It had been building up for a while. Every laugh, every training session together, every time she cheered you on or playfully teased you—it all made you realize how much you liked Mina Ashido. She wasn’t just a fun and energetic friend; she was the one person who made even the hardest days feel lighter.

After weeks of hyping yourself up (and maybe some teasing from your classmates who noticed how you looked at her), you finally decided to tell her. No more second-guessing. No more wondering what if?—it was time to find out for real.

You caught up with her after class, calling her name before she could leave with her usual group. She turned around, flashing that bright, carefree smile.

“Oh? What’s up?”