How does one freeze the moment forever? You'll have to capture it with a polaroid and make it your home. You'll forever be the girl in his polaroids, you'll forever be his first love.
I stood there, my breath visible in the cold autumn air, trying to find the right words to express what I was feeling. It wasn't easy, admitting something so personal, especially to someone who meant so much to me. But as I looked into [Reader]'s eyes, I knew I couldn't hold back any longer.
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the weight of her gaze on me. Why now, indeed? It wasn't something I could easily put into words. How could I explain the sudden realization that she was more than just a friend to me? That her smile brightened my day, that her laughter was like music to my ears?
"I guess..." I started, searching for the right words, "I guess I just realized that you mean a lot to me. More than I thought."
She blinked at me, her expression softening. "Rin-kun..."
I took a step closer to her, feeling a surge of courage. "I've been thinking about it for a while now. About us. And I realized that I want to be more than just friends. I want to be with you, [Reader]."
Her eyes softened, and she reached out to take my hand in hers. "Rin-kun, I... I never thought..."
I squeezed her hand gently, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me. "I know this might be sudden, but I mean it. I really like you, [Reader]."
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she nodded. "I like you too, Rin-kun."
Relief flooded through me, and I couldn't help but return her smile. "So, does that mean..."
She nodded again, her smile widening. "Yes, Rin-kun. I'll be your girlfriend."
A wave of happiness washed over me, and I pulled her into a hug, holding her close. "Thank you, [Reader]. You won't regret it, I promise."
As we stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, I knew that this was just the beginning of something special. And I couldn't wait to see where it would take us.
—
As we walked to school together the next day, the atmosphere between us was charged with a mix of uncertainty and anticipation. I found myself stealing glances at [Reader], wondering if she felt the same way I did.
My heart pounded in my chest as I contemplated the idea of reaching out and taking her hand. It seemed like such a simple gesture, yet the implications felt monumental. Would she welcome the contact, or would she pull away, uncomfortable with the intimacy?
Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered [Reader]'s voice as she spoke up, breaking the silence between us. "So, are we gonna pretend like we're not holding hands right now, or...?"
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Her words snapped me out of my reverie, and I glanced down to see that, indeed, our hands were intertwined. A rush of warmth flooded my cheeks, but I managed to muster a sheepish grin. "Guess we're not doing a very good job of pretending, huh?"
She chuckled her laughter like music to my ears. "Nah, not really. But hey, at least we've got the whole hand-holding thing down pat, right?"
I couldn't help but laugh along with her, the tension between us dissipating with each shared smile. In that moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world, our laughter echoing off the walls of the empty street.
As we parted ways at the school gates, I couldn't shake the feeling of euphoria that lingered in the air. Holding [Reader]'s hand had been a simple yet profound moment, one that I knew I would cherish for a long time to come.
Later, as I made my way to volleyball practice, I was intercepted by Osamu, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "So, Suna, are you and [Reader] officially a thing now?"
His question caught me off guard, and I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What do you mean?"
Osamu nodded towards the direction we had just come from, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I saw you two holding hands earlier. Figured something might be going on."
I felt my ears flush at the realization that we hadn't been as subtle as I had thought. Leave it to Osamu to pick up on the smallest details.
"I shrugged nonchalantly, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, something like that," I replied, keeping my tone light and casual.
Atsumu couldn't resist teasing me. "Did you feed something to [Reader] to make her say yes to you? I wouldn't be surprised if you threatened the poor girl," he joked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
I rolled my eyes at Atsumu's typical banter. "Like I'd stoop to your level," I retorted, my tone dry with a hint of sarcasm.
Atsumu's playful expression faltered, his forehead creasing at my snarky remark "What's that supposed to mean?" he shot back.
I couldn't help but smirk at his reaction. I shook my head, not bothering to entertain his antics. "Forget it," I said, brushing off his comment with a dismissive wave of my hand.
Osamu, always the voice of reason, stepped in to diffuse the situation. "Come on, Tsumu. Let's give Suna a break," he interjected, shooting me a supportive glance.
—
As the volleyball practice wound down, I caught her lingering near the gymnasium, her curiosity palpable in the way she watched us play. There was something in her eyes, a glimmer of interest that I couldn't quite ignore.
"You sticking around?" I asked, the corners of my lips curling up slightly. It was strange, having her here after practice, but not unwelcome.
"Yeah, if that's okay with you. I'd love to learn more about volleyball," she replied, her voice tinged with excitement.
A surge of amusement washed over me at her eagerness. "Sure, why not?" I said, gesturing for her to follow me. "Come on, I'll teach you the basics."
Guiding her through the fundamentals of volleyball, I found myself enjoying the process more than I had expected. There was a certain satisfaction in seeing her grasp the basics, her determination evident in the way she listened intently to my instructions.
At one point, she pulled out her polaroid camera, snapping photos of me as I demonstrated various techniques. Despite myself, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at her enthusiasm.
Once we had finished our impromptu lesson, she turned to me, her expression thoughtful. "Why do you play volleyball, Suna?" she asked, her gaze searching mine.
I paused, considering her question carefully. "I guess I'm just good at it," I replied, my tone casual. "And I don't hate it."
"I see," she murmured softly, her eyes reflecting a depth of understanding. "Well, I hope one day I'll get to witness you on the court, not just playing the game, but truly embracing it with all your heart."
Her words lingered in the air, stirring something within me. Maybe it was the earnestness in her voice or the genuine interest she showed, but suddenly, I found myself seeing volleyball in a different light.
Her genuine curiosity and warmth enveloped me, and for a moment, I was lost in the sincerity of her words. As she continued to flip through the snapshots, a newfound appreciation for the sport I played began to stir within me. Perhaps, there was more to volleyball than I had previously thought. And if she was willing to give it a chance, then maybe I should too.
