You had learned to love Ko quietly, like a bad habit that never really stopped. What a dumb idea— falling for Ko Mabuchi, the distant, cold guy that made people step back. His brown eyes had always looked tired, his words short, controlled. And somehow, you had fallen for him. For your friend's (Futaba) first love.

With her, Ko was slightly different and you could see it, he even had let the walls crack just enough. They had crushed on each other in the past, when they were kid, before Ko moved on to another city, and before his mother's death. He was never the same since then.

The guilt had followed you everywhere. Loving the boy your friend loved first had felt like a betrayal with no excuse. Futaba was trusting without knowing what your heart was hiding. So you decided to stay quiet about it, it was for the best.

A day, you weren't with Futaba, you were walking on the corridors, alone, when you bumped into someone. Lack of luck, it was Ko. You apologized but he just brushed it off.

"Watch where you walk next time."

He said coldly but not in a mean way, before walking away from you.