Love Live!: SHATTER [PART 9]

I CAN'T DENY IT:

*THE NEXT DAY*

*SCHOOL IDOL CLUBROOM - NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL - ODAIBA - TOKYO*

Last night actually happened.

And this time... I can't just shove it to the back of my mind and pretend it didn't.

Maki thought I was asleep.
She whispered it right there beside me...that she's in love with me.

There's no twisting that. No 'maybe she meant it as a friend' excuse.

Maki wouldn't lie like that. Ever. When she says something that heavy, she means it.

And yeah...part of me wants to sit here asking 'why me?' like an idiot.
But come on. I've been right beside her this whole year. Helping her since the moment we met. I can see exactly how she got there.

You can tell someone you love them and still just mean 'I care about you as a friend.'

But 'in love'?

That's different.

That's the real thing.

And... *Sigh* Not to sound arrogant here, but... The most complicated part of it all is that I don't think she's the only one who feels that way.

I knew something like this would happen sooner or later, it was only a matter of 'it' and not 'when'. I've told myself before that a storm is coming, and this is it.

Maki's the only one who said it. And only then she said it when she thought I was sleeping.

Everyone else is complicated... They drop hints. They smile a certain way. They say things that could mean anything.

Just to name a few examples...

...

AYUMU: "Right... Something has been bugging me though, I didn't want to say it in front of everyone to bring the mood down."

AKI: "Really? Please tell me Ayu, if there's anything I can help you with... Please let me know."