Yuzu Hatae, high school boy. Average face. Not particularly smart. I'm fairly confident in my physical stamina, but I can't help feeling that's not enough.

Why is that?

Because I have someone I like. That girl I've had a crush on since middle school. Her smile is cute, she's responsible, and she's kind to everyone. If you asked me what I like about her, I couldn't put it all into words.

Until now, I've spent my days like an idiot, wishing her smiles were directed only at me, but lacking the courage to confess and falling into self-loathing. But there's no more time.

Both she and I are seniors this year. Our paths after graduation are different. We haven't even exchanged contact info outside of the class group chat. In other words, once we graduate high school, it won't be easy to see her anymore. The reality of her being there whenever I come to school will stop being a reality. At best, we might meet at a reunion or bump into each other in town; that's probably all we'll have left.

I realized I couldn't stand that.

I can't imagine days without her. Even now, just not being able to see her on weekends makes me useless. The obvious fact that she has her own life to lead tightens my chest so much.

──I'm going to confess.

It didn't take long to reach that conclusion. Before we graduate high school, before she's out of my reach.

There's a saying about "tasting the sweet and the sour of life," but obviously, the sweet part is better in the end.

I can't do the whole "prepared for rejection" thing. If I heard "I'm sorry" or "I like someone else" from her mouth, I'd never recover. Just imagining it right now makes me feel like I'm going to puke.

It's not that I think I'll be accepted easily, and I have zero confidence in my own charm. I just find myself wanting to cling to even a tiny fragment of hope. I just want to see her smile, and the faces of hers I don't know yet, for even one second longer. I don't want to trouble her. I know I'm being selfish. Even so──