relaxing. But that's all it is. I only see you as a friend. So... I don't want to change this relationship. Being friends is enough, isn't it?"
Silence.
After a long silence, Ethan gritted his teeth. "You're lying, Yuki. That's not the reason. It's because you like someone else, isn't it?"
Is that true?
Do I like someone else?
Yuki Serizawa stiffened at his words. After a moment of silence, she looked up and met his gaze. "I don't know, but... it is related to him."
Do I like Alex? I don't know, but... I care about him. He's constantly on my mind. That much is true.
It was also because of Alex that she felt such resistance to Ethan's confession...
"Is it that person?"
Ethan, his face pale, glanced toward the distant seat.
"Well..."
Although Yuki Serizawa didn't confirm it outright, he already knew the truth. His mouth was filled with bitterness, and his body trembled, finding it hard to accept.