There was a memory of which she could vividly recall in her first year of highschool.
During the school festival, there had been a play unlike any other she'd seen before. Though the resources were limited and it was far from looking as professional as the movies she watched prior, she couldn't help but be mesmerized. A true shame, considering she knew that she would never be able to see something as magnificent as this ever again.
According to what she had overheard moments before walking into the gymnasium, all the performances were original works. They had all been written by the Drama Club several months preceding the present, and of course, the ones on stage before them were members of the club itself.
As wonderous as it all was, she was admittedly envious of those her gaze fixated upon.
It must've taken a lot of courage to do something like this, especially in front of the rest of the school.
...
She sighed to herself, shifting in her seat as the climax neared.
After plenty of light-hearted shenanigans mixed with moments of solemnity, the area fell dark once more as the lights dimmed.
...
Was it already time? That felt fast.
Then suddenly, the spotlight came on—and from the shadows emerged an elegantly dressed figure.
Their long, flowy blonde hair gently swished around as they stepped forward into the audience's view, and the train of their dress dragged behind them.
Such a costume must've taken a lot of time to put together.
It remained silent for what felt like an eternity, but then the soft chime of music echoed within. Before anyone had enough time to process what was going to happen, an angelic voice soared through the air.
Her eyes widened at this, and she couldn't help but lean in further—not that it did much—with great intent.
A collaboration with the music club, maybe?
Her features then softened. The envy in her expression clearer than ever.
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It must be such an amazing feeling.
Yet it was too far out of her reach. There was no way she could ever get on such a level.
If only she...
...
Everyone began to applause, and she subsequently followed.
It already ended before she even knew it.
When the cast returned to express their appreciation for all who had attended, the clapping grew slightly louder, and she found herself hitting her hands together until they were far too red to proceed. She only came to a halt once the stinging had become far too intense to bear with any longer.
As her friends had started to head out, she swiftly accompanied them at the yell-like whisper of her name.
"Mieko!"
Her feet picked up, desperately trying to catch up, and when she had—there was a surprising sight which awaited her.
The boy she liked, Miyamoto Kaito, being swarmed by all sorts of people due to the silly costume he wore.
She wasn't sure how she was able to recognize him, but when her friends pushed her to take a photo with the mascot—she reluctantly gave in, though eagerly walked towards him.
Their class... they were doing a themed cafe, right?
... In that outfit, he was advertising for them...
How odd. Her heart squeezed at knowing this. She must've had a weird expression on her face right now.
Without realizing, she'd called out his name and tripped on nothing due to her sudden lack of awareness. But before she could meet her very doom, he caught her in his arms.
Her heart pounded, and she thought to herself,
I really do like you. If only a moment like this could last forever.
----------------------------------------
The following Valentine's Day, she confessed her true feelings. It was a difficult task which cost her a lot of bravery to do, but it felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders the moment those words rolled out of her mouth.
She handed him a bag of homemade goodies in the hours which followed the conclusion of the school day, her hands trembling with extreme anxiety at all the endless possibilities which filled her head.
But she did it. She finally did it.
"Miyamoto, I've really liked you for a long time. Please accept these chocolates!"
When he took the bag from her, she wasn't sure what to expect. This was the final turning point for her, what would his answer be?!
He was always crowded by other girls, but she hoped that maybe she could be the only one reflected in his eyes once and for all.
As she awaited for his reply, she held her breath for an awfully long time.
Then...
...
Did she hope too hard? No, maybe it was her expectations. She should've known better.
"I'm sorry, Imai. I can't return your feelings, but I appreciate that you went through all this effort."
He was saying those words with such a brilliant smile on his face, that she couldn't bring herself to feel even the slightest bit upset.
Returning the expression he wore, Mieko shook her head with a sigh before raising it to meet his eyes once again. It was almost painful to do so, but this was just reality, wasn't it?
If only it was a bad dream.
"It's okay. I'm happy that I was able to convey these emotions to you."
She lied.
With only a small wave to bid him farewell, she walked away—the tears in her eyes beginning to well up faster than she could ever hope to count.
[LOSING HEROINE 1: IMAI MIEKO]