The night felt… wrong.
Too quiet.
After the dinner—
Everything should have felt perfect.
But it didn't.
Itsuki Kuonji stared at the ceiling, eyes wide open.
Sleep wouldn't come.
Her heart refused to slow down.
"…Why am I like this…?"
She turned to one side.
Then the other.
But the feeling didn't leave.
Warm.
Restless.
Unfamiliar.
Her fingers slowly moved to her chest.
"…This isn't just attraction…"
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Silence.
For the first time—
She didn't deny it.
"…I think I…"
She stopped.
Her breath caught.
"…No…"
But her heart—
Didn't listen.
Morning came too fast.
The sunlight felt brighter than usual.
Everything felt… different.
Itsuki stood in front of her mirror.
"…I should tell him."
Her voice was soft.
But certain.
Tell him.
Before it became too late.
"…Yeah."
A small nod.
For once—
She was sure.
Evening.
The same place.
The same lights.
But a completely different feeling.
Itsuki stood there—
Waiting.
Her hands slightly trembling.
"…Why am I nervous…"
Then—
"Itsuki."
She turned.
Souta Amagiri.
Calm.
Composed.
As always.
"…You came."
"…You called me."
"…Right…"
A small silence.
"…Is something wrong?" he asked.
"…No…"
Her voice faltered.
"…I just wanted to talk."
"…About?"
The world faded.
The noise disappeared.
Only him remained.
"…I think I like you."
The words came out—
Soft.
Fragile.
Honest.
Silence.
Souta didn't react immediately.
He just looked at her.
"…I see."
That was all.
Itsuki blinked.
"…That's it…?"
"…What do you want me to say?"
"…Anything."
A pause.
Then—
"…Itsuki."
His voice softened slightly.
"…I should've told you earlier."
Her heart stopped.
"…Told me what…?"
Silence.
Then—
"…I'm engaged."
Everything—
Stopped.
Her breath.
Her thoughts.
Her world.
"…What…?"
Her voice barely existed.
"…It was decided a long time ago."
His tone was calm.
Too calm.
"…You're joking…"
"…I'm not."
Itsuki took a step back.
"…Then what was all of this…?"
Her voice trembled.
"…The time we spent…"
"…The dinner…"
"…You… and me…"
"…It was real."
"…Then WHY didn't you tell me?!"
Her voice cracked.
Louder than she expected.
Souta looked away.
"…It didn't matter."
"…It DID to me!"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"…You let me believe something…"
Her voice broke.
"…You let me feel something that wasn't real…"
"…Itsuki."
"…Don't."
Her voice dropped.
"…Don't say my name like that."
Silence.
"…I'm sorry."
"…Sorry doesn't fix this…"
Tears slipped down her face.
"…I was stupid…"
"…No, you weren't."
"…I was."
A weak laugh escaped her.
"…I thought this was love…"
Her chest tightened painfully.
"…But it was just me."
Long silence.
Then—
"…Thank you."
Souta blinked.
"…For what?"
"…For making me understand."
Her voice was shaking—
But clearer than before.
"…What I felt…"
A pause.
"…Was never love."
That hurt the most.
Because she knew—
She was forcing herself to say it.
"…Itsuki—"
"…Goodbye."
She turned.
And walked away.
Slowly.
Step by step.
Until—
Her vision blurred.
Her breathing broke.
"…Why does it hurt this much…?"
Her voice shattered.
"…It wasn't even real…"
Her legs gave up.
She stopped.
Tears falling endlessly.
"…Then why…"
Behind her—
Souta stood still.
Silent.
"…I should've told her."
For the first time—
There was regret.
Real.
Heavy.
That night—
Itsuki sat on the floor.
Alone.
Completely.
Her phone lit up.
A message.
Reo: "Are you okay?"
Her hands trembled.
For a second—
She hesitated.
Then—
She called.
"…Reo…"
Her voice broke instantly.
"…Hey."
"…It hurts…"
Silence.
Then—
"…Stay there."
"…Huh…?"
"…I'm coming."
The call ended.
For the first time—
She didn't feel alone in her pain.
✨ Attraction feels like love…
💔 until the truth reminds you what love isn't.