You were growing increasingly frustrated, having dropped enough hints to make your feelings clear, yet he seemed oblivious to them. He couldn't possibly be that naive, could he? But then again, he often shared stories about his feelings, particularly about someone named Saeko—Tanaka's older sister.

Right now, as you listened to him on the phone, he was as animated as ever. The first words out of his mouth were about her: "Saeko paid a visit to us at MSBY today and watched us practice. You won’t believe how much energy I put into that practice match just to impress her!"

His enthusiasm was palpable, and it stung. It was clear that despite your hints, his attention was fully consumed by Saeko. The frustration you felt was mixed with a pang of sadness as you wondered if he would ever notice the feelings you had quietly been trying to convey.