It was a regular afternoon when Saki and her friends gathered in a café. The place was warm, bustling with life. The aroma of fresh coffee beans and baked pastries filled the air. Her friends were teasing her as they often did, asking about Makoto.
"So, how's your 'perfect' boyfriend?" Ayaka teased, a playful smile on her lips.
Saki shrugged, her eyes flicking to the window. "I don't know. Same old," she muttered, trying to keep her tone light.
Her friends weren't satisfied. "Come on, you're lucky to have him," Emi said, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "He's so sweet. How do you get him to be so nice to you?"
Saki forced a smile. "It's not like that. I mean... honestly, I don't even like him that much. I only date him because I feel sorry for him. He's always so nice to me, always doing everything for me, and I can't bring myself to break up with him. So, I just keep going along with it."
Her friends laughed, thinking she was joking. But there was no humor in her voice. There was something sharp, something cutting in her words. She wanted them to see how her life wasn't as perfect as they thought.
But she didn't realize that someone had been listening. Makoto.
He had just entered the café, and his gaze immediately landed on her. He froze, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. For a moment, he thought he had misheard, but then he heard it again—her voice, so casual, so indifferent, as she spoke about him like he was nothing more than a convenience.
I don't even like him that much. I'm just dating him because I feel sorry for him.
Makoto's face went pale. His mind raced, heart breaking with every word. He had been nothing but kind, nothing but real with her. But in that moment, he realized it had all been a lie. She didn't feel the same way. He wasn't the one she wanted. He was just the guy who fit the role.
Without a word, Makoto turned and left the café, disappearing into the rainy street outside.