Chasing What's Lost || Kinich x F!Reader ||

<Unspoken Words>

Kinich's POV

I still remember our elementary school graduation. It was supposed to be this grand, exciting day, but all I could think about was how weird it felt to be leaving the place where we'd spent so much time together. Y/N and I were just kids then, but even back then, I couldn’t imagine going through any big milestone without her by my side.

“Hey, we’re gonna stick together, right?” she had asked me that day, her eyes bright with excitement, holding the small bouquet of flowers her parents gave her.

“Of course,” I said, without hesitation. Back then, it seemed like a given—like nothing could ever pull us apart.

We’d walked out of the school gates together, arms full of graduation certificates and cheap, plastic medals. The future felt big, but it wasn’t scary. Not as long as Y/N was there.

---

Now, as I watched her laugh with Lumine and Ayaka from across the cafeteria, that moment felt a lifetime away. Somewhere along the way, things changed, and I didn’t know how to fix it.

I can’t even remember when I started pulling away. It was gradual, like a door slowly closing until it was shut, and neither of us knew how to open it again. At first, I thought I was doing the right thing. I didn’t want to complicate things between us. But now, I see what a mistake that was.

Lately, every glance at Y/N reminded me of what we once had, and worse, what I could lose forever.

“Kinich!” Mualani’s voice snapped me back to reality. She appeared at my side, as she often did. “You’ve been out of it lately. Are you sure you're okay?”

“Yeah,” I muttered, trying to shake off the weight that had settled on my chest. I could tell from the look on her face that Mualani wasn’t buying it.

“Come on, you know you can talk to me.” She gave me a nudge, her usual bright energy dimmed slightly by concern.

I sighed, leaning against the lockers. "It’s nothing.”

“It’s Y/N, isn’t it?” she asked, a bit too knowingly.

I stiffened, avoiding her eyes.

“You don’t have to say it. I know you, Kinich.” Her voice softened as she continued, “You’ve had feelings for her for a long time, haven’t you?”

My throat tightened, the words refusing to come out. Mualani was right, but it was something I’d been running from for so long that admitting it felt impossible.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said weakly, my voice lacking conviction.

Mualani just smiled, a mix of sympathy and understanding in her eyes. “You’re not as good at hiding it as you think. I’ve seen the way you look at her.” She paused, watching me closely. “You still care about her, don’t you?”

The truth of her words felt like a weight on my chest. Of course, I cared. More than I could ever say.

But what was the point now? Y/N had built her own world, with new friends, new laughter, and new memories—none of which included me.

“I don’t know how to fix this,” I finally admitted, my voice barely a whisper.

Mualani put a hand on my shoulder, her smile soft but firm. “Maybe it’s not about fixing things. Maybe you just need to tell her how you feel.”

---

The days continued to pass, and each one brought us closer to graduation. Closer to the day when everything would change again.

Y/N wasn’t looking my way anymore, but I couldn’t stop watching her. I told myself it didn’t matter—that she was better off without me hovering around—but the truth was, every time I saw her smile, it felt like something inside me was breaking.

I could feel graduation looming like a storm on the horizon. Soon, we’d walk across that stage, and the chances to say everything I had been keeping inside would be gone.

But for now, all I could do was watch from the sidelines, unsure of what I was supposed to do, and terrified that if I didn’t act soon, it would be too late.