From The Heart

You Remind Me of

In the stillness of her room, Hiyori lay on her bed, her eyes swollen from the tears she had shed earlier. Clutched in her arms was Shinji's uniform blazer, bearing the remnants of her tear stains and the faint scent of Shinji himself.

She gazed down at the blazer, her thoughts consumed by the events of the day.

Hiyori whispered to herself, "Oh...right. That happened..."

The memory of Shinji's comforting embrace at the park resurfaced in her mind, causing her heart to flutter.

Hiyori thought, reflecting on her actions, "I really just...exposed myself, didn't I?"

Another memory followed, of the question she had posed to Shinji during their encounter.

"Shinji... What was it like being in a coma?"

Regret washed over her as she considered her impulsive question, realizing that it had been a deeply personal inquiry.

She remembered Shinji's response, the way he had confronted her about her intentions.

"Do you say those things to just anyone or is it because of who I remind you of? I'm telling you this now, no matter how similar we look, you can't use me to replace him."

Hiyori's thoughts swirled as she grappled with the implication of Shinji's words.

"He thinks I only became his friend because of Saito..."

She rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling, a swirl of emotions and questions filling her mind as she contemplated the complexities of her relationship with Shinji.

As Hiyori lay in her room, lost in thought, another memory surfaced, one that left her pondering the intricacies of her relationship with Shinji.

She recalled Shinji's act of walking her home after their time at the park. His blazer had been draped over her shoulders, offering warmth and comfort.

Their brief exchange replayed in her mind:

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Shinji had asked.

Hiyori had replied, "...Yes. Thank you."

In her haste and embarrassment, she had hurried inside her house, forgetting to return his blazer. She now realized the potential consequences of her forgetfulness.

Hiyori thought, her concern for Shinji growing, "I was so embarrassed I forgot to return the blazer... He's going to get in trouble in school tomorrow again because of me."

With a heavy heart, Hiyori contemplated her actions and the impact they might have on Shinji, her newfound friend who had already faced his fair share of challenges.

She continued to lay in her room, contemplating her recent experiences with Shinji and the complex emotions they had stirred within her, a newfound determination began to take root in her heart.

She couldn't forget the moment when Shinji had come to her aid in the hallway, disregarding his own punishment for not wearing his uniform, just to help her when she had a painful leg cramp. His actions had made her reconsider her plans to confess her feelings to Saito. She realized that perhaps she wasn't ready to face the potential rejection and heartache that might come with it.

Rolling over to lie on Shinji's blazer, Hiyori caught a whiff of his unique scent, and it sparked a realization within her. She thought about her initial intention to confess to Saito and how she had hesitated because of Shinji's intervention. But now, she saw an opportunity to address her feelings and put Shinji's doubts to rest.

Determined and resolute, Hiyori made up her mind. She whispered to herself, "That's it. That's what I'll do. Shinji will no longer use it against me. I need to find out Saito's true feelings for myself anyway!"