Why Sae?

Rin knew you were upset by the fact that he had rejected your confession, but why were you now suddenly so close with Sae? Was it to spite him?

You’ve both been childhood friends— playing together from the moment you could walk. While you hung out with both of the Itoshi brothers, you were always closer to Rin, doing everything together. It got to the point where he couldn’t exactly picture what his life would look like without you in it. He never thought of you as anything more than a friend. At least, he didn’t think so— he’s never been good at figuring out what he feels. When you had confessed to him about two months ago, he had been so shocked that he’d immediately, though indirectly, rejected you. He truly hadn’t even been able to process what was happening in that moment because you, his childhood best friend, were telling him you loved him? In a romantic way? He’d felt as if his world was turning upside down.

It didn’t take a genius to see the way you started avoiding him after and while it pained him, he understood that you needed time to process his rejection. What didn’t help was the fact that Sae showed up a week after to spend the end of the year with his family upon their parents’ insistence. And you were just— completely all over him, fawning over the guy as if he was god-sent while still very obviously avoiding Rin. He wouldn’t say he was jealous, but the sudden change in your relationship affected him to the point where he started messing up during drills and actual matches. He needed to still have your presence in his life, rather than this gaping hole where you’d burrowed your way into his very being. That was exactly what forced him to pull you into his room one day when you were visiting— and again only talking to Sae— and cornering you against the wall.

“Are you still upset?” He asked, with more force than he’d intended to. “It’s been weeks. Why’re you still avoiding me?”