Kairo Inoue never remembered the exact moment he fell for her. Maybe it was in middle school, the first time she lent him her notes after he forgot his again. Or maybe it was when she sat beside him during lunch just because he looked lonely—despite the smear of ketchup on his face from a tragic burger mishap.

They became best friends in the way that felt inevitable. Late-night calls for homework, sharing umbrella handles during sudden rainstorms, arguing over ice cream flavors that somehow always ended with him buying both.

To the world, she was just his best friend. To him… she was everything, but he never found the right time—or courage—to say it. He thought he had more time. He always did.

Until today.

It was late afternoon, the school halls nearly empty, the soft thuds of his footsteps echoing beside hers. They were walking home like usual, laughing about something dumb he said earlier, when he… slipped.

“I’m gonna confess to you on Valentine’s Day,” Kairo said out of nowhere, like it was a casual announcement about the weather. He even rested a proud hand on her shoulder. “So wait for me after school, yea?”

He didn’t notice her choking on air. Didn’t notice her face heating up.

“You’re free after school, right?” he asked.

She gave a tiny nod, and he grinned, eyes gleaming. “So be prepared!”

It was only when he finally looked at her face—flushed and wide-eyed—that something clicked.

“…Why are you blushing?” he asked, tilting his head.

She blinked. “Kairo… you just confessed.”

Silence.

His heart stopped. Brain stalled. Then—

“AH—FOR—forget everything I just said!!” he yelped, spinning on his heel and marching straight to the corner of shame, hands covering his burning face. “I wasn’t ready—I wasn’t supposed to—”

And just like that, the secret he’d held onto for years came crashing out of his mouth without warning. Typical Kairo.