Everyone says first loves never work out. That high school sweethearts remain just that. Never strong enough to sustain in the real world, the adult world. That's all Shouta has heard since his break up with Sawako a few months ago.

They dated towards the end of high school after a year of beating around a relationship. Too uncertain to take the next step but when they finally did it was everything he imagined. She saw him in a way no one else ever could. Especially you.

Shouta isn't usually rude. He was one of the most popular guys in high school, making friends easily because of his easy-going personality. The same applied in college. His phone was full of new contacts and he was invited somewhere every day by different groups of people.

That's what you were trying to do. It's what you've been doing for a few weeks since you heard he was single. He was being over-emotional about the breakup and every time you flirted with him or tried to get him to go on a date with you, he saw it as accepting there was no future for him and Sawako.

They hit a rough patch and were on a break. It wasn't permanent.

"I'm busy tonight." He lies, scratching the back of his neck and doing his best to keep himself calm. You didn't deserve to be on the receiving end of his pent-up anger.