A sharp beep echoed in Jun's ears.
His eyes stayed shut.
The ringing in his head swelled, low and distant at first, then rising into a piercing whine that made his jaw tense.
Beneath it, he caught fragments of sound.
Wind.
Leaves shifting.
A voice.
The noise pulled at him, and the world around him began to twist.
The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the ground behind the school's gym.
Sweat clung to Jun's temples.
His baseball jersey was still damp from practice, and the scent of cut grass and chalk dust lingered in the air.
"Kayo... you wanted to talk to me?" Jun asked as he rounded the corner.
His glove hung loosely from one hand as he came to a stop.
Kayo stood waiting for him.
Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her uniform skirt before she looked away.
"I see you came, Jun. Thank you for that," she said with a small smile.
"I mean, you called me out here out of nowhere, so I figured it had to be important."
Jun wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Of course I came," he said.
Kayo lifted her gaze.
A faint flush spread across her cheeks.
She stepped closer, then hesitated.
"Well, you see..." she began.
Her voice shook slightly.
"There's something I've wanted to tell you."
"Since we were freshmen."
She drew in a steady breath.
"I like you, Jun, please... go out with me!"
Jun blinked.
His grip tightened around the baseball glove.
"I see," he said.
The breeze stirred his hair.
A faint flush crept into his cheeks.
"So that's what this is all about..."
Kayo stared at him.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Her voice cracked.
"Then... is that a no?"
Jun looked at her.
Her shoulders trembled.
"No, it's not that."
He scratched the back of his head and looked away for a moment.
"I just..."
He exhaled.
"I was under the impression you liked Keigo.
Kayo's eyes widened slightly.
"Since he's the one who..."
Before he could finish, Kayo stepped forward and threw her arms around him.
Jun's eyes widened.
"Why would you think that?"
She shook her head.
"You're the one I like."
Kayo's fingers tightened against the back of his jersey.
"So please..."
Jun froze.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he slowly raised a hand and gently lifted her chin so their eyes could meet.
"Listen...I've never really thought about you that way before."
"But if you really mean it... if you truly like me..."
"Then I think we should give this a shot."
His smile widened.
"You and me, I mean."
Kayo's eyes glistened.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"I'm so happy."
Are these my memories...?
The scene shifted.
Jun sat beneath a tree in a quiet park, staring down at the lunch spread between them.
Kayo smoothed out a pink cloth across the grass and opened a row of neatly packed containers.
"I got up early to make all of this."
Jun picked up a sandwich and took a bite.
Kayo watched him without blinking.
The moment he swallowed, she leaned forward.
"Well?"
Jun took another bite.
"It's good."
Kayo puffed out her cheeks.
"That's it?"
Jun laughed.
"What do you want me to say?"
"I spent two hours making this!"
Jun shook his head.
"You've got way too much free time."
Kayo groaned and grabbed a napkin, swatting his shoulder with it while he laughed.
The memory blurred.
Crap. I hope I didn't keep her waiting too long.
I completely overslept.
Jun hurried across the street.
As the café came into view, he spotted someone standing near the entrance.
A smile started to form on his face.
Then he slowed.
Keigo...?
What's he doing here?
Kayo stood beside him.
The two were laughing about something.
For a moment, Jun simply watched from across the street.
Then Kayo noticed him.
"Oh, Jun!" she called, waving.
Jun crossed over and approached them.
"Sorry, was I interrupting?"
"No," Keigo said.
He held up a notebook.
"I was just returning this. She left it at practice the other day."
"Oh."
Jun nodded.
"I see."
Kayo accepted the notebook with both hands.
"Thanks again."
"No problem."
Keigo flashed them a casual smile.
"Well, I'll get out of your way. Have fun."
With that, he turned and headed down the sidewalk.
Jun watched him disappear into the crowd before looking back at Kayo.
She puffed out her cheeks.
"You were late today."
Then she smiled.
"But I'll forgive you if you show me a good time."
"Yeah..."
Then his expression softened.
"Um... Kayo."
Kayo tilted her head.
"What is it?"
Jun hesitated.
"No... it's nothing."
Jun shook his head.
she reached out and tugged on his hand.
"If that's the case, shall we go then?"
Jun glanced down at their joined hands.
A faint warmth spread across his cheeks.
"Yeah."
Blue light rippled across the aquarium walls.
Schools of fish drifted overhead as visitors walked through the glass tunnel.
Kayo pressed both hands against the glass.
"Look at that one!"
Jun followed where she pointed.
"Yeah... it's a clown fish."
A ray glided overhead.
The shifting water painted moving patterns across Kayo's face.
Jun glanced at her.
Kayo noticed.
"Hm?"
Jun immediately looked away.
"Nothing."
