Between First Love and Forever

Chapter 1: The One I Like Doesn't See Me

Tsumugi Ito had always believed that liking someone was supposed to feel warm.

But right now, it felt heavy.

She sat by the window in Class 2-B, chin resting lightly on her palm, eyes pretending to read the words in her notebook while her attention drifted—once again—to Haruto Nakamura.

He was laughing.

Not the polite kind of laugh, but the real one. The one that crinkled his eyes slightly and made his shoulders relax. Tsumugi had memorized that laugh without realizing it. She knew when it was forced and when it was genuine.

And right now, it was genuine.

Because Sui Sato was standing in front of him.

"You're coming to practice later, right?" Sui asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.

Haruto nodded immediately. "Yeah. I wouldn't miss it."

That answer was quick. Too quick.

Tsumugi's fingers tightened around her pen.

He never sounds like that with me.

"Good morning, Ito."

Her thoughts shattered as a calm voice reached her ears.

She turned around to see Asahi Kobayashi standing beside her desk, school bag hanging from one shoulder, expression unreadable as always. His uniform was neat, his tie perfectly straight—unlike Haruto's, which was always slightly loose.

"Oh—good morning, Asahi," she said, quickly straightening up.

Asahi nodded and glanced toward the window. The direction of her gaze from moments ago was obvious.

Haruto.

Again.

Asahi took the seat behind her, placing his bag down quietly. He didn't sigh. He didn't frown. But something subtle shifted in his eyes—something only he noticed.

Tsumugi flipped to a new page in her notebook, pretending to focus.

She had liked Haruto for months now. Maybe longer.

It started small. Borrowing an eraser. Sharing notes. Laughing at the same joke during lunch. Somewhere along the way, her heart decided he was special.

She didn't remember agreeing to that.

"Ito," Asahi spoke again, softer this time.

"Hm?"

"...Do you like Nakamura?"

Her breath caught.

She turned slowly, eyes wide. "W-What?"

Asahi wasn't teasing her. He wasn't smiling. His voice was steady, almost careful.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked.

Tsumugi's cheeks burned. She looked down at her desk, fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of her notebook.

"I—" She hesitated, then let out a quiet laugh. "I didn't think anyone noticed."

Asahi didn't respond right away.

I noticed, he thought.

He noticed how her eyes followed Haruto without meaning to. How she grew quieter whenever Sui appeared. How her smile faded just a little when Haruto talked about club activities she was never invited to.

"I see," Asahi finally said.

That was all.

The teacher entered the classroom moments later, and the conversation ended—but the feeling didn't.

During lunch, Tsumugi sat on the rooftop steps, poking at her bento without appetite. The wind was cool, brushing gently against her hair.

She heard footsteps.

"Mind if I sit here?"

Asahi.

She nodded, moving slightly to make space.

They ate in comfortable silence, something Tsumugi had always appreciated about him. Asahi never forced conversations. He never made things awkward.

"You didn't eat much today," he said after a while.

She smiled weakly. "Guess I'm not that hungry."

Asahi followed her gaze across the rooftop.

Haruto was there too—laughing again.

With Sui.

Tsumugi quickly looked away.

"...He likes her, doesn't he?" she murmured, almost to herself.

Asahi's fingers tightened around his chopsticks.

"Yes," he replied honestly. "Nakamura likes Sui Sato."

The words hurt more than she expected.

"Oh," Tsumugi whispered.

She laughed quietly, but her eyes shimmered. "That figures."

Asahi watched her closely. The girl who smiled for others even when her heart felt fragile.   

"He's kind," she said. "And loud. And careless. But when he talks about Sui, it's different. He really loves her."

Asahi wanted to ask her why she still liked him.

He wanted to tell her she deserved someone who looked at her the same way.

But he didn't.

Instead, he said, "You don't have to stop liking him right away."

She looked at him in surprise.

"Feelings don't disappear just because they're inconvenient," Asahi continued. "They fade on their own... when they're ready."

Tsumugi smiled at him—this time, genuinely.

"Thank you, Asahi."

Her smile stayed with him long after lunch ended.

That evening, as the sun dipped low and the sky turned orange, Asahi walked home alone.

Ahead of him, he spotted Tsumugi waiting at the crosswalk. Haruto was nowhere in sight.

"Heading home?" Asahi asked.

She nodded. "Yeah."

They walked side by side, footsteps in sync.

Asahi wanted to tell her everything.

That he noticed her kindness.
That he admired her strength.
That every time she laughed, it stayed in his mind longer than it should.

But instead, he simply walked her home.

And Tsumugi, without realizing it, felt lighter beside him.

She still liked Haruto Nakamura.

But somewhere, deep in her heart,
a quiet space was being made—
one that only Asahi Kobayashi could fill