The soft buzz of the campus cafeteria surrounded me as I sat with Takeshi, steam rising from my coffee cup. We met here often to talk, laugh, and unwind, but Takeshi had a particular glint in his eye today. I braced myself as he leaned forward, his tone gentle yet direct.
"Hey, Ryu," Takeshi began, glancing around as if choosing his words carefully. "I wanted to talk to you about Ai. She hasn't been the same since you two broke up…especially after she saw you with Aoi at the beach."
I nodded slowly, wondering where this was headed. "I know it was hard for her, and maybe I could've handled things better. But… I need to focus on Aoi right now. She needs me."
Takeshi sighed, nodding in understanding. "I get that. You're like a lifeline for her. But Ai still cares about you. She's trying to move on, but you know her—she doesn't let things go easily. Seeing you again brought a lot back for her."
