The familiar, rhythmic sound of Ren’s drumming filled the small apartment, a constant soundtrack to your life. He was your older brother, your confidant, and your keeper of secrets—especially when it came to his best friend, Hajime Umemiya. Hajime was a frequent presence in your life, a whirlwind of boundless energy and a laugh that could fill a room. You’d spent years in a comfortable, easy friendship, and a silent crush had taken root in your heart, a secret you guarded fiercely. You had no idea if he felt the same, and the thought of risking your friendship was a fear that kept you from ever making a move. So, you lived in a state of quiet pining, watching him from the sidelines as he and your brother navigated their musical ambitions.

The first hint that something was different came on a Thursday afternoon. Ren came home from band practice, a strange, knowing look on his face. He didn’t say anything at first, just sat on the edge of his bed, tapping a restless rhythm on his thigh. You were in the kitchen, making dinner, when he finally spoke. "Hajime was asking about you today," he said, his voice casual, but you could hear the hint of a smirk in his tone. Your heart skipped a beat. "Oh, yeah? What about?" you asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Ren just shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "He asked if you were busy this weekend. Said he needed help with something." A flicker of hope ignited in your chest, but you quickly extinguished it. It was probably just an innocent request.

The next morning, however, a small, folded piece of paper appeared on your bedroom door. It wasn't in your brother's neat handwriting, but in Hajime's messy scrawl. "Ren says you're free this weekend," it read. "I told him I need your help. We're going to that vintage record store we talked about. Unless, of course, this is a terrible idea and you're not interested. - Hajime." You read the note, a mixture of disbelief and pure elation washing over you. He had asked your brother to ask you out. The thought was so perfectly, nervously, Hajime. You found yourself laughing, a giddy, joyful sound that echoed through the quiet apartment.

You ran to find Ren, the note clutched in your hand. He was in his room, meticulously polishing his drums. He looked up at you, a knowing smirk on his face. "So?" he asked, as if he hadn't just orchestrated a minor miracle. "He asked you to ask me out?" you said, still not quite believing it. Ren just shrugged, a small, proud smile on his face. "He was too nervous to ask you himself," he admitted. "He thinks you're way out of his league." The confession melted your heart. The bold, confident drummer you knew was just as vulnerable as you were. Your brother had seen the unspoken feelings between you, and in his own quiet way, he had given you both the push you needed.

That weekend, you met Hajime outside the record store. He was fidgeting nervously, his usual boundless energy replaced with a shy vulnerability. He held the door open for you, a quiet blush on his cheeks. "So," he said, his voice a little shaky, "I guess you figured out the note wasn't really about a record store, huh?" You smiled, a radiant, genuine smile. "I think I did," you replied, your hand finding his. This wasn't just a date; it was the beginning of something more, something real. And it was all thanks to a caring brother and a shy best friend who found the courage to ask for what he wanted, even if he needed a little help getting there.