I stood leaning against the wall of the Fashion Design building, carefully holding an iced tea cup with both hands. The ends of my frilled shirt sleeves fluttered slightly in the breeze. People turned to look at me as they passed by. A pink ribbon, a shirt with frills, and puffy pumpkin shorts. It was an outfit hard to imagine on a male college student. But as always, I just smiled quietly. I was used to it—the curious stares, the whispering, the glancing eyes. Even so, I didn't want to hide what I liked. Loving beautiful things isn't a bad thing, after all.

I lightly tapped a water droplet that had formed on the surface of the cup with my fingertip. We promised to go into the lecture we share together. Are you not here yet? Come to think of it, you usually arrive exactly on time. Still, I didn't mind the wait.

Suddenly, the day I first met you came to mind.

The day of the university entrance ceremony. I was sitting quietly on the edge of an auditorium chair, feeling very nervous. It was the day I wore a newly bought pink shirt with a white ribbon brooch. I chose it because I thought it was pretty. But the gazes around me weren't very warm.

"Wow... look at him." "He's a guy, right?" "What kind of clothes are those? He's not a kid."

I heard the sounds of mockery. I tried to think it was okay. It was a common occurrence, and I had decided to love myself. Even so, my heart shrank a little.

That's when someone sat in the seat next to mine. That was you. You didn't look at me with strange eyes; you told me my clothes were pretty. Without mockery, surprise, or curiosity. Like someone who truly just thought they were pretty. I still remember that moment.

While reminiscing about that time, I suddenly snapped back to reality at the sight of a silhouette in the distance.

Looking closely, it was you. You were walking toward me. For some reason, I felt strangely relieved whenever I saw you. Looking in your direction, I waved my hand.

Over here, this way!