June 4, Monday

As I was eating lunch with Satoshi at school, I found my mind drifting back to the competition Tanaka had told me about. I wasn't really one to participate in competitions, and the thought of it somehow made me feel nervous. But, it was an opportunity to get my work out there and grow as an artist.

"Sato-kun, do you think I should participate in the Hikari Monthly Artists competition?" I asked him, feeling a little bit hesitant.

Satoshi looked at me, a bit surprised, "Hmm, well you're not really the competitive type, are ya?" he replied before taking another bite of his lunch, and I nodded.

Pulling out my phone, I navigated to Hikari Suisei's homepage, found the competition website, and showed it to him. "I would have until this coming Sunday to create an artwork," I explained.

Satoshi looked at the screen and seemed to consider it. "Is there prize money?" he asked, looking at me seriously.

"Y-Yes," I answered, "But I don't remember how much. I forgot to ask Kaname-san."

Satoshi nodded, "It wouldn't be worth it if there's no prize money," he said with a smile, and his answer made me chuckle.

"But even if there weren't any, I think you should still consider joining, Aya," Satoshi then said. "It's not just about the prize, but there's also the experience, so there's no harm in trying. I know you want to stay low-key and all, but you gotta have to build a portfolio too."

His words made sense, and I found myself nodding along. The things he said are true, however, "You're right, Sato-kun," I said with a smile. "I think I'll give it a try."

"Good!" Satoshi responded, lightly clapping his hands together. "Just do it for fun. If you win, good for you. If you don't, that's alright too. Just enjoy."

I smiled gratefully at him, "I know, I'll do just that. Thank you, Sato-kun."

He waved me off, "No problem! I'm always here to help," Then he changed the subject. "Say, do you want to stop by and get some fast-food later after school? Just to grab something to eat. We haven't hung out for a while, you know?"

I was a bit surprised by the sudden invitation, but I nodded eagerly, "Sure! I'd like that. I don't have any work to do with Kurumizawa-san, anyway."

School ended not long after our conversation. Satoshi left the classroom first, promising to wait for me by the school gates while I made a quick stop by the restroom. When I finally arrived at the school gates, he was there waiting for me as promised.

"Ready to head out, Aya?" Satoshi asked me while leaning against the side of the school gates.

"Yes, let's go," I replied, and we began our walk towards the nearest fast-food diner.

Upon our arrival, Satoshi looked up at the menu displayed above the counter and then turned to me. "What do you want, Aya? It's my treat," he said to me.

I scanned the menu quickly and decided on something simple, something not too heavy and not too light for my stomach, as I still have dinner to take care of later, "Just pancakes and a milkshake, please."

He nodded, "Alright, same for me." He then motioned towards the seating area, "You can go ahead and find a table. I'll bring the food over."

I nodded, feeling a bit hesitant but thankful for his consideration. I meandered over to the seating area, looking for a table that was a bit secluded. After finding a good spot, I sat down, waiting for Satoshi to return with our orders.

Not long after, Satoshi arrived with a tray laden with our food. I instinctively reached out to help him, but he dismissed my gesture with a shake of his head, "I got it, Aya, don't worry," he said with a smile, placing the pancakes and milkshakes on the table.

"T-Thanks for treating me out, Sato-kun," I said with a smile, and he smiled back at me.

"No problem, Aya."

We clasped our hands together and offered a silent thanks for the meal before digging in.

Satoshi started a conversation as we ate, "I hope your one-shot wins the reader's poll," he said with an earnest look on his face, "You and Kurumizawa deserve it."

I nodded in agreement, "Me too. Kurumizawa-san wants to start a new series as soon as possible."

Satoshi furrowed his brow, "What will he do if your one-shot doesn't win?"

I thought for a moment before answering. "He's actually writing another one-shot for the New Writers competition. It's also hosted by Hikari Suisei and has the same competition timeframe as the Hikari Monthly Artists competition. If Rose of Vermillion doesn't win, he'll still have a backup story. If that story wins the New Writers competition, he'll be given the green light to start a new series."

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Satoshi nodded, clearly impressed, "Woah, that's pretty smart. That man's really pushing himself," he commented before taking a sip of his milkshake.

Our conversation continued to flow easily, that is until my phone rang, cutting Satoshi off mid-sentence. I quickly pulled it out, noticing the caller ID flashing on the screen. It was Keiyu. I glanced at Satoshi apologetically, "Sorry, Sato-kun. Do you mind if I take this?"

He shook his head, "Go ahead, Aya."

I moved a little away from the table, answering the call. "Hello, Kurumizawa-san?"

"Good afternoon, Imaizumi-san," Keiyu greeted through the phone, "I was just wondering, have you considered joining the Hikari Monthly Artists?"

I was taken aback by the sudden question, but I nodded even though he couldn't see me. "Y-Yes, I've decided to give it a try."

There was a short pause before Keiyu chuckled, "Ah, that's great to hear. I'm just worried that you'll get bored without doing any work, I did see how much you enjoyed working on something."

I swallowed, admitting my worries, "I know... but I'm still a bit nervous, it's my first competition, but I'll start working on it as soon as I can."

