the two kids ended up in an empty hallway on the other side of the school after escaping from the constant teasings from their classmates. amane mentally facepalmed that he had to bring along [name] with him instead of just running away from his own. "amane-kun? where are we...?" [name] innocently tilted her head.

her voice cut off his thoughts. amane didn't even realize that they are now far away from their classroom but worry not, he knows where they are because he practically walks around in school everyday during breaktime. "um...i think we're on the third floor...?" he questioned while looking at the stairs next to them. "but we're not lost don't worry!"

[name] was silent. amane let out an awkward laugh. "i'm sorry, it's my fault for getting you—i mean us in this situation." he said, scratching the back of his head. 'what should i do? i completely stole her away from everyone?! tsukasa is going to tease me i swear...' [name] was still holding his hand, pointing towards the stairs.

"the rooftop is over there right?" [name] asked with a smile on her face. "we should go eat our lunch." she said with a small grin. amane's lips parted in astonishment, he was about to ask her if they could eat lunch but she was dragged away from their other classmates, then now, she was the one who was asking him.

a defeated sigh escaped from the boy's lips. "okay." amane squeezed her hand gently. "let's go. be careful on the stairs." amane was guiding [name] to the stairs so that she wouldn't fall off, even though she can literally walk on her own. there was one time where he had to help her up the stairs to his room so that he could read her some books.

amane led [name] to the part of the rooftop where it has a shade to protect them from the rays of the afternoon sun. amane opened the lid of his lunch, he lit up in joy when he saw that his mom packed him donuts. "awe man, this again?" [name] stared at her lunch in dismay. amane took a peek of her lunch and saw that she has spam musubi. "do you want some?" she asked.

"sure..." amane took a piece of her food using his chopsticks and placed it on his box. "do you want some donuts?" [name] nodded as she took a donut from his lunch box, like some sort of trade.

"so uh, how is...osaka?" amane asked, swinging his legs while sitting on the bench, taking a bite of his donut. that's probably something they should talk about instead of having this awkward silence till the end of day. [name] pulled her head back and groaned.

"ugh! it's boring there!" she said. "kokoro said she's having fun while i don't. i'm glad i'm out of there and came back here in kamome, i feel more at home here." [name] sighed in annoyance, then chewing on her food aggressively. "i did make friends but they don't last long because we were always moved to different sections like it's a one time thing."

"and those people pretend they don't know me once they are in different classes." amane felt sorry for [name] having friends that don't last, he wondered whether [name] was really lonely during the time she was away. "i mean, i guess the friendship was wasted and it didn't last—well, i don't last in friendships because i keep moving schools."

amane held out his hand in front of [name]. "let's be friends again." he offered. "i'll keep being friends with you even if you move schools a lot, we'll keep in touch, and i won't make you feel like you don't belong." amane finished with a grin on his face. [name] grabbed his hand, her cheeks turning red because of happiness,

"yeah, i like the sound of that." [name] tilted her head to the side, a genuine smile adorning her visuals. luckily her eyes were closed or else she would've seen amane's flustered face. he did see her smile a lot back then but now that they have been reunited, it did made him feel some type of way.

amane and [name] continued their friendship from where they have left off. they became the best of friends and would always hang out together, something that [name] will never experience back in osaka. soon it led down to a much deeper connection now that they entered middle school they would often find themselves each other's arms as they cuddled. they don't seem to mind because they see each other as friends,

right?

amane didn't seem to mind his feelings for [name], maybe he's just attached to her and wanting to be friends with her forever. his sneaky glances says so otherwise that he would find himself staring at her from afar, the constant beating of his heart when she smiles, and the way she made him feel butterflies. 

why does she look so close yet so unreachable? amane sure was lucky to have a best friend like [name], who was always there with him thick and thin. if he needed someone to go with him, he has her. [name] may miss out five years of his life back then, now that she's permanently back in kamome, he couldn't afford to let her go.

then there's this clenching feeling in his chest, suffocating him into hearing his deafening heartbeats whenever [name] is around him. he couldn't breathe, his face was so red and sweaty and would find himself stammering when he talks to her. amane had a feeling that he's crushing on her, he trusted his intuition that he'll get over it and he'll view her as a friend once again.

yet the thought of how [name] was lonely back in osaka, yearning to have a lifelong friend who matches the same wavelength as her, someone who will never pretend that they don't recall her existence and walk away like they don't have history made amane's heart ache in guilt.

middle school was when fate is testing amane whether he is in love with his best friend—of course at first he will deny it, he won't admit to himself that he has feelings for [name]. for days of being together, four seasons of giggles and blushes, [name] was contented with the friendship that she was missing out when she was away.

but amane wanted more.

"amane-kun, we'll always be bestfriends right?"

amane was surprised by the sudden question, [name] looked unsure because her female friend stopped talking to her completely and left her to go for another group. [name] was about to tear up since it has been harder that they were in different classes during their second year of middle school. "am i a bad friend?"

"of course not, why do you ask?" amane crouched in front of her and grabbed her hands that was resting on her lap. "you're the sweetest person i have ever met, that girl probably had low standards when it comes to friends, but i can assure you that you're not a bad friend to me, and that i will never leave you."

"really...? you'll still be friends with me even though we are in different classes?"

yet amane yugi was a liar, all because he ended up crushing over to his best friend. he winced, interlacing their fingers together with his voice cracking a bit. "yeah."

that year he started to pretend where everything is fine and dandy. amane tried his best to conceal what he had felt for [name] only because she wanted a close friend and nothing more. he ended up pining over her, getting used to what they have—even pushing the limit of flirting with her to incite a blush from her, but she reassured him that she's easily flustered.

it went on—for three years in middle school. things changed when they both reached highschool, amane swore he sees [name] everyday and he started to notice her grow to the person he is courting right now. he was literally malfunctioning when he was waiting for her and she stepped out of her house in her new highschool uniform.

and that's what they call a glow up. because amane was secretly sneaking glances on her chest during p.e. and wondered how she jumped to two cup sizes from their last year of middle school. tsukasa had to openly teased him about it with wiggling eyebrows and haughty laughs. amane has his fair share of puberty anyways since he grew taller than [name] this year.

he was told a couple of times that he was handsome yet he stayed humble thinking he looked average. his dad even teased him that he'll probably be a heartbreaker by his looks but amane assured him that he will not go breaking hearts because he's loyal to someone who doesn't even like him back and only sees him as a friend.

"i'm sorry [name], i can't view you as a friend anymore, because i have feelings for you."

♡♡♡

amane practiced with another song on his guitar as he was suddenly hit by the nostalgia from years ago during his friendship with [name], he wondered whether he was the one who ruined things for the both of them just because he was the one with feelings. he started to strum while listening to the music in his earphones.

"where's my angel?
the end of a tiring day
someone come and save me, please
is overshadowed by a sigh
i guess everyone's happy
can you look at me?
cause i am blue and gray
the tears reflected in the mirror mean
my colors hid in the smile, blue and gray."

"this is a nice song that tsukasa recommended me..." amane placed the guitar on his side. "i should ask [name] for recommendations so maybe i can play her favorite songs." he threw himself to the bed and looked up to the ceiling. soon after that, he drifted off to sleep.