THE NIGHT WAS STILL YOUNG, the gentle chirping of crickets serving as a soothing backdrop to the bustling activity within the hospital.

amidst the hushed conversations and hurried footsteps, a young girl named y/n sat in a quiet corner, her mind wrestling with a sudden and unexpected confession.

across from her, itoshi sae, a boy she had grown acquainted with over time, fidgeted nervously, his heart pounding in his chest.

he had never been one to openly express his feelings, but tonight, something had compelled him to break his silence.

"so..." itoshi sae trailed off, his voice barely audible above the murmur of the hospital around them.

he couldn't quite explain the impulse that had driven him to confess his feelings for y/n.

all he knew was that he couldn't keep it bottled up any longer.

"it's okay if you don't give me an answer now," he added hesitantly, his eyes darting around the room, avoiding y/n's gaze. "i just wanted you to know."

y/n's heart fluttered as she absorbed his words.

a small smile played on her lips, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the moon that shone brightly through the window, casting an ethereal light upon their faces.

"okay, thank you," she replied gently, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.

itoshi sae cleared his throat, his voice barely above a whisper, "y/n..."

y/n leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "what did you say?"

"i said..." itoshi sae paused, his voice catching in his throat. the words seemed to stick to his tongue, refusing to form into a coherent sentence.

"hey, can you speak lou—" y/n's words were cut short as itoshi sae spoke, his voice rising above the background noise.

"i said i like you, y/n," he declared, his eyes locking with hers, his expression filled with a mix of nervous anticipation and unwavering determination.

the confession hung in the air, a tangible presence that filled the room with an unspoken tension.

l/n y/n's heart raced, her cheeks flushing with a newfound warmth.

in that moment, amidst the noise and chaos of the hospital, two young hearts found themselves intertwined, their connection forged in the quiet confession of a boy's unspoken affection.

ᨓ

the cafe was abuzz with activity, the chatter of patrons mingling with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and delectable pastries.

the cafe itself was a spacious establishment, its two floors catering to a diverse clientele.

the décor was warm and inviting, with plush seating arrangements and plenty of natural light streaming through windows.

the second floor, in particular, offered a tranquil retreat, its balcony overlooking the bustling street below.

amidst this lively backdrop, itoshi sae sat in a private room, surrounded by a group of his ... acquaintances. mainly, football players.

theri shared bond was evident, their laughter and friendly banter filling the intimate space.

the decision to gather at a cafe was unanimous among the group. they appreciated the relaxed atmosphere and the easygoing vibe that cafes exuded.

it was the perfect setting for their pre-resort getaway, a chance to unwind and connect before going back to their troublesome works.

the private room buzzed with the lively energy of ten young men, all football players gathered to discuss their upcoming resort trip.

at the head of the table sat itoshi sae, the young prodigy, diligently enjoying his pastry despite the surrounding commotion.

his younger brother, itoshi rin, engaged in a spirited debate with the flamboyant shidou ryusei, whose pink-tipped blonde hair accentuated his animated gestures.

isagi yoichi, with his calm demeanor and dark blue hair, attempted to mediate the friendly rivalry between rin and shidou.

while the bachira meguru, sporting a black bob with golden underlights, added fuel to the fire with his enthusiastic exclamations like "YEAH SHIDOU'S RIGHT!" or "RIN IS DOING IT!!"

across the table, a contrasting atmosphere prevailed.

mikage reo, the team's silver-spooned player, exuded an air of refined elegance with his distinctive purple hair.

nagi seishiro, his white hair as fluffy as his personality, occasionally glanced up from his phone to join the conversation with his insightful remarks.

chigiri hyouma, his reddish pink hair complementing his delicate yet striking features, added a touch of charisma to the group.

kunigami rensuke, his spiky orange hair mirroring his well-built physique, occasionally chimed in with his assertive opinions.

completing the group was aiku oliver, his shaggy purple hair with green tips and rumored reputation as a womanizer adding a touch of intrigue to the mix.

despite the contrasting personalities and occasional bursts of friendly chaos, the private room served as a testament to the camaraderie and friendship (ish) that bound these young men together.

their shared passion for football and their upcoming adventure provided a common thread that wove them into a cohesive unit.

the group delved into animated discussions about their upcoming resort getaway, eagerly sharing ideas on what to pack and activities to pursue.

who planned the getaway? isagi.

who will pay for everything? reo.

after hours of lively chatter, punctuated by bursts of laughter, the friends embarked on a collaborative planning session.

they meticulously allocated roles, from transportation arrangements to item contributions, determining the duration of their stay and ensuring every detail was accounted for.

however, as the prodigiously talented itoshi sae voiced his intention to bring along a female companion, the room was plunged into an unexpected silence.

his declaration sent shockwaves through the group, particularly shidou, who exclaimed, "a girl? THE itoshi sae is bringing a girl?"

the boys' eyes widened in disbelief, their expressions mirroring the collective surprise.

all eyes turned to sae, anticipating his explanation.

though, one individual remained unfazed, his expression composed and unsurprised.

it was none other than itoshi rin, who, with a knowing glance, intervened.

"it's y/n, right?" rin inquired, his chin resting on his palm, his tone laced with familiarity.

a wave of murmurