Present days...
High school courtyard during lunch break. Students gather to talk about the upcoming sports show.
(Mao stands near the edge of the crowd under the shade of a tree, holding her lunchbox in her hand. Her eyes naturally find Dan—taller now, laughing with his friends like always. His voice, though mixed with the chatter around, is the only sound she hears.)
Mao (internal monologue):
There he is… Dan. Still the same smile, the same messy hair. I wonder if he remembers me. Probably not. It's been a year since middle school… and I never even spoke more than five words to him. Still… I remember everything. The way he lent his umbrella to that stray cat once. The way he helped our class carry chairs without being asked.
(She bites her lower lip nervously, heart pounding faster just watching him.)
Mao (inner monologue):
There he is. Dan-kun. The same smile… even after a whole year. I used to see that smile every morning in middle school. But I never once had the courage to say anything.
(Mao stands under a tree, quietly eating her lunch and watching from a distance. Her gaze naturally falls on Dan and his group of friends.)
Reo (playfully loud):
"Yo, Dan, I swear if you fall during the relay again this year, I'm switching teams."
Dan (grinning):
"Come on, man! That was one time. Besides, my shoelaces betrayed me!"
Yuri (snorts):
"Blame the shoes, not the clumsiness."
Ren (deadpan):
"At least trip near the finish line this year for drama. Go out with a bang."
Dan (laughing):
"You guys are the worst support team ever."
(Nearby, under a different tree, Riko Hanabusa is pacing nervously, holding her juice box like a stress ball. Her two best friends—Aya and Mimi—are watching her with curious grins.)
Aya (teasing):
"Okay, Riko. You've been staring at Dan for ten minutes. Either go confess or I'll do it for you."
Riko (panicking):
"W-What?! No! I can't just walk up and— What would I even say?"
Mimi (mock serious):
"You'd say: 'Dan-kun, let's get married. I'll make you miso soup every morning.'"
Riko (blushing furiously):
"Stop it!! This is serious!"
Aya (nudging her gently):
"Then go. You've liked him since middle school, right? If you don't do it now, someone else will."
Riko (muttering):
"Like who…?"
(She glances toward Mao for half a second—but Mao looks away quickly, pretending not to notice.)
Mimi (cheerfully):
"Okay! Operation 'Confess or Regret' starts now!"
Riko (deep breath, to herself):
Okay. I can do this. Just… walk. Breathe. Don't throw up.
💌 The Confession Scene
(Riko steps toward Dan's group. Everyone naturally hushes a little as she approaches, cheeks flushed and heart pounding.)
Riko (quiet but firm):
"Um… Dan-kun. Can I talk to you for a second?"
(Dan blinks, surprised, but smiles gently.)
Dan:
"Sure. What's up?"
(Haruki raises an eyebrow and nudges Kenta. Yui folds her arms, smirking knowingly.)
Reo (whispers):
"Uh-oh. We're witnessing a confession, aren't we?"
Ren:
"Should we pretend to be surprised?"
Yuri (flatly):
"I give it a 60% chance she cries. 40% chance he panics."
(Riko bites her lip, then looks Dan in the eyes.)
Riko:
"I… I've liked you since second year of middle school. You're always so kind to people, and the way you smile—it makes bad days feel lighter. I know this might be sudden, but… I just really wanted to tell you."
(A few students nearby gasp quietly. Mao's heart skips a beat. Her fingers clutch her lunchbox tighter.)
Mao (inner monologue):
She said it… She really said it. In front of everyone…
(Dan's eyes widen slightly. He scratches the back of his head, clearly trying to respond gently.)
Dan:
"…Wow. Thank you, Riko. That means a lot to me. Really. But… I don't feel that way right now. I'm sorry."
(Riko blinks quickly. For a second, she looks like she might cry—but then she gives a small, honest smile.)
Riko:
"I kinda… figured. But it's okay. I just needed to say it."
Dan (smiling kindly):
"You were really brave. Thanks for telling me."
(Riko bows slightly and walks away with her friends, her face red but proud.)
🎀 Aftermath
Aya (grabbing her arm):
"YOU DID IT!"
Mimi:
"You confessed! You didn't pass out! We're so proud!"
Riko (smiling through nerves):
"I can't feel my legs… but I did it."
Aya:
"Even though he said no, at least now you won't have any regrets."
Mimi (whispers, glancing at Mao):
"…Wonder if he already likes someone else."
Riko (pauses):
"Maybe. But it's fine. It felt good… just saying it out loud."
🌸 Meanwhile, at the Tree
(Dan glances around the courtyard. His eyes fall on Mao—for just a moment. Their eyes meet. Mao panics and quickly looks away.)
Dan (walking over, casually):
"…Hey. You're Mao, right? From Class 2B?"
Mao (startled, softly):
"Y-Yes."
Dan (smiling):
"I thought I recognized you. You were always reading. Still do that?"
Mao (heart fluttering):
"Sometimes…"
Dan:
"You coming to the sports show?"
Mao (nods):
"Just to watch."
Dan (grinning):
"Then cheer for me, okay? I promise not to trip this year."
Mao (inner monologue):
He came to talk to me. He remembered me. Maybe… just maybe… some part of him had seen me all along.