Chapter Text
“Ugh...” Sou mutters, rubbing his temples, the confusion brewing like some anxiety-laced storm in his brain.
Here he is, sitting in this fluffy bed, swaddled in his cute white and pastel green nightgown, the delicate floral patterns almost mocking him as he realizes he’s totally clueless about himself. Sure, he can call himself a man, but when it comes to who he likes? Honestly, it feels all muddled, like a puzzle missing half its pieces.
Girls? Nah, not his vibe at all. But boys? They make his heart do this ridiculous fluttering thing, especially when fingers intertwine, sending shivers down his spine like a summer breeze. Ugh, those moments? Dangerous... like fireworks and heartbeats colliding precariously.
He rolls his eyes at his spiraling thoughts—seriously; he’s more than confused; he feels utterly plagued. And there’s only one person who can cut through this messy fog.
With a resigned sigh, he shifts from his haven of blankets and tiptoes to her door, gripping a small notebook like it’s a lifeline. Every boy’s name in this building scribbled down in a sloppy yet oddly charming handwriting, all the boys in the entire building.
“Hey, what’s up, Sou?” Mutsuko greets, leaning casually against her door frame, her long, strawberry blonde hair shimmering in the dim light. She’s in a black tank top and gray sweatpants; the pizza sleeping mask perched on her forehead making him laugh. It’s goofy, but somehow it just fits her perfectly. Everyone else could swoon over her, but all Sou can feel is that warm bubble of confidence—it’s amazing to have someone like her in this whirlwind of confusion.
He slips inside, barely making a sound, and lands with a soft thump onto her slightly rumpled bed draped in those adorably bright pizza-themed sheets and blankets. The walls around them are plastered with snapshots—her and her stunning girlfriend Ruka, just the two of them, another with Erina, and of course, the three of them together, as always.
“Uhhhhhhh, what’s up, Sou?” She asks, skepticism lacing her voice as she quietly shuts the door, twisting the key and sliding it onto the bedside table with a gentle clink.
“I don’t know what I am,” he says, his tone as flat as the air between them.
“Like, gender-wise, or...?” She prods, ready to turn everything upside down for him, whatever it takes to put him at ease.
“N-no... l-like romantically.”
“Okay, well, how do you feel about girls?”
“I mean, I think they’re pretty? But not like, ‘oh my gosh, I love her so muuuuch,’” he admits, the tremor in his voice betraying his nerves.
“What about guys?”
Aha. There it is. He practically jumps at the question, nervously brushing his silky white hair from his eyes.
“I-I’m not opposed...”
“Ooooo! Sou likes boys. Who would’ve guessed?” She sings, the teasing lilt in her voice making his cheeks blush a faint pink.
“I-I... yeah... y-yeah, I do like boys, I guess,” he finally concedes, his voice much softer now, like a secret whispered in the quiet after dark.
“Ugh...” he mumbles, fidgeting with the pastel pink flower hairclip in her hair, clearly flustered. “I don't know... but when this one person is around, it’s like my chest gets all fluttery, like... like light!”
“Hey hey hey hey... I got you! We’re gonna figure out who your lil’ dream boy is!” I chirp, almost squealing as I flip open my notebook, the pages crinkling under my excitement. Each name has its very own ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ chart because that’s just how we ball.
‘NINOMIYA YOHEI.’
I can't help but snicker a bit. The rainbow-haired punk artist never sparked anything in me, you know? “Well, he’s dating Matthias, so that’s an automatic no... and honestly, he just doesn’t give me any feels,” I state, scribbling a decisive ‘0/10’ in the corner like it’s a grave statement.
Then I land on the next name... Him.
‘IKEDA DAIKI.’
“What about braindead?” She asks, tilting her head, parting her hair right down the middle, letting one side cascade over her shoulder and down her chest. I can’t help but grin, because now we’re getting somewhere.
“Hmmm...” I murmur, the corners of my lips creeping up into a shy smile, my cheeks warming to a bright rosy hue that stands out against my pale skin. Just the thought of him sends a fluttering sensation throughout my chest, like a swarm of butterflies taking off on a warm spring day, making everything feel both overwhelming and beautifully chaotic.
“No way! YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON THAT SHITHEAD?!” she gasps, the drama level cranked up to eleven.
I scribble some notes under ‘pros’ in my notebook, the words flowing almost like a confession:
- cute
- funny
- nice to me (sometimes, but honestly, it’s kinda cute when he tries to be all mean)
- makes my heart do little backflips (that's cheesy actually)
- kinda a sadist? (idc though tbh)
- man, he’s just so adorable
“Huhhh... so you REALLY like him, huh Sou?” Mutsuko asks, her pretty olive-green eyes narrowing playfully as if she’s trying to see straight through me.
“w-whatever!” I murmur, glancing down at my fidgeting hands.
“kay... so what are you gonna do about this?” she asks, her brow furrowed with that knowing curiosity.
“i-i don’t know...” I mumble, feeling the weight of indecision like a heavy blanket.
“well, I’m gonna make an event where everyone gets paired up to chat!” Mutsuko declares, a spark lighting up her eyes as if she just conjured a brilliant idea from thin air—honestly, it’s a pretty clever plan.
“w-wait... can you actually do that, Mutsuko?” I blink, caught off guard by her spontaneous energy.
“i was mostly joking, but... it’s actually a great excuse for you two to meet up!” she says, her grin wide and infectious, leaving me a bit dazed, my heart suddenly racing at the thought.