Snow crunched beneath their feet, the cold air biting at their skin, yet their hearts were warm, beating in sync with the quiet serenity of the moment.
Rei was unusually silent, lost in thought. It was rare for him to be this quiet, especially since he usually filled the space with goofy jokes or playful banter. Sera noticed the change in him immediately. "Something wrong?" she asked, her voice soft.
After a brief pause, Rei knelt down on one knee and leaned in toward her, his face serious for the first time in a while. "I love you," he said simply, his eyes holding hers with sincerity.
"W-what?!" Sera blinked in surprise, her face turning bright red. This wasn't the Rei she was used to.
Rei smiled a little, a calm, almost mischievous glint in his eyes. "See? I confessed, but the warmth of the moment didn't go away, did it?" he said, the playfulness returning to his tone.
Sera smiled softly, her cheeks still flushed. "Yeah, you're right," she replied, squeezing his hand as they continued walking to school together. The simple joy of that moment filled the space between them, and everything felt just a little bit more perfect.
---
Time passed, and as always, Souta was being his usual loud self, causing chaos in the classroom while Sia repeatedly smacked him to keep him quiet. Sera, however, was distracted. Her gaze wandered to the window, watching the snowfall gently outside. Rei was also looking out the window, just a little farther from her, both lost in their own thoughts.
Then, the door creaked open, and in walked Chris—a senior and the center of attention wherever he went—a handsome guy with perfect grades and a confident stride. His white hair had a pinkish hue, like elegance incarnate.
He made his way over to Sera's seat, his calm, collected demeanor drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. As he knelt slightly before her, every girl in the class gasped in shock, and even Souta's usual antics came to a halt. "Sera," Chris said smoothly, his voice low but clear. "I like you. Would you date me?"
For a moment, the classroom was silent, all eyes on Sera. Rei's heart skipped a beat as he felt a cold pit form in his stomach. His hands shook. He couldn't even bring himself to look away, his gaze fixed on Sera, desperately hoping she wouldn't accept.
Sera, however, didn't falter. She met Chris's gaze and, with a soft sigh, dropped her eyes slightly before speaking, her voice effortless. "Nah, I'll pass."
Rei's breath caught in his chest, the weight of his anxiety lifting instantly. His soul felt like it had just returned from the heavens.
But Chris wasn't done. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned in, his voice rising slightly in aggression. "What?! You're not even going to think about it?"
Rei stood, his fists clenched, ready to step in, but before he could do anything, Haruta, the class representative, entered the room with a sharp voice that cut through the tension. "Alright, alright, class is about to start, so try your luck later."
Chris glared at Sera one last time before turning to leave, but as he walked out, Rei noticed something in his eyes—something dark. A quiet promise of revenge.
Sera looked at Rei, a small, playful smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You look like you were about to explode there," she teased, but Rei couldn't help but chuckle, relieved.
"Yeah, well," he said, running a hand through his hair, "I guess I'm a little overprotective."
Sera's grin softened. "And I like that about you," she whispered.
-- to be continued
--~Rei