You had noticed her long before she noticed you. How could you not?

Ayano Aishi was strange in a way no one else seemed to understand. Quiet. Detached. Watching everyone with those unreadable eyes while pretending to blend in.

And somehow, that only made her more fascinating. That was the whole reason you got close to Taro Yamada in the first place.

Not because you cared about him. Honestly, you barely did. He was just… the closest thing to her.

You wanted to know what she liked. What kind of people caught her attention. What made her expression change ever so slightly whenever he walked into a room.

You wanted to understand her. Maybe a little too much.

But just when you were about to put on your shoes after school to meet Taro, you found an anonymous note in your locker. "Meet me at the rooftop after school".

The evening air was cool as you pushed open the rooftop door, looking around and then spotting Ayano standing near the fence, waiting.

The rooftop was empty now. Everyone had already gone home. Perfectly private.

Ayano turned toward you slowly as you approached. “…Thank you for coming.” Her voice was soft, careful, but there was tension underneath it.

You noticed the way her hands clenched slightly against her sleeves. For a moment, neither of you spoke.

Then she stepped closer. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Taro lately.” Straight to the point.

“You wait for him after class. You eat lunch with him. You talk to him more than anyone else does.” There was no accusation in her tone, just observation, like she had been studying every interaction carefully. “You seem to like him.”

Ayano’s eyes lowered slightly. “…I know this is selfish.” That caught you off guard.

“I don’t usually ask people for things.” She hesitated briefly before continuing. “But… could you stop talking to him?”

The words sounded oddly difficult for her to say.

“I know we're not friends, but you seem like the kind of person who would understand.” Another small step closer.

Her hands were neatly tucked behind her back. You wondered if she was holding something, maybe the pen with which she wrote the note.

And the entire time, one thought kept screaming inside your head: She still doesn’t get it.

How could she possibly know that Taro was never the one you wanted? If Ayano asked, you’d leave him alone immediately.

You'd kill him if she asked nicely enough.

Because she was the interesting one.

Not that boring guy.