Love Me, Love Me Not || Hanamaki Takahiro

Third Petal: She Loves Me

She loves me.

Whenever she felt cold, she borrowed his jersey. It may not mean anything, but he wanted to take it as a positive sign. He wishes that it was a sign that she likes him back. 

• • •

"Hanamaki-kun, may I borrow your jersey?" Nakamura asked as soon as she spotted him.

He smiled at her as he handed his jersey to her. He would love to see her wearing his jersey. He can't imagine how cute she will probably look with it. Upon receiving his jersey, her cheeks are bloomed with pink as she thanked him. She then wore it as she headed back to her seat. 

Hanamaki continued to look at her as he could feel his cheeks burning as well. His eyes widen when he spotted her slightly sniff his jersey. This caused his cheeks to be painted the exact colour as his hair as he slammed his head on his desk. He could feel flames going off from himself.

When she returned the jersey by the end of the day, he held onto his jersey tightly in his embrace as he headed home. While he was walking home, he unconsciously brought his jersey towards his nose and sniffed it. He felt himself smile softly when it smelled like her. He promised himself not to wash this jersey, wanting the scent to remain as much as possible.

• • •

When he realized that she only borrows his jersey, that was when his hope grew. That was when he made sure to bring his jersey with him to school no matter what. He could forget his pencil case or anything else, but he would never forget to bring his jersey.

• • •

"Can I borrow your jersey if you're not using it?"

Hanamaki gave her an apologetic look. "Sorry, I forgot to bring mine today."

She nodded in disappointment before going back to her seat.

He saw her seatmate talk to her and he was able to hear what they were talking about. "Nakamura-chan, why don't you borrow from someone else?"

Nakamura shook her head. "It's fine. I'll try to handle it. It's my fault anyway for not bringing a jacket."

• • •

He also remembers how she never brings her own jacket. No matter how cold it was, she will say she forgot to bring hers and borrow his. When he realized that, he almost confidently thinks that she doesn't bring hers on purpose. She did it to borrow his. 

• • •

"Hanamaki-kun, may I borrow your jersey again?"

"Did you forget to bring yours again?" He chuckled as he handed his to her.

Instead of answering his question, she blushed and accepted the jersey he handed to her. She then quickly rushed to her seat as she wore the jersey. Once she was seated, she sniffed on the sleeves with a soft smile just like any other day she borrows his jersey. No matter how often he sees her do that, it always manages to make him blush and look away with a satisfied look.

• • •

She loves me.