The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the schoolyard as Hikigaya Kazuki stood awkwardly near the vending machines, his hands clammy and his heart racing. He had rehearsed this moment a hundred times, but the sight of Aiko Nakamura's confident smile made his throat dry.

"Aiko," he began, his voice trembling slightly, "I... I like you. Will you go out with me?"

Aiko blinked, her perfect brows arching in surprise. Then, almost instantly, she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Are you serious?" she asked, her tone dripping with disbelief.

Hikigaya's face flushed. "Yes, I—"

"Look," she interrupted, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're sweet, but this? This is ridiculous. You and me? That's never going to happen."

Her words were sharp, cutting through him like a blade. But she wasn't finished. "Honestly, Hikigaya, did you really think someone like me would be interested in someone like you? You're... well, you're just not my type. At all."

Hikigaya stood there, stunned and humiliated. He managed a weak nod before mumbling, "I understand," and walking away, the sound of her dismissive chuckle echoing in his ears.

At first, Aiko didn't think twice about the rejection. Hikigaya was just another boy who had gotten the wrong idea—one of many. She continued her days as if nothing had happened, enjoying the attention of her friends and admirers. But it didn't take long for her to notice the change.

Hikigaya, who used to glance her way with quiet admiration, no longer seemed to acknowledge her presence. He didn't look at her in class, didn't offer his notes during group projects, and no longer lingered near her friends. Instead, he seemed... content.

She caught glimpses of him in the library, lost in a book, or outside sketching the scenery. He looked peaceful, as though her rejection hadn't left even a ripple in his life. And that bothered her.

At first, she tried to dismiss it. Why should she care if he had moved on? But the nagging thought wouldn't leave her alone. Had she made a mistake?

It started with small gestures. Aiko began lingering near his desk, hoping to strike up a conversation.

"Hey, Hikigaya, did you get the notes from today's lecture?"

He barely looked up. "Ask someone else."

She frowned but tried again the next day.

"I heard you're good at drawing. Could you help me with an art project?"

"I'm busy," he said flatly, walking away without another word.

The more he pulled away, the more desperate she became. Her friends noticed her distracted behavior, but she brushed off their concerns, determined to fix what she now realized was a terrible mistake.

One rainy afternoon, Aiko found him under a tree near the sports field, sketchbook in hand. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and he was quietly drawing the gray clouds above.

"Can we talk?" she asked, standing in front of him.

Hikigaya glanced up, his expression unreadable. "What's there to talk about?"

"I was wrong," she blurted out, her voice breaking. "I shouldn't have said those things to you. I didn't mean them."

He set his pencil down, his gaze steady but cold. "Didn't you, though? You seemed pretty sure of yourself that day."

"I was arrogant," she admitted, her shoulders slumping. "I thought... I thought I was better than you. But I'm not. And I'm sorry."

For a moment, there was silence. Then Hikigaya let out a soft, humorless laugh.

"Apology accepted," he said, standing and brushing off his pants. "But that doesn't change anything."

Her heart sank. "Hikigaya, I—"

"Look, Nakamura," he interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "You don't have to feel guilty. I'm fine. I've moved on, and honestly? I don't feel anything for you anymore."

Aiko's breath caught. The words hit harder than she expected.

"You don't mean that," she whispered.

For a long moment, he said nothing, his gaze flickering toward the drizzle beyond the tree. "Maybe not entirely," he admitted softly. "But I can't just pretend things haven't changed."

Aiko stepped closer, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. "Then let's start over. No expectations, no assumptions. I want to know the real you, Kazuki. Not out of guilt—because I want to."

Hikigaya hesitated, searching her face for signs of insincerity. Finally, he let out a quiet sigh. "Starting over, huh? That sounds... hard."

She smiled, a glimmer of hope shining through. "Some things are worth the effort."

After a beat, he nodded, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Alright. Let's see where it goes."

As the rain began to clear, they walked away together, leaving behind the shadows of the past to begin something new.