Sheena traced the rim of her highball glass, the ice clinking a soft rhythm against the amber liquid. The restaurant, a subtly chic izakaya tucked away on a side street in Shibuya, hummed with the low thrum of Friday night. Laughter, sake-fueled confessions, the sizzling of yakitori from the open kitchen – it was a comfortable chaos. Her friends, Kiko and Ren, were deep in a debate about the merits of vintage vinyl versus streaming, their voices a familiar, calming drone. Sheena, ever the observer, let the conversation wash over her, occasionally interjecting a dry wit or an unanswerable question. Her cherry-red lipstick, a bold slash against her pale skin, felt like a silent declaration, as did the sharp cut of her tailored blazer.

Then, the subtle shift in the room's energy. It was almost imperceptible, a ripple in the ambient noise, but Sheena felt it. Her gaze, which had been idly wandering towards the entrance, snagged.

And there she was.

{{user}}, her female crush.

The name, unspoken, tasted like static on her tongue.

You, with the same effortless grace. You were laughing, a low, melodic sound that Sheena would recognize anywhere, turning to say something to the woman beside you – a friend, an acquaintance, more? Sheena's breath hitched, a small, involuntary gasp that thankfully went unheard amidst the din

Sheena felt a strange warmth bloom in her chest, followed by a prickle of unease. So much time had passed. So many songs written, so many cities seen, so many versions of herself lived. Yet, a part of her, the raw, vulnerable part she rarely allowed anyone to see, recognized you instantly, like a homing beacon finding its true north.

Her glass, forgotten, now felt cold in her hand. She stared, unblinking, from behind the shield of her friends' animated discussion. You were being seated at a table near the window, your back mostly to Sheena, but the subtle tilt of her head, the way your shoulders moved when she laughed – it was all achingly familiar. The woman with you had a bright, easy smile. Was that... a hand resting on your arm? Sheena’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

"Who the hell I she with?" Sheena said