A smile spread across her face.
The glow of a movie screen lit the dark theater.
Kayo sat beside him.
A loud action scene played across the screen.
Jun reached for popcorn.
At the same time, Kayo did.
Their hands bumped.
Both froze.
"Sorry," they said at the same time.
The memory faded once more.
The sun hung high above the school gates.
Jun walked with his head lowered, lost in thought.
"Jun, you damn playboy!"
An arm suddenly hooked around his neck from behind, pulling him into a half joking chokehold.
"Gah... Kai, let go!" Jun said.
"I can't breathe!"
Kai laughed and released him.
"That's for not telling me about you and Kayo."
He pointed a finger at him.
"I had to hear it from rumors, man. Rumors. Your best bud was completely left out of the loop."
Jun rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah, sorry. It all happened pretty fast."
Kai stared at him for a second.
"So it's true?"
Jun nodded.
"Well, damn."
Kai let out a low whistle.
"Kayo's cute and all, but I never would've guessed you'd be the one to end up with her."
Jun raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Kai grinned.
"I mean, it feels like I woke up in some alternate universe."
Jun nudged him with his shoulder.
"I'm not that unattractive."
"Sure, sure."
Kai reached over and ruffled his hair.
Jun immediately shoved his hand away.
Kai laughed, but his eyes drifted toward the sky for a moment.
"Man..."
"What?"
Kai shoved both hands into his pockets.
"Nothing."
"Why can't I ever get that lucky?"
The bell rang.
Students immediately began filing out of their classrooms.
Jun slung a bag over his shoulder and stepped into the hallway.
"Yo, Jun! Wait up!"
Jun glanced back.
Kai jogged over and threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Give me a break."
Jun sighed.
"Practice already gives me enough stress."
"Speaking of baseball," Kai said. "Keigo said we have batting practice after school, right?"
"Yeah."
Kai groaned.
"That guy seriously needs to get a life. I'm still sore from yesterday."
Jun chuckled.
"Well, he's the captain for a reason."
"Oh yeah!"
Kai snapped his fingers.
"Coach was talking about you earlier."
"Huh?"
Jun looked at him.
"What'd he say?"
Kai grinned.
"He said you'll probably be a starter this year."
Jun rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
"Don't give me that."
Kai pointed at him.
"Do you know how many people would kill to hear that?"
"Good for them."
The two continued down the hallway.
Before long, they reached the rooftop stairs.
Jun pushed open the metal door.
A warm breeze swept past them.
"Oh?"
A familiar girl was already sitting near the fence.
"Hey, Aika. You're here early," Kai said.
She didn't answer.
Her eyes briefly met Jun's.
Then she quickly looked away.
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"What's with her?"
"No clue."
Jun walked over and sat down.
"Jun, I'm surprised you wanted to sit and have lunch with us today."
Kai popped open a bag of chips.
And why's that?
"After getting a girlfriend like Kayo, shouldn't you be spending every spare second with her? If you slack off, some other guy might swoop in and steal her."
"Yeah, yeah, enough with the jokes."
"Besides, I'd never ditch you two. We've been friends for years. There's plenty of room in my schedule for all of you."
"Listen to this guy."
Kai smirked and smacked him on the back.
Jun nearly choked on his rice ball.
"Quit acting like you're some celebrity."
"Cough... I'm not!"
"And stop flexing on me with those homemade lunches."
Jun swallowed and shot him a look.
"Well, somebody has to make you conscious about your diet."
"Ouch."
Kai pressed a hand to his chest.
"That one actually hurt."
Jun laughed.
Kai laughed with him.
The sound faded.
Across from them, a girl sat quietly with her lunchbox resting in her lap.
Her fingers tightened around the edges.
Who is that girl?
And why does she look so sad?
Jun's smile faded.
"Aika?"
She didn't answer right away.
"Aika, are you okay?"
Aika blinked.
Then she lowered her gaze.
"Yeah...I'm fine."
Her voice barely carried over the wind.
Kai exchanged a glance with Jun.
"It's just that..."
Her words trailed off.
Jun waited.
Aika drew in a slow breath.
"I know I've seen you two together countless times."
"But I still can't believe it."
She looked up.
Her eyes settled on Jun.
"Are you and Kayo really dating?"
Jun froze.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then he nodded.
"Y...Yeah, we're dating."
"I see..."
"So you love her?"
Jun's chest tightened.
"Um..." he began.
"Aika," Kai said, "you're acting kind of weird right now."
Her lips trembled.
She pressed a hand against her chest.
"Seeing the two of you together every day..."
"It makes me feel uneasy."
"It hurts."
"Aika..."
"I know."
"I know this is bad timing."
Her shoulders trembled.
