(chapter xxxi)

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Yuna's gaze lingered in the mirror as she took a moment to absorb the sight of her own appearance. Her bottom lip became the focus of her nervous habit as she chewed on it, her hands clasped together in a gesture of anticipation.

Lost in her own thoughts and feeling overwhelmed, Yuna sighed deeply, her hands moving to her head as she pulled at her hair in frustration. A low groan escaped her throat as she contemplated the possibility of backing out of the whole situation.

Despite her inner turmoil, Yuna managed to compose herself, allowing her light grey strands of hair to fall from her grasp before she accidentally pulled any of them out.

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, attempting to steady her thoughts and summon the courage to embrace the day ahead.

Yuna considered the idea of backing out, and it sounded very appealing to her, but the fact was, she simply couldn't do it. Tooru was her friend, and they had made a bet that she lost fair and square. With her internal argument resolved, she resigned herself to the fact that she would have to follow through with their agreement.

Yuna couldn't fathom why Tooru had changed the terms of their bet to include spending an entire day together. It was a complete mystery to her why he would suggest such a thing, leaving her with a sense of bewilderment.

Yuna found herself asking the question aloud as she glanced back at the mirror, taking in the sight of the hated summer dress she had agreed to wear for the day.

"Why would he want this?" she whispered, feeling a mixture of trepidation and annoyance as she surveyed herself in the mirror.

Despite her aversion to wearing the summer dress, she had to admit that the material felt incredibly soft and comfortable against her skin. The memory of the day she had borrowed the dress resurfaced in her mind, bringing back a surge of mixed emotions.

...

"I was surprised you wanted to come with me," Yuna's father spoke up, taking the fabric from her as they carefully arranged the rolls of material in the storage room.

Yuna hummed in acknowledgment and smiled softly, her grasp on a new roll of fabric firm as she explained her reasoning. "Well, I know that since neither Koshi nor I show much interest in what you do, I thought I should make an effort," she confessed. "You always have this excited look when something good happens at your shoots, and I wanted to see it with my own eyes," she confessed, her words tinged with a hint of curiosity and interest.

Her father watched her as he processed her words, and a small smile formed on his face, appreciating her attempt to show interest in his work. He chuckled softly, touched by her thoughtfulness.

Her father almost teared up at her words, and he ran his free hand affectionately through her hair, beginning to say, "Thank y—"

He was abruptly cut off by the voice of his assistant, calling out urgently, "Sugawara-san! We have an emergency!"

Her father's panic was evident as he swiftly responded, his voice filled with concern, "What happened? Did someone get hurt? Is everything all right?"

Yuna's own sense of alarm mirrored her father's, her face reflecting his concern as she listened intently to the assistant's response.

The assistant, voice meek and head lowered, explained, "Yes, one of the lead models sprained her ankle on her way here," before confessing, "We tried to call for her understudy, but she is currently traveling for another photoshoot."

Yuna's father let out a sigh as he reached up to run a hand through his unkempt hair, a mixture of worry and dismay on his face.

Yuna followed closely behind her father as they made their way to the main studio. Once there, she observed the frenzied pandemonium unfolding before her eyes, as the photographer and staff scuttled about in a state of frenzied chaos.

Before Yuna had a chance to fully process what was going on, the frenzied photographer suddenly grasped her arm, surprisingly gentle despite the chaotic atmosphere.

Initially, she was a bit reluctant to take on the role of modeling and even her father didn't want to push the issue, but as she witnessed the collective panic, she felt a strong desire to help alleviate their collective stress. With a mix of determination and trepidation, she found herself agreeing to the request.

...

Her hands fumbled with the loose fabric as the memories washed over her. Yuna's thoughts drifted to how Tooru might react seeing her in such clothes, so different from her normal attire. And as the idea took shape in her mind, her cheeks flushed a bright shade of scarlet.

In a desperate attempt to regain composure, Yuna raised her hands to her face and gave herself a firm slap on each cheek. She wanted to rid her mind of the lingering thoughts, hoping that the physical sting would bring her back to reality.

Why do I even care what he thinks? Yuna mentally chided herself, her inner monologue tinged with forced denial. It's just To-kun.  Yet despite her attempts to brush off her thoughts, they continued to linger persistently in the back of her mind.

As a heavy huff of air escaped her lips for what felt like the millionth time since waking up, Yuna felt a wave of frustration wash over her. She wasn't sure how the day would unfold and she hated the fact that her thoughts kept getting tangled up in needless worries.

Tooru had been consistently referring to their day together as a date, seizing every opportunity to do so, and surprisingly, Yuna hadn't bothered to correct him.

As her thoughts continued to swirl around in her mind, Yuna found herself unconsciously biting her lip. She couldn't shake off the suggestive thoughts that had never crossed her mind before. In a sudden burst of frustration, she threw herself onto the bed and closed her eyes, trying to force her mind to quiet down.

Yuna's gaze drifted to a particular wall in her room, where a pinboard adorned with a collection of photos hung. Her eyes settled on a specific photo, partially concealed by the more recent additions. A nostalgic gleam appeared in her eyes as she stared at the image.

Kurai Okami—her former "rival" and brief ex-lover—was the subject of the photo that had caught her attention. Despite their tumultuous past relationship, which had been more about spite than genuine affection, she could never bring herself to discard the photo. The image captured not only her ex-lover but also several other beloved former classmates of the music club, making it much more than just a picture of a former flame.

Their only shared kiss had left little impact, yet Yuna still felt something lingering—an inexplicable attachment to their past, despite the negativity associated with it. Perhaps it was due to the one genuine trait she had observed in him: his dedication. Amidst the challenges, it was the one aspect that seemed true and real.

Despite his unpleasant demeanor and their history together, she couldn't help but feel a mix of envy and admiration for that one trait in him. She quietly acknowledged that dedication was something she wished she possessed more of.

She groaned and forced her gaze away from the photo. As her hand moved to clutch at her chest, she found that the pain that once plagued her during the previous summer had lessened, although it still lingered.

Out of all the things she was grateful for, meeting Tooru topped the list. If he hadn't entered the music room and initiated their acquaintance months ago, she likely would have spent her entire high school life in complete solitude.

Tooru had a distinct aura about him — his personality was far from refined, yet he radiated a brightness and inspiration that drew others in. He possessed a unwavering determination, pursuing his ambitions with such fervor that he even risked injuring himself. The sheer dedication he had to volleyball, his lifelong dream, was undeniable, even at the cost of his own well-being.

Her mind was filled with thoughts of him, and a mix of feelings swirled within her. She found herself bringing her arms to her face, trying to make sense of the emotions taking hold of her. The realization that Tooru held a unique place in her life, distinct from Hajime, was both captivating and terrifying.

Her voice escaped her in a soft whisper, "This can't... happen." Her jaw clenched tight as she took a deep, trembling breath through her teeth, "This... shouldn't" She knew better than to let her thoughts wander in that direction, yet the realization was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.