"Good. And, Imaizumi-san, are you free today?" Keiyu then asked me.

"Um..." I hesitated, glancing over at Satoshi who looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Actually, Kurumizawa-san, I'm currently with a Sato-kun... Can we possibly check on the draft another time?"

Keiyu was quiet for a moment before he responded understandingly, "O-Of course. It's okay, I can do some beta reading myself for now, enjoy your day."

"Thank you, Kurumizawa-san, I'm sorry," I said responded. "Talk to you later."

As I hung up the phone and returned to the table, Satoshi asked, "What was that about?"

I explained, "Kurumizawa-san wanted me to see his draft for the New Writers competition. I guess he wanted me to help him with beta reading his draft."

Satoshi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh, and why didn't you go? That sounds important."

I smiled at him, feeling a bit shy about my next words, "W-Why would I? I'm preoccupied, I'm spending time here with my friend."

Satoshi's cheeks went a bit pink at my words, and he quickly looked away.

"I-I mean... gah-damn it," Satoshi stammered, clearly flustered by my teasing. I found his reaction endearing and couldn't help but chuckle. "You're adorable when you're like this, Sato-kun."

He laughed, albeit a bit awkwardly. We fell into a brief silence, continuing to eat our pancakes and drink our milkshakes. Satoshi seemed submerged in his thoughts, occasionally stealing glances in my direction. I was about to ask him if something was wrong when he finally spoke up.

"So yeah, I... was wondering," he began, clearly struggling with his words. "I mean... have you thought about... about what I said last time?"

"Eh?" I tilted my head in confusion, but I immediately understood what he meant right after. My heart skipped a beat. Of course, he was referring to his confession. The moment when he told me outside my apartment that he liked me, and clearly he meant liking me more than a friend. I felt my cheeks heat up as I struggled to find the right words to respond.

"S-Sato-kun... I..." I stammered, my mind racing.

I know that my answer is long overdue but... how was I supposed to answer that?

Suddenly, my mind drifted back to last Thursday when I visited Keiyu at his place. The way he saved me from those bullies, how he comforted me after I was soaked in the rain, how he let me vent my frustrations to him... it was all too fresh in my memory.

I took a deep breath while looking at Satoshi. I could see the anticipation in his blue eyes, mixed with fear of the answer he might hear, I feel bad for him, especially for what I was about to say, but I knew I had to be honest with him.

"Sato-kun... I... I can't return your feelings," I managed to say to him, trying to keep a steady voice. I tried to smile, but it felt forced.

I saw him sigh, looking down with a sad look crossing his face. But then he quickly masked it with a small, reassuring smile. "Ah, that's okay, Aya. What matters is I told you. I... I just wanted to get it off my chest, you know?"

I lowered my head and nodded, "I know... I'm sorry,"

"So," He then looked at me, "Do you like somebody else?"

I froze. I couldn't answer his question. Not because I didn't want to, but because I didn't know the answer myself. But the image of Keiyu's gentle smile flashed in my mind, causing my heart to flutter slightly.

Could it be...?

"No, Sato-kun," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady to convince him. "There's no one I'm really fond of at the moment. I just... want to focus on my artwork and my career right now."

Satoshi nodded understandingly, taking another bite of his pancake. His smile was still there, but the sadness in his eyes was evident. "I get it, Aya. Just know that you don't have to deal with things alone, you'll need someone eventually. I know you sometimes feel lonely, and not just lonely, but other things as well."

I didn't know what to say, so I just stayed quiet, my eyes downcast.

Satoshi continued, "You shouldn't wait too long to find someone, Aya. Look, it doesn't have to be me, but find someone who can make you feel safe, someone who's there for you no matter what."

His words made my cheeks flush with warmth. My mind suddenly raced with images of what life would be like as Keiyu's girlfriend. How things would turn out if I started dating someone like him – rich, almost perfect, and undeniably attractive. But, as good as such a fantasy sounds, I quickly shook the thoughts away, feeling embarrassed by my own imagination.

"I'll take my time, Sato-kun," I assured him. "I don't need a boyfriend right now. I'll find the right person when the time comes."

Satoshi chuckled, ruffling his hair with one hand. "Yeah, you're right. You will."

"Thank you, Sato-kun," I said, "But I do appreciate how you felt and how you've opened up to me. It takes a lot to... get it out for someone,"

He gave me a small smile and nodded, "I hope this doesn't make things awkward between us, Aya."

I shook my head quickly, "No, no, not at all, Sato-kun. You're my best friend since we were kids, and that won't change. I won't ever cast you aside."

His smile widened, and I saw his eyes brightening a bit. "Ah, that's nice then! I'm glad to hear that, Aya."

Satoshi then laughed lightly, shaking his head. "It's kind of funny, isn't it? Here I am, in love with my childhood friend, and all this time you only saw me as just that, a friend."

I pouted, "D-Don't go passive-aggressive on me now!"

He quickly raised a hand, "Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad or anything, it's just... I'm trying to lighten the mood, keep the spirits high. Better than sitting in my room and crying about it, that wouldn't be very 'Sato' of me now would it?"

I nodded and sighed before giving him a light smile, "I guess you're right."