·unreachable·

·{1}·

Momo stared blankly at the young man in front of her. He stood tall with his shoulders relaxed and a soft smile displayed on his lips.

"Iida, I'm sorry but I'll have to decline your offer. I'm not interested in forming a deeper bond with you, I'd like to keep things professional. Hope you understand..."

Iida stood there for a few seconds, his smile never fading. But his eyes gave off a small glimmer, as if he just realized something.

"Ah, don't worry Yaoyorozu. I completely understand, and I fully respect your decision. "
He spoke with delicacy and a reassuring tone, not wanting to come off as upset or sarcastic. Iida did not seem fazed by the rejection, but Momo felt as if she had unintentionally struck something within him. The taller male quickly excused himself before walking away from her, leaving Momo alone in the empty classroom.

That young man had made many attempts to invite her to multiple gatherings and dates that were nothing more than platonic at first, but because they were all formally declined with excuses, he decided to settle it with a direct love confession.

She saw this coming, but nothing could prepare her for how outwardly confident he'd propose the idea of forming a romantic relationship with her. Momo first became aware of Iida's feelings from the subtle change in his body language a few weeks ago.

The way he would subtly hold his breath whenever she smiled at him, or a small blush forming around his ears and cheeks from whenever she would poke fun at him.

At first, Momo didn't pay much attention to it. She was confident that both Iida and herself shared the same mindset. To never get involved romantically with any classmates in order to avoid future problems and distractions that string along with relationships. To always put their studies first before anything.

But boy, she was wrong. Iida was more than willing to take that chance.

Especially if it meant with her.

Finally, Momo stood up from her seat and folded the envelope Iida had gifted her before putting it away in her backpack.

She headed home without a second thought about what had occurred.