Unspoken feelings

The next day, the atmosphere at school still felt fresh, but for Banri, something seemed different. It was Tuesday, and as usual, the morning in class was filled with the chatter of students before the lesson started. However, Banri's attention remained fixed on two figures sitting not far from him—Alya and Arata.

They were talking calmly in the corner of the classroom, Alya smiling brightly while Arata listened with an attentive gaze. Banri gripped the pencil in his hand, trying to ignore the strange feeling creeping up inside him.

"What are they talking about?" he wondered.

He tried to focus on his notebook, but his mind kept wandering.

On the other hand, Alya, unaware of Banri's uneasiness, felt relieved to be talking with Arata that morning.

"Arata, thanks for yesterday. I really appreciate your help," Alya said with a smile.

Arata closed his book and turned to her. "It's no problem. I'm happy to help. If there's anything you're still unsure about, we can study again later."

Alya nodded enthusiastically. "That's a great idea! I feel more confident after studying together."

However, in the middle of their conversation, Banri unconsciously let out a quiet sigh. He realized that lately, Alya had been talking to Arata more often.

When the school bell rang, Banri closed his book a little harder than necessary, catching the attention of Shun, who was sitting beside him.

"What's up, Banri?" Shun asked, nudging him lightly.

"Nothing," Banri replied quickly.

Shun followed Banri's gaze and smirked. "Oh, I get it. You're watching Alya and Arata, huh?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Banri replied flatly, though his face turned slightly red.

Fumiya, who was sitting behind them, also grinned mischievously. "Relax, Banri. Maybe you should find a chance to talk to Alya alone again."

Banri didn't answer. He just lowered his head, pretending to be busy with his book.

The lesson went on as usual, but for Banri, time seemed to crawl. His mind was filled with questions he couldn't answer.

When the break bell rang, Alya and Arata walked out of the classroom together. Banri watched them from his seat.

He clenched his jaw slightly before finally standing up.

"Alya!" he called.

Alya turned around with a warm smile. "Banri, what's up?"

Banri glanced briefly at Arata before answering. "I want to study for the next test too. Maybe we can study together?"

Alya looked pleased. "Of course! The more people studying together, the better!"

Arata nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we can set up a time for a group study session."

Banri tried to smile, but deep inside, he couldn't shake off the strange feeling that kept haunting him.

As they walked out of the classroom together, Banri knew one thing—he didn't want to just be a spectator.

He had to find a way to express his feelings before it was too late.

Walking alongside Alya and Arata, Banri's thoughts kept spinning. He didn't like this feeling—the sense of being left behind, as if the distance between him and Alya was growing wider.

The three of them arrived at the cafeteria, searching for a seat in a quiet corner. Alya looked cheerful, picking her favorite food, while Arata calmly selected his meal. Banri, on the other hand, just grabbed whatever was available, more focused on his thoughts than his appetite.

As they sat down, Alya was the first to speak.

"Do you guys remember? That last test was so nerve-wracking! I almost forgot the formula on the last question," she said with a light laugh.

Arata nodded with a smile. "But in the end, you managed to do it, right? That's what matters."

Banri smiled slightly, though there was an odd feeling he couldn't quite explain. "Yeah, as long as we can learn from our mistakes."

The conversation continued to flow, but Banri felt that something was different. Usually, he and Alya could talk comfortably without any awkwardness. But now, every time he wanted to say something, Arata responded first, and Alya seemed completely at ease talking with him.

Banri tried to ignore the discomfort. "For the next test, we're really going to study together, right?" he asked, trying to confirm.

Alya nodded quickly. "Yeah! We'll set the time later. Maybe in the library after school?"

"Sounds good. I'll be there too," Arata replied casually.

Banri nodded, though deep inside, he wished he could get some time alone with Alya—without Arata.

After finishing their meal, they walked back to class, and Banri tried to keep the conversation light. However, deep down, he wondered—did he truly have a place by Alya's side, or was he slowly being pushed aside?

And more than that, when should he confess his feelings?

If he kept hesitating, he feared that the answer would come from someone else first.

Back in class, Banri sat in his seat, trying to ignore the lingering unease. Beside him, Alya was busy organizing her books, while Arata sat relaxed, waiting for the next lesson to begin.

Banri glanced at Alya, wanting to say something, but before he could open his mouth, Alya had already started speaking to Arata.

"Arata, can you help me review some questions later in the library? I'm still a bit confused about yesterday's concept."

"Sure. I also want to double-check my answers," Arata replied with a smile.

Banri bit his lip, feeling slightly left out of the conversation. He had wanted to offer his help first, but Arata was always one step ahead.

"Banri, you're coming too, right?" Alya suddenly asked, turning toward him.

Banri looked at her for a moment, then gave a small smile. "Yeah, of course."

Alya sighed in relief. "Great, that way we can all study together."

