They say school should be a place where you grow, but for me, it's a place to hide. I'm Yua Fukuda, and if you saw me in the halls, you'd probably forget me just as fast. Small, quiet, always wearing glasses, I'm used to blending in. I keep my head down, do my work, go home. Simple, right?
Until the day I tripped.
I was carrying a stack of papers down the hall when I misjudged a step, my foot catching on a loose tile. Suddenly, I was tumbling forward, heart pounding, and bracing myself for impact. But instead of the cold floor, I felt a steady arm around me.
"Whoa—careful there!" a voice chuckled. I looked up, and there he was: Aki. Aki from my class, with that grin that always seemed to brighten the room.
"Are you alright, Yua-san?" he asked, looking genuinely concerned.
I froze. My face felt hot, and words seemed impossible to find. "Y-yes… thank you…" I managed to squeak out, barely able to meet his gaze. How did he know my name?
"Good to hear! You gotta watch your step," he teased, giving me a little wink before letting go. And just like that, he strolled off, his laughter echoing in the halls. But even after he disappeared, I could still feel his touch on my arms, and his words echoed in my mind.
I barely heard anything in class after that. I kept stealing glances at him, which was hard because he sat right in front of me. Every time he turned around to chat with friends, I found myself holding my breath, hoping he wouldn't catch me staring. Once, he did, and he waved, a bright, effortless smile on his face. Embarrassed, I looked away quickly, my face on fire.
At the end of the day, just as I was about to leave, there he was again, popping up beside me with that same relaxed grin.
"Hey, Yua-san! Heading home?"
"Uh… yeah," I replied, unsure of what else to say.
"Mind if I walk with you?" he asked casually, as if we'd been friends forever.
My heart thudded in my chest. "S-sure…"
And so we walked. I mostly listened, still too nervous to say much, but Aki talked enough for both of us. He told me about a stray cat he'd been feeding near his house and how it reminded him of his childhood cat. He even went on about a movie he'd seen, which I found I'd read the book of but was too shy to mention. And all I could think was how easy it was for him, how he could talk about anything and make it sound interesting.
"Do you like cats, Yua-san?" he asked suddenly.
"Y-yes… I think they're sweet…" I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.
"I knew it!" he said, nodding. "You've got that calm, cat-like energy." I could feel my face turning red as he laughed, but the way he said it sounded… nice.
Every day that week, Aki found me between classes or at lunch. Sometimes he just wanted to say hi; sometimes he'd stay and talk for a while. Little by little, I found myself looking forward to it. He'd share random stories about his life—how he wanted to try playing guitar, or how he'd secretly messed up the class project once but no one had noticed. I even started laughing at his jokes, and sometimes, he'd ask me about myself.
"So, Yua-san, what do you do for fun?" he asked one day, leaning back in his chair with a curious look.
"Oh, I… I read mostly," I replied, feeling shy. "And sometimes I write… but it's nothing special…"
His eyes lit up. "Writing? That's awesome! What kind of stuff do you write?"
"J-just… short stories… mostly fantasy," I stammered, feeling silly.
"That's so cool!" he said genuinely. "You'll have to let me read something sometime."
I was sure I'd never do that, but the fact that he wanted to felt like a spark in my chest. He cared, even if just a little, and it made everything feel different.
Sometimes, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and wonder what Aki could possibly see in me. I mean… I know I'm not much to look at. I'm small, barely any curves to speak of, and I've got these glasses that always slip down my nose. My hair's just… ordinary, pulled back into twin tails because that's the only way I know how to wear it.
To everyone else, I must seem like some quiet, bookish girl who fades into the background. And maybe that's what I am—a little weird, a little invisible. People don't really notice me, and… I've always been okay with that.
But now, with Aki… I feel different. Like maybe, somehow, he sees me in a way that I don't even see myself.
But things took a turn one day. I was just heading to class when a group of girls called out to me, their voices almost too sweet. I recognized Ria Tatsumi, the girl everyone said had a thing for Aki. She was beautiful, with perfect hair and a perfect smile, and she clearly knew it.
