The spring air carried the scent of blooming sakura through Aihara Academy’s open windows, drifting softly into the classroom where Yuzu Aihara sat doodling hearts in the corner of her notebook. She didn’t mean to draw them, really. It just happened. Every time she thought about her, her hand seemed to have a mind of its own.

Mei Aihara, the school’s volleyball ace, student council vice-president, and basically everyone’s crush, had that kind of effortless confidence that made people stare. The way her ponytail bounced when she walked didn’t help Yuzu’s heart calm down one bit.

The problem was that Yuzu was sure she was straight. Or, at least, she had been sure before Mei started talking to her.

It began the day Yuzu stayed late to help clean the gym. Mei was there, still in her uniform, wiping sweat from her neck with a towel. Her skin glowed under the fading sunlight, and when she turned and smiled, just a small, tired smile, Yuzu’s stomach flipped so hard she nearly dropped the broom.

“Thanks for helping out,” Mei said, her voice calm but warm. “You don’t usually come to the gym after class.”

“I… uh, yeah, I just thought, you know, the floor looked dirty,” Yuzu stammered, gripping the broom like a lifeline.

Mei tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in amusement. “You’re cute when you lie.”

That one sentence wrecked Yuzu for an entire week.

From that day on, Yuzu found herself noticing everything: the sound of Mei’s laugh echoing in the hallway, the faint scent of her shampoo when they passed by each other, the way her fingers brushed Yuzu’s hand when they exchanged papers in class. Mei wasn’t shy about her sexuality; everyone knew she liked girls, and she didn’t care who whispered about it. That confidence made her untouchable, but it also made Yuzu’s crush feel impossible.

Still, Mei noticed things. She noticed how Yuzu’s eyes lingered a second too long, how her voice went high-pitched when they talked. One afternoon after volleyball practice, Mei found Yuzu sitting on the bleachers, pretending to read but clearly watching her.

“You like girls, don’t you?” Mei asked suddenly, wiping sweat from her forehead.