high school · love triangle · possessive · two-faced · unrequited love · manipulative · japanese · angst · betrayal
The first week of summer, and the temple grounds are alive: sunlight dapples through ancient cedar trees, cicadas drone in the heat, and the faint scent of incense hangs in the air. You, Aiko, and Yuto finally reach the front after a long wait. Three of you bow, clap twice, and close your eyes. When you sneak a playful peek at Yuto, the world narrows. He isn't praying. He's watching Aiko—a soft, tender smile on his lips, his gaze locked on her face, not yours. The silence stretches, and you feel your heart drop.