"Yua," she said, her voice laced with fake kindness. "Could you come here for a second?"
My heart pounded. I followed them to the restroom, trying not to shake. The moment we were alone, Ria's smile disappeared.
"So," she started, crossing her arms. "You've been spending a lot of time with Aki-kun."
I felt my face go pale. "I… I didn't mean to… he's just…"
"Oh, don't act innocent," she sneered, her friends snickering behind her. "Let me put this simply. Stay away from him. Aki doesn't need someone like you following him around."
The words felt like knives. I looked down, feeling small and exposed, my heart racing.
"Understood?" Ria's voice was sharp, filled with a threat I couldn't ignore.
"Y-yes…" I whispered, barely able to get the word out.
After that, I did everything I could to avoid Aki. I hated the hurt in his eyes when he tried to talk to me and I walked away. But every time I saw Ria in the hallway, her mocking smile reminded me why I had to. I didn't belong near someone like Aki, not when someone like Ria was around.
Days passed in misery. Aki tried to reach out to me again and again, but I brushed him off each time. He looked confused, hurt even, and that only made me feel worse.
Then, one day, I saw Ria and her friends talking near the lockers, laughing together, but I noticed Aki was watching too. He was close enough to overhear, and suddenly his expression darkened. He walked straight up to Ria, his usual carefree smile gone.
"What's your problem with Yua?" he demanded, his voice cold and serious. I'd never seen him like that.
Ria rolled her eyes, looking unbothered. "Oh, come on, Aki-kun. She's not even in your league. She's nothing—poor, weird, and frankly, embarrassing. Can't you see that?"
Aki's fists clenched, his voice steady but furious. "She's not 'nothing.' She's kind and intelligent, and you have no right to treat her like that."
Ria huffed, tossing her hair. "You're seriously defending her? Over me?"
"Yes," Aki said, a fire in his eyes. "And if you can't respect her, then you don't deserve any of my respect either."
Ria's face twisted with anger, but Aki didn't give her a chance to say anything more. He stormed off, but not before I heard her mutter to her friends, "She'll regret this."
Lunchtime rolled around, and as I was about to head to the library, Ria's friends blocked my way. They dragged me to an empty classroom, Ria closing the door behind them.
"You think you're special?" she hissed, her voice icy. "Just because Aki took pity on you?"
"I-I don't…" I stammered, my legs trembling as I tried to stay calm. "I didn't ask him—"
"Enough." Without warning, she slapped me, the sting sharp and humiliating. "You've been a thorn in my side for too long."
Tears filled my eyes, and I felt my heart break as her friends sneered, mocking me. They pushed me back, taunting me, laughing as I tried to hold back sobs. Just when I thought I couldn't take any more, the door burst open.
"Aki…" I choked out, hardly daring to believe he was there.
He crossed the room in a few strides, his arms wrapping around me. "I'm so sorry, Yua," he whispered, his voice filled with pain. "I'm here now. It's going to be okay."
He turned to Ria, his expression hard as steel. "If you ever touch her again, I'll make sure everyone knows exactly who you really are," he said, his voice low and cold. "Stay. Away. From her."
Ria's face was twisted in rage, but Aki didn't give her a chance to respond. He led me out, his arm around my shoulders as I tried to stop shaking.
We found a quiet spot outside, where he gently wiped my tears, his hand warm against my cheek. "I'm so sorry you went through that," he murmured. "I should have been there sooner."
"It's not your fault," I whispered, feeling a strange warmth spread through me despite everything.
A few days later, under the soft shade of a sakura tree, he took my hand, his gaze warm and tender. "Yua," he said softly, "I think I'm in love with you."
My eyes filled with tears, but this time, they were tears of happiness. "I… I love you too,
Aki."
As the petals fell around us, I knew that somehow, everything had changed. I wasn't alone anymore.
POLAR OPPOSITE PART : 1 : Meeting