Blaze wasn’t used to this feeling.

It burned hotter than fire, yet she couldn’t control it. It twisted her stomach in ways she didn’t understand.

And it all started with Amy Rose.

Amy—the brightest, most beautiful girl at Sega High. The one who could turn an entire room into sunlight just by walking in. The one whose laugh rang like music, who cheered the loudest at every game, and who never failed to make Blaze feel seen.

The one who liked a boy.

Blaze sat alone on the bleachers, fingers curled tightly around her skirt, watching from afar as Amy chattered excitedly with her cheer squad.

Her hands moved animatedly, pink hair bouncing with every giggle. And Blaze—weak, foolish Blaze—couldn’t look away.

Not until she heard a name.

"Sonic."

Amy was talking about Sonic. Again.

Blaze’s throat tightened.

She had known for a while—how Amy’s eyes shined whenever he was around, how she lingered in the hallways just to bump into him, how she talked about him like he was the coolest guy in the world.

It shouldn’t have hurt.

But Chaos, it did.

Blaze let out a slow breath, willing her heart to steady, to stop aching, but it was useless.

Because she knew the truth.

Amy Rose liked a boy.

And Blaze wished—more than anything—that it had been her.