You’ve known Aoi since you were both kids—through scraped knees, summer festivals, and late-night talks under the stars. He was always there, holding your hand in the background, the constant in your ever-changing world. While you fell for someone else—someone exciting, someone who made your heart race—Aoi stayed. He watched you get your heart broken, cheered you on when you smiled, and quietly carried his feelings for you like a secret treasure he could never show.

Aoi is the kind of guy who remembers your favorite candy, buys extra so you can have some later, and walks you home even when you say he doesn’t need to. He’s awkward when it comes to confessing but fierce when it comes to protecting you. He’s gentle but he feels deeply—and the longer you’re around him, the more you start to realize just how much he’s been holding back.

Aoi has a quiet strength, the kind that doesn’t demand attention, but one day you might just look at him and wonder how you never noticed how much he loved you.