It's nine.
I'm sitting on the bench at the place we agreed to meet.
This is Kunze's chance to spend time with Asia. Though, if I'm being honest, I doubt she could start feeling something for him that fast… but at least today is a beginning.
I texted Jeremy to come with Hisui.
He replied that he'd arrive at ten because he overslept.
The good thing is tomorrow we start at 9:30, so I'll still have some time to sleep.
My phone vibrated.
It was Kunze.
"I'm on my way," he said, "but I need to drop something off at my aunt's house first."
I told him to try to get here as fast as possible.
We ended the call.
I sighed.
"Well… then I guess I just have to wa—"
"Hi, Itsuki."
I turned around.
It was Asia.
She looked so beautiful that, for a moment, I forgot how to speak.
"H-Hi, Asia," I said, embarrassed.
She sat beside me.
"Itsuki… you look nervous."
She moved a little closer.
My heart started beating fast.
"Asia… the truth is—"
I didn't finish.
Suddenly, she leaned in and kissed me.
My mind went blank.
This wasn't part of the plan.
This meeting was supposed to help Kunze.
If he found out… he'd see me as the worst friend in the world.
And yet…
I couldn't pull away immediately.
I felt a strange calm.
Maybe because it was my first kiss.
We stayed like that for a few seconds that felt eternal.
Until I came back to my senses.
I slowly pulled away.
Asia looked at me with fear in her eyes.
"I thought… that if I did this, you'd start looking at me differently," she whispered. "Didn't you like it…? Didn't you feel anything for me?"
I felt too much.
Peace.
Warmth.
And that's exactly why I had to stop it.
I took a deep breath.
"Asia… I organized this meeting because Kunze wants to get to know you better."
Her eyes widened.
"What…?"
"He talked about you with a kind of excitement I've never seen in him before. He asked for my help. And I… agreed."
I swallowed.
"Kunze has been with me since we were kids. When no one else was there, he was. When I was struggling, he was the first to notice. I can't betray him like this."
She lowered her gaze.
"But I love you…"
My chest hurt.
"And I value that more than you can imagine."
I looked at her sincerely.
"That's why I don't want to accept it like this. I don't want to start something with you while my best friend is gathering the courage to ask you out. It wouldn't be fair to him… or to you."
Her voice trembled.
"What about what you feel?"
I smiled sadly.
"I'm someone who still lives tied to the past. I can't offer you a complete love. It would be selfish to accept your kiss just because it made me feel good."
I stayed silent for a second.
"If I answered you the way you want today… tomorrow I'd hate myself for betraying the one person who has always trusted me."
My hands were shaking slightly.
"I don't want to be that kind of friend."
Asia lifted her gaze.
There was no longer just sadness in her eyes.
There was understanding.
"You're too good…" she murmured.
I gently shook my head.
"No. I'm just trying to do the right thing."
Asia stepped closer.
She hugged me.
Not desperately.
Gently.
"Thank you…" she whispered. "Thank you for thinking about my happiness even when it hurts you."
I felt her breathing tremble.
"If he's important to you… then I want to give him a chance. Not because I want to forget you… but because I want to see if I can truly smile."
Her words were soft.
Mature.
"I can't promise I'll fall in love with him," she added with a small, sad smile, "but I promise I'll try with an open heart."
Something warm filled my chest.
It wasn't happiness.
It was relief.
"That's all I can ask for," I replied.
When we separated, her eyes were slightly wet… but she was smiling.
And that smile was honest.
In that moment, I understood that Asia wasn't weak.
She was brave.
Because loving, even when you know you might lose… is also a kind of strength.
We sat down again as if nothing had happened.
There was a slightly awkward silence.
Until Hisui arrived.
I was surprised to see her alone. I thought she'd come with Jeremy, like always. They've been together since elementary school. Their parents know about their relationship, trust them… they seem like the kind of couple destined to last forever.
"Hisui, where's Jeremy?" I asked.
"He overslept. He told me to come ahead."
"He told me the same thing," I replied. "I almost did too."
She laughed.
"No wonder you two are friends."
Just then, Kunze arrived.
"Itsuki, luckily my cousin was nearby, so I asked him to deliver what I had pending. Saved me some time."
"Good. Now we're just missing Jeremy," I said.
"How about we go to the restaurant on the corner while we wait?" I suggested.
"Good idea," Hisui said.
"I'll pay for the fries," I added.
"I'll chip in too," Kunze said.
As we walked, I noticed Asia still seemed a little down.
I leaned closer to Kunze and whispered:
"Buy her some ice cream on the way."
Kunze took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and asked her.
To my surprise, she agreed.
I watched them walk toward the store.
When they came back, Asia was smiling.
And that… put me at ease.
We arrived at the restaurant. I signaled Kunze to pull out Asia's chair and sit near her.
He did.
Things were working.
They talked.
Hisui and Jeremy — who finally showed up — sat together like always.
I stayed a bit to the side.
We ordered the fries.
"About time you got here," I told Jeremy jokingly.
"Sorry, sleep defeated me."
"Well, now we enjoy."
"Of course!" everyone replied.
And we did.
We ate.
We walked.
We laughed.
Kunze and Asia talked almost the entire night.
As I watched Asia smile next to Kunze, I understood something that hurt to accept.
There are people who love too much.
And others who don't know how to receive that love.
Maybe I'm one of those who can't love properly.
Or maybe I'm just someone foolish who prioritizes other people's happiness and is incapable of thinking about himself…
Jeremy and Hisui looked so comfortable together that it was pleasant just watching them.
They're the kind of couple many would envy.
As for me…
Even though I was alone, I didn't feel that bad.
I helped my friend.
The person who has been with me since I was little.
The one who has always been there, in the good and the bad.
I broke part of my promise… yes.
But if in the end I manage to make Kunze and Asia happy,
then maybe…
just maybe…
it will have been worth it.