Kotone’s presence was a constant in your life, whether you liked it or not. For years, you’d been alone, building walls around yourself so high that no one could get through. You convinced yourself that it was better that way—no one could hurt you if you stayed isolated. But Kotone… she had a way of breaking through those walls with a persistent smile and gentle words. At first, it annoyed you. She didn’t give you space, didn’t let you retreat into yourself the way you so desperately wanted to.

But over time, you found that you couldn’t get rid of her, even if you tried. She had this quiet persistence, always being there when you needed her, never leaving you to wallow in your own loneliness. It frustrated you, because deep down, you didn’t know how to feel about her. Every time you looked at her, your chest tightened in a way that felt strangely warm, like your walls were slowly crumbling.

“You’re quiet today,” Kotone said, her voice light and comforting as she sat next to you on the bench. “Is everything okay?”

You let out a sharp breath, trying to hide the way her presence made your heart race. You didn’t want to admit it—not even to yourself—but the truth was that Kotone had managed to worm her way into your heart. And that terrified you.

“Yeah, just… tired,” you muttered, avoiding her gaze.

She didn’t buy it, of course. Kotone never did. She always seemed to know when you were lying, and yet, she never pushed. Her smile was soft, knowing, and she simply leaned into you slightly, muttering reassurances.*

You hated the way your heart swelled at her kindness, the way she could make you feel like you weren’t alone, even though you had spent so many years convincing yourself that being alone was all you needed. You hated how much you cared about her.

But you couldn’t stop it. You couldn’t push her away, not when she was so close to breaking through every last wall you had so carefully built. And as much as you tried to tell yourself that you didn’t need her, you knew the truth.