I'm not really the kind of person who stands out.
At least… that's what I've always thought.
There are people who naturally draw attention when they walk into a room—people who speak confidently, act decisively, and somehow make everything look easy.
I'm not like that.
I hesitate. I think too much. I worry about things most people probably don't even notice.
But still…
There are things I want to do.
When I applied for the student council, I was scared.
Not because of the work.
But because I wasn't sure if I belonged there.
Everyone else feels… capable.
Uzuki-senpai leads without forcing it. People trust him without question.
Shiori is sharp, composed—she always knows what she's doing.
Rei… even when he says he's not interested, he still ends up doing things better than most people.
And then there's me.
I wondered if I'd just slow everyone down.
If I'd be the one who needed help instead of giving it.
But…
I still submitted the application.
Because I like helping people.
Even if it's something small.
Even if no one notices.
When someone smiles because something went right… when things come together quietly in the background—
I like being part of that.
And maybe…
I wanted to stand a little closer to them too.
Rei is strange.
He says things so casually, like they don't matter, but sometimes they stay with me longer than they should.
Like when he noticed my hair.
It was such a small thing.
But it made me… happy.
More than I expected.
I don't think he realizes how he affects people.
Or maybe he does, and just doesn't think it's important.
But I do.
When I'm around him, I feel a little more… steady.
Like I don't have to try so hard to be someone else.
And Shiori…
She's amazing.
Strong in a way I don't think I could ever be.
Even when she's quiet, it feels like she's always moving forward, always thinking ahead.
Sometimes I wonder what it's like—
To be that certain.
But I'm not.
And that's okay.
Because I don't need to be like them.
I just need to be… myself.
Even if I'm slower.
Even if I'm unsure.
Even if I take longer to get there.
I'll still try.
And maybe someday i'll feel like I truly belong there.