(Aoi's POV)
Yuki's always been an enigma.
Ever since we were kids, he's had this quiet strength about him, like he's always holding something back. It's one of the things I've always admired about him. And maybe one of the things I've always worried about too.
Take today, for example. From the moment I saw him by the fountain, I knew something was wrong. He's good at hiding things—too good, sometimes—but I've known him long enough to catch the little cracks in his armor. The way his eyes dart around like he's afraid of being seen. The way his hands twitch like they're trying to keep a secret all on their own.
"Took you long enough," I teased, ruffling his hair like I always do. It's our thing. My way of saying, "I'm here. You can talk to me."
But he didn't talk. Not really. Just mumbled something about "as if" and avoided looking me in the eye. That's when I knew it was bad. Yuki never avoids me.
The rest of the day didn't help. He was distracted in every class, barely paying attention to the lectures or the professors. And during lunch, when we finally had some time alone, he still wouldn't tell me what was going on. He just kept brushing it off, saying it was "stress" or "new semester jitters."
Bullshit.
Yuki doesn't get "new semester jitters." He's one of the most level-headed people I know. He's also one of the most stubborn. Whatever's bothering him, he's clearly decided to deal with it on his own.
I hate that about him. I hate how he thinks he has to shoulder everything by himself. But more than that, I hate how helpless it makes me feel. Because no matter how much I want to help him, I can't if he won't let me in.
By the time lunch ended, I was frustrated enough to snap at him. "You've been weird all day," I said, hoping it would get him to open up. But he just gave me this sad, tired look and said, "It's nothing."
Liar.
I wanted to push harder, to make him tell me what was wrong. But the look in his eyes stopped me. He looked… scared. And Yuki never gets scared.
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When he finally left for the day, I felt this ache in my chest that I couldn't shake. Something's happening to him. Something big. And he's not telling me because he doesn't want to drag me into it.But I'm already in it. I've been in it for years. Because it's him.
Yuki doesn't know it, but I've been in love with him for as long as I can remember. It's not the kind of thing you say out loud, not when the person you love has never given you a reason to think they might feel the same way. So I've kept it to myself, content just to be by his side.
But now? Now I'm not so sure. Because whatever's happening to him, it's bigger than anything we've dealt with before. And I'm terrified that this time, I won't be able to help him.
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Later that night, I texted him. Just a simple, "Hey, you okay?" Nothing fancy, nothing pushy. But he didn't reply.That's when I knew it was bad.
I don't know what's going on with Yuki. I don't know why he's acting so strange or what's got him so scared. But I do know one thing: whatever it is, I'm not letting him face it alone.
Yuki might think he has to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he's wrong. Because I'll be damned if I let him carry it without me.