Oh, Brother!

one-sided

Shogo's POV
The night before Takumi and Reina meet up at First Sight Café for their tutoring session, Shogo receives a sudden phone call from Reina's older brother Sho.

Ring! Ring!

Groaning, I turned to my side, trying my best to get some more sleep. However, my phone continued to ring even when I had it set to vibrate mode. My ringer must've been set to the highest setting. I'm usually a heavy sleeper, so I found it quite odd how I couldn't fall asleep right away. Reluctantly, I got up and trudged on over to my dresser, picking up my phone. "Hello?" I groggily stated. "May I know who it is that's calling?"

"Hey, this is Yonashiro Sho. This is Tajima Shogo-kun's number, am I correct?" The other end of the line began.

Yonashiro Sho? I haven't heard that name in a while... But if I'm right, isn't there an idol with the same name?

However, one of my ex-friends did have an older brother named Sho. Could it be him?

"Yes, this is Shogo. You're Reina-chan's older brother, right?" I asked of the caller.

"Yes, that's right. Shogo-kun, do you mind if I ask you for a favor?" Sho stated. Sighing, I checked the digital clock on my bedside table. It was nearly 3 AM. Why is he up so late?

Ugh, I just want to go back to bed...

"A favor?" I replied back, curious as to what he might have meant. "What kind of favor?"

"I know that you and Reina haven't talked in a while. But please, help me out!"

With a groan, I rubbed my eyes and relented, "Okay, so what's the favor?"

"I want you to keep an eye on Reina for me. She'll be at First Sight Café with one of her male acquaintances. If anything happens between those two, I want you to step in and stop them,"

"But isn't that your problem and not mine? I mean, you are Reina-chan's older brother. Besides, like you said, Reina and I haven't talked in a while. I know that she probably wouldn't enjoy my presence. I know she hates me..."

"Shogo-kun..." Sho's voice trailed off as he released an exhale. "Maybe this is your chance to try re-connecting with her. Just think about it and let me know, okay?"

"Uhh- Ok," I simply stated in reply. I was definitely feeling hesitant to try and talk to Reina-chan again.

After all, I rejected her.

Reina's POV

Flashback, one year earlier. Reina is waiting for her childhood friend Shogo to arrive at her high school's school festival. She checks the time on her phone, wondering what could be taking him so long.

"Hmm wonder where he could be..." Taking a seat at a nearby table, I let out a heavy exhale. Even though I'm five years younger than one of my childhood friends Tajima Shogo, I've never actually looked at him like he was an older brother or like he was family. To me, Shogo-kun is different from all the other boys I had ever liked.

But I know that he only sees me as a friend and nothing more.

"Reina-chan!" I heard a familiar voice state from behind me. The owner of that voice then tapped me upon the shoulder. When I turned to see who it was that was talking to me, my face finally lit up. "Sorry that I'm late! I had some stuff to finish up earlier. I should have told you about it..." It was Shogo-kun. Giving me that warm smile of his, the butterflies in my stomach spread like wildfire. "But, I'm glad that I was finally able to come! So, where should I start?"

"Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to just sit around and hang out..." Shyly, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I actually just wanted to see you... Besides, my class's idea for the festival is kinda stupid, if you ask me,"

"Hmm? What do you mean? Trust me, at least it's probably not like what happened when you came to my school festival a few years back... At least the girls in your class didn't make you dress up as a maid for the maid cafe despite you being a boy... Just because of entertainment purposes, whatever that could mean..." Shogo-kun and I walked for a few, until we finally reached my homeroom classroom. "Oh, a love compatibility booth? That's new!"

As we entered my classroom, Shogo-kun pointed at the booth at the very center of the room. "Hmm so this is what high schoolers are into these days, huh?"

"Omaigod! He's cute!" I heard one of the girls in my class state. "He totally looks like an idol!"

Are they talking about Shogo-kun?

"Yeah, but why is he hanging out with the lowest ranked student in our grade? Also, do you think she has a thing for him?" said another.

"Who? That Yonashiro Reina girl? Dang, she's such a loser... But, I'm pretty sure it won't work out. After all, he seems like an older guy. She shouldn't get her hopes up..."

"Yeah, pretty stupid person... I mean, that's just my opinion though. After all, an adult dating a minor? If they do end up dating... Boy!"

"Reina-chan, are you okay?" Shogo-kun questioned of me as he saw me looking down at my shoes, having already stopped near the love compatibility booth with him. I couldn't answer. Not only was I upset at the situation, but I felt like I wanted to disappear.

So I ran, I ran away. I ran away from Shogo-kun, ending up at the school roof. I wanted to cry, but somehow couldn't bring myself to. Instead, I just stared up at the sky and sighed.

"Reina-chan!" I heard Shogo-kun's footsteps approaching me. "Why'd you run away like that? What's wrong?" He quickly walked on over next to me and gingerly placed his hand on my shoulder like he did earlier. "Come on, you can tell me... Don't let those girls bully you like that though, alright?"

"Shogo-kun..." My voice trailed off as I hesitated to tell him my true feelings. "What if... What if I told you I liked you?"

"Oh? Oh!" Shogo-kun gave me a look of surprise, but that once bright and warm smile he gave me earlier to comfort me suddenly disappeared. With a heavy exhale, he turned to face me directly. "Thanks, but I think you should like someone your own age..."

"I knew this would happen!" I stated, tearing up.

"Reina-chan, I'm sorry..." Shogo spoke, but I felt as if something inside me stung.

Is this what it's like to have a one-sided love?

"Why bother?" The tears stopped.

"Huh? Do you hate me?"

"It would be better if I never liked you in the first place... Talk about unrequited love..." I leaned against the roof's railing as I watched the people walking and laughing down below. Some were couples, some were just there because they had nothing better to do.

And then there was me and Shogo-kun...

I knew we would never end up as a couple...

After all, one-sided loves suck.

😭😭😭😭

This chapter update messed with my own heart as I started writing it up! 😅 I feel so bad for Reina but I can relate on the one-sided crushes thing as it's happened to me frequently in the past... 😖 Anyways, I hope you enjoy today's update and continue to follow this story! 🥺❤️ Thanks for reading and commenting, everyone! Also, anyone else getting wrecked by Taji lately or is it just me? 😅🙈

- Cath ❤️‍🔥