You Did it Sumire!

Crush

As Sakusa san rejoined san and Sumire outside the bookstore, the tension that had gripped the air began to dissipate. Bokuto-san removed his hand from Sumire's shoulder and glanced back, checking to see if anyone was following them. Seeing that they were alone, he turned his attention back to Sumire, curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Yo, Suma-chan?" Bokuto san called gently, his tone inviting yet concerned.

"Hn? Yes, Bokuto-san?" Sumire replied, her voice soft but steadying as she gathered herself.

"Are you okay?" Bokuto san asked, his eyebrows knit together with genuine concern.

"No, but I will be," Sumire admitted, offering a half-hearted smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"That's the spirit, right, Omi-kun?" Bokuto-san said, casting a glance over his shoulder. Sakusa san, who Sumire hadn't noticed was following just behind them, simply grunted in response, making Sumire flinch and turn her head to look back at him. Bokuto-san laughed at her surprise. "You didn't even notice he was there, right, Suma-chan?"

Sumire's gaze settled on the man with curly hair wearing a black surgical mask. He had an intimidating presence, but there was something oddly familiar about him, even with the mask obscuring most of his features. Her mind was trying to piece together where she might have seen him before, and she hadn't realized she was staring until Bokuto san's voice pulled her back to the present.

"Do you know Omi-kun, Suma-chan?" Bokuto san asked, a teasing glint in his eyes.

"Hn, 'Omi-kun'?" she repeated, chuckling softly and annoying Omi-kun in the process. She thought for a moment, then hesitantly asked, "Um, I may be wrong, but did you play for Itachiyama in your high school days?"

Omi-kun blinked, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Yes," he confirmed with a nod, his voice low and composed.

Sumire's eyes lit up with recognition. "So you really are Sakusa Kiyoomi," she said, her smile brightening. "In middle school, I watched one of your matches in the Inter-High. Your team was against my school. We lost straight sets, but I remember watching you more than my team," she admitted, a blush tinting her cheeks.

"So you are Omi-kun's fan," Bokuto-san teased, grinning broadly at the revelation.

"Ah, I'm not sure I'm a fan, but yeah, he plays well," Sumire replied, her gaze flickering to Sakusa, who simply grunted again, making her chuckle. "You really are how I thought you would be," she remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice.

Sakusa was intrigued, though he remained silent, his curiosity piqued by her words. Sensing his unspoken question, Sumire continued, "Reserved, a man of few words, talented, hardworking, smart, irritable—"

"Whoa, whoa, Suma-chan, do you have a crush on him?" Bokuto-san interjected, his tone playful. Sumire turned a bright shade of red, shaking her head in embarrassment as Bokuto-san laughed, while Sakusa-san walked ahead toward the café, unfazed by the teasing.

"Oye, Omi-kun, wait for us!" Bokuto san called after him, leading Sumire to follow.

As they reached the café and settled down at a cozy table, Sakusa-san busied himself with his phone, his attention seemingly elsewhere. Meanwhile, -san and Sumire chatted about university life, her studies, and other light-hearted topics that gradually eased the remaining tension.

Sumire took a deep breath, then stood up, bowing her head slightly to both of them. "Um, Bokuto-san, Sakusa-san, thank you for your help earlier," she said, her voice sincere and filled with gratitude.

Bokuto san waved off her thanks with a friendly smile. "It's alright, Suma-chan. You're Miya's friend, so of course, we would help you. But who was that guy, Suma-chan? Looked like a college kid."