"Maybe it's selfish."
She closed her eyes.
"But I can't keep pretending anymore."
Kai slowly straightened.
"For as long as I can remember..."
Her fingers curled against her skirt.
"Ever since we met in elementary school..."
The words caught in her throat.
"I've been in love with you."
"WHAT?!" Kai shouted, jumping to his feet.
Aika flinched but continued.
"I buried those feelings because I didn't know how to tell you."
Her gaze wavered.
"I was scared."
She swallowed.
"Scared you'd reject me."
A tear gathered at the corner of her eye.
"But now..."
Her voice grew quieter.
"Watching you with someone else hurts more than being rejected ever could."
"Aika, I..."
Jun lowered his head.
I didn't know you felt that way...
"I'm sorry."
For a moment, Aika didn't move.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
"I see."
Her voice came out small.
Slowly, she rose to her feet and grabbed her bento.
Jun stood as well.
"Aika..."
"Please don't come over to my house."
She kept her back to him.
"Or talk to me for a while."
Jun opened his mouth.
Aika lowered her head.
"Just..."
"Give me some time."
Then she ran.
The rooftop door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang.
Silence followed.
Her footsteps echoed briefly beyond the metal door before fading away.
Kai stared at the entrance.
"Sheesh..."
He slowly sat back down.
"This is a shocker."
"I mean, seriously."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck.
"Turns out I was just a background character in this friend group."
"Actually, now that I think about it, it kind of makes sense."
Jun looked at him.
"She always put a ton of effort into those lunches she made for you."
Kai shrugged.
"And she was probably your biggest supporter."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"Guess the signs were there."
"I honestly didn't know she felt that way."
"But..."
Jun thought of Kayo.
Her smile.
"I'm in love with Kayo."
Kai nodded.
"Yeah."
Jun looked toward the rooftop door.
"So I guess... this is for the best."
The golden sun peeked through scattered clouds as Jun stepped out of a small jewelry store.
A tiny gift box rested in his hand.
Today's Kayo's birthday...
I hope she likes this.
The ribbon rustled softly as he tucked the box into his bag.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Then he headed toward school.
Students streamed through the front gate.
"Morning, Jun!"
"Good morning!"
Jun waved as he passed.
The familiar sounds of campus drifted through the air.
Laughter.
Footsteps.
Voices carrying across the courtyard.
Before long, he arrived at the baseball locker room.
The distant crack of bats echoed from the field outside.
Jun pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The room was quiet.
He walked toward his locker and unzipped his bag.
His hand reached for his practice shirt.
Then he froze.
A soft gasp caught in his throat.
Near the far wall of lockers, Kayo stood in Keigo's arms.
Their bodies were pressed together.
Their lips locked.
For a moment, Jun couldn't move.
What...?
The world seemed to stop.
The gift box slipped from his fingers.
His training bag hit the floor with a heavy thud.
The sound echoed through the room.
Kayo jerked back.
Her eyes widened.
Then she saw him.
"Jun..."
Her voice trembled.
Jun stared at her.
At both of them.
His heartbeat slammed against his chest.
"Why...?"
His throat tightened.
"Why would you...?"
"Kayo..." Keigo began.
"Jun, I can explain," Kayo said.
She took a step forward and reached toward him.
Jun looked at her hand.
Was any of it real?
His chest hurt.
"Did you ever love me?"
"Or was I just standing in someone else's place?"
Kayo stopped.
The color drained from her face.
"Jun..."
He turned and ran.
"Jun, wait!" Kayo shouted.
Footsteps pounded behind him.
"Please!"
She tried to follow.
Keigo caught her wrist.
"Don't."
Jun burst out of the building.
His vision blurred.
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Dammit...
Why?
Why did it end up like this?
On the baseball field nearby, a player swung.
The ball launched into the air.
It cleared the fence.
Spinning.
Falling.
The baseball slammed into the side of his head.
A deafening pop exploded through his skull.
His body lurched.
His knees gave out.
The ground rushed up to meet him.
Huh...?
The ringing returned.
Low at first.
Then louder.
Sharper.
Until it swallowed everything else.
The world faded.
Memories flooded his mind.
One after another.
Countless faces.
Countless voices.
They blurred together.
Who are these people...?
I can't remember.
Why can't I remember!!!
A sudden gentle touch brushed against his cheek.
A hand cradled his face.
Then he felt lips against his own.
A single tear landed on his skin.
Who are you...?
Kayo.
He reached out.
A girl stood before him.
Her face was blurred.
"Kayo..."
The name escaped his lips.
"Kayo..."
His fingers stretched toward her.
The image wavered.
"..."
Why can't I remember her name anymore?
The girl faded.
The warmth disappeared.
And everything turned white.