The lesson began, but Banri found it hard to focus. He knew he wasn't the type to get jealous easily, but for some reason, over the past few days, that feeling had become harder to ignore.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Alya occasionally glancing at Arata with an expression that was hard to define—not just casual attention, but a kind of comfort that Banri hadn't seen before.

Banri let out a quiet sigh. He knew that the longer he kept his feelings bottled up, the more likely he was to miss his chance.

Maybe it was time to stop waiting.

When the final bell rang, the classroom quickly turned lively. Students began packing up their things—some rushed out while others stayed behind, chatting.

Alya turned to Arata and Banri. "So, are we heading to the library now?" she asked excitedly.

Arata nodded. "Yeah, unless you guys have something else to do."

Banri shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Let's go."

The three of them walked together toward the library, passing through the now-quieting hallways. Along the way, Alya cheerfully talked about the topics she wanted to study. Arata responded calmly, while Banri simply listened in silence.

Upon arriving at the library, they chose a quiet corner table. Alya immediately took out her notebook, while Arata grabbed a few reference books from a nearby shelf. Banri, who already understood the material well enough, spent more time observing the two of them.

For the first few minutes, everything felt normal. They discussed, exchanged opinions, and helped each other grasp difficult concepts. However, as time passed, Banri started noticing how comfortable Alya and Arata seemed with each other.

From time to time, Alya chuckled lightly when Arata explained something in a slightly silly way. Banri could only watch with a neutral expression, though deep down, he felt somewhat uneasy.

"Alya, take a look at this question," Arata said, pointing at a section in the book.

Alya nodded and leaned in to see more clearly. "Oh, I get it now!" she said with a bright smile.

Banri slowly closed his book. "I'm stepping out for a bit, just to get some fresh air," he said as he stood up.

Alya turned to him with slight concern. "Are you okay?"

Banri forced a smile. "Yeah, I just need a short break."

Without waiting for a reply, he walked out of the library. Once he reached the empty corridor, he let out a long sigh. Something inside him felt tight—something that was becoming harder to ignore.

He leaned against the wall, gazing at the evening sky outside the window.

"I'm really starting to lose her, aren't I?" he muttered softly.

Banri clenched his fists. If he continued to stay silent, Alya would only drift further away. And if he didn't do something soon, he might end up regretting it for the rest of his life.

He stood in the corridor for a long time, letting his thoughts wander. He tried to convince himself that this wasn't a big deal—that he was just feeling a little tired. But the more he tried to push his feelings aside, the clearer the reality became.

A voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Banri?"

He turned to see Shun approaching with a curious expression.

"What are you doing here alone?" Shun asked.

Banri sighed. "Just needed some fresh air."

Shun leaned against the wall beside him. "You look like someone with a lot on his mind."

Banri was silent for a moment before finally speaking. "If you had someone important to you, but you felt like they were drifting away… what would you do?"

Shun glanced at him with a faint smile. "I'd try to figure out why. Is it because I changed? Or because they changed?"

Banri shook his head slightly. "I don't know… Maybe both?"

Shun looked at him more seriously. "This is about Alya, isn't it?"

Banri didn't respond right away, but Shun could already tell from his expression.

"Listen, Banri," Shun continued, "If you really like her, you have to do something before it's too late. Don't just stand there and hope she figures it out on her own."

Banri stared at the floor, considering Shun's words. He knew his friend had a point.

Shun patted his shoulder lightly. "Alright, don't overthink it. Are you coming back inside?"

Banri shook his head. "No, you go ahead. I want to stay here a little longer."

Shun shrugged. "Okay, but don't take too long. Sometimes, what we need isn't an answer, but the courage to act."

After Shun left, Banri looked toward the library door, which was still open. He could see Alya and Arata inside, still focused on their studies.

He took a deep breath.

Maybe it was time to stop hesitating. Maybe it was time to finally say how he really felt.

But the question was—how could he do it without ruining everything?

Banri let out a long sigh and looked up at the ceiling. Shun's words echoed in his mind.

"You have to do something before it's too late."

But how?

He couldn't just walk up to Alya and blurt everything out without thinking. That wasn't his style. He wanted something more meaningful, something that could express his feelings clearly without making it feel forced.

Then, suddenly, an idea came to him.

"A letter."

He could write a letter to Alya. Not just a simple love letter, but something personal—something only she would understand. He could write about all their memories together, about how he felt whenever he was with her, and about his hope that their relationship would still mean something, no matter what happened next.

Banri felt a weight lift off his chest. This was his way. He didn't have to rush or struggle to say everything out loud. By writing, he could make sure every word truly conveyed what he felt.

But there was still one thing to consider—when and how he would give it to her.

His eyes drifted back to the library, where Alya and Arata were still studying together.

"Maybe not now," he thought.

After a brief moment of reflection, he finally made up his mind.

"I'll give it to her later, when the time is right," he murmured.

With that decision, Banri let out a relieved sigh. He then stepped back into the library, rejoining Alya and Arata to continue their study session.