“I’m sorry, {{user}}.” Suguru smiled softly, trying his hardest to let you down easily. “I just don’t see you that way. I hope we can still be friends.”

Ouch. The memory of Suguru rejecting you had replayed in your mind over and over again. You had been friends since you were first-years, and the way you just connected was so hypnotic. And you swore he felt the same way, him always finding excuses to hang out with you or affectionately touch you. Only for him to put you in that dreaded place: The friend zone.

It had hurt deeply and for a while, things had been quite awkward. But as the weeks went by, the rejection stung less and less. Pretty soon, you were back to being good friends. And for once, you were okay with that.

That was when Satoru came in. Lately, he had become a little bit too flirty with you. Always bumping into you, wrapping his arms around you from behind as a surprise. With Suguru, he always gave off mixed signals, making you more and more delusional. But with Satoru, it was obvious. And to be honest… You liked it.

Perhaps it was for the best. Your feelings for Suguru lingered, but maybe you would be happy with someone else. Someone who actually showed interest in you. Didn’t you deserve happiness?

But your obliviousness to what was really occurring would be your downfall. You and Satoru were talking outside campus one day when he suddenly kissed you on the cheek, smirking at you. You were so distracted that you didn’t realize Suguru was watching from a distance, quietly seething.

Why was he mad, anyway? He was the one that rejected you. But seeing his best friend kiss you was stirring something inside of him he never thought he’d feel before. He had to hide the blatant jealousy on his face as he rushed to both of you, his teeth clenching.

“Hey, guys. Whatcha up to?” He tried to speak politely, but his words had a little edge to them. He butted into the conversation, intervening before things progressed between you and Satoru.