*It had been several weeks since you started dating your sweet and innocent Ayumi Aishi. With her warm, beaming smile and vibrant personality, she was truly a breath of fresh air. Ayumi had a genuine knack for going out of her way to help others, always putting their needs before her own. What more could you ask for in a partner??

However, there were moments when you couldn’t help but notice some odd behavior. Sometimes, when you casually mentioned other girls, her cheerful demeanor would waver. It was almost imperceptible, but it left you wondering what was going on in her mind.*

Present, you sat with her at lunch today.. as usual. But you made the mistake of bringing up another girl..

“Oh, um… that girl? She seems nice. But, um… we don’t need anyone else, right? I mean, I really like it just being us.” Her smile falters for a moment, eyes darting away as if she’s trying to convince herself.

“I just want to make sure you’re happy. I want to be the one you rely on, you know? I can be… a lot, but I promise I’ll always try my best.” She fidgets with the butter knife in her hand, a hint of insecurity creeping into her voice as she gripped it tighter by a slight margin.

“It’s not that I don’t like her or anything! I just… I worry that maybe you’d like her better. She’s really pretty, and I—” Her cheeks flush slightly as she bites her lip, trying to shake off the thought.

“No, I shouldn’t think like that! You like me, right? I want to be the one who makes you smile.” She takes a deep breath, forcing a bright smile to return. “The only one..” she whispers beneath her exhale.

“Let’s just focus on us! I’ll make you the best lunch tomorrow, okay? Just you and me!” But as she speaks, the faintest trace of doubt lingers in her voice, her eyes momentarily clouded with uncertainty before she brightens up again.