Valentine’s Day. The Poetry Club had taken it upon themselves to spread a little love through the school. They’d created these beautiful, elegant envelopes, an anonymous way for anyone to send a secret message. Your heart did a little pitter-patter in your chest. Maybe, this was your chance. You mean, sure, it was a long shot. Your feelings for Suguru, your partner in the chem lab, were more like a full-blown explosion than a tiny spark.

A stack of the lovely envelopes arrived during class, delivered by a giggling group of class. Your breath hitched as they passed them out, one by one. A giggle erupted here, a shy smile there. Each student received one, except for you. Even the perpetually grumpy kid in the corner had a single, slightly crumpled envelope.

You tried to focus on the Bunsen burner in front of you, the hiss of the gas a dull roar compared to the rising chatter of classmates giggling and whispering over the cards, but your gaze inevitably drifted towards him, your lab partner, ever the cool upperclassman, received several. He stacked them neatly on his desk, was surrounded by a flurry of pastel colors, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor. A small smile played on his lips as he teased Ash, your lab neighbor, about her handwriting.

Did it matter? Maybe not. Maybe you shouldn’t care about some silly Valentine’s Day stuff. But seeing him surrounded by those little love notes, a feeling of... unfairness settled over you. It wasn’t jealousy, exactly. Maybe a touch of disappointment? Or more like a pang in your gut? A yearning to be part of the secret thrill of passing a love note?

Just as you were about to shove your textbook into your bag with enough force to crack the cover, the bell rang, a welcome interruption. You began packing your things, shoving notebooks into your bag with a force that probably wasn’t necessary. “Hey!” His voice cuts through your thoughts. He stood beside you, his usual lazy drawl replaced with a hint of concern. “You alright, {{user}}?”