Into the Apex

Turning Points

February 2016 was supposed to be just another quiet month in Masachika Kuze's life, but it was turning into one of the most important times in his young journey. His racing career had been progressing steadily, but something else had been growing at an equally rapid pace—his relationship with Alya. After months of quiet conversations and unspoken feelings, everything began to come to a head, and it started with a teasing friend, Yuki.

Yuki was one of the few friends Masachika and Alya had in common, and she had made it her mission to relentlessly tease them about their obvious connection. Yuki had always been the playful one in their group, and she seemed to take delight in making the two of them blush with awkward remarks and knowing glances.

"Hey, hey, Masachika, do you want to sit next to your girlfriend today?" Yuki teased one day in the school courtyard.

Alya immediately turned red, brushing a lock of her striking silver hair behind her ear. She was wearing her school uniform—a crisp white blouse, a navy blue skirt, and a cardigan draped over her shoulders, exuding an effortlessly elegant air that only she could pull off. She glared at Yuki. "We're not—!"

But Yuki cut her off with a mischievous grin. "Oh, come on, you two are like glued together these days. Just admit it!"

Masachika, who had been trying to keep his emotions in check, couldn't help but feel his heart race at the teasing. He glanced over at Alya, unsure how to react. She was looking at the ground, her polished black loafers scuffing lightly against the concrete, seemingly embarrassed.

Yuki, sensing their discomfort, only pushed further. "Alya, you're blushing! Masachika, you look like you've seen a ghost. You can't fool anyone. Just kiss already!"

The teasing continued for the rest of the week, and it didn't let up. Every day, Yuki seemed to find a new way to make them uncomfortable, whether it was suggesting that they were secretly dating or catching them in an awkward moment of eye contact. It was all in good fun, of course, but it wore on both Masachika and Alya.

One day, after yet another round of teasing, Masachika and Alya found themselves walking home together, their steps slowing as the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky. Alya had traded her school cardigan for a light, cream-colored coat, and her scarf—a soft lavender hue—was wrapped snugly around her neck.

"I... I think we need to talk," Masachika said, his voice soft.

Alya glanced at him, her silver eyes shimmering under the fading sunlight. "About what?"

"This... us," he said, his heart pounding in his chest. "I don't know how to say this, but... I think I'm in love with you, Alya."

Alya stopped walking, her breath catching in her throat. Her cheeks, already flushed from the cold, turned an even deeper shade of pink. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked like she didn't know how to respond.

"Masachika..." she whispered, her gloved fingers tightening around the strap of her bag. "I don't know what to say."

Masachika laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "You don't have to say anything. I just... I wanted you to know. I've been feeling this way for a while now, and I... I think you feel it too."

Alya stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Finally, her lips curled into a small, shy smile. "I'm not good with this sort of thing, you know that."

"I know," Masachika said, smiling softly. "But we don't have to figure it all out right now. I just... I needed to tell you."

Alya looked away, her cheeks flushed with color. "You're so... cute, you know that?" she muttered, trying to hide her flustered expression.