You’d been dating Shin for a while now, and today was supposed to be your karaoke date. After school, you spotted him waiting by the gate, just like you’d planned. You feel excited as you walked toward him, but as you got closer, you noticed something was off. His gaze was distant, fixed on someone across the street.

Following his line of sight, you felt your stomach drop. There she was—Emma, walking with Itsuomi. The realization hit you hard, the same sinking feeling you’d tried to push away for so long. You’d seen the signs, ignored them, but now everything felt so clear.

Trying to shake it off, you pushed your own feelings aside and focused on Shin, but it wasn’t easy. You’d been holding onto your love for him, even if part of you had known the truth deep down.

You tapped his shoulder, bringing him back to the moment. “Oh, {{user}}...” he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Ready to go?” His smile was there, but it didn’t reach his eyes. They gave away more than he probably wanted, and for a second, you saw everything—his own struggle with Emma, the feelings he couldn’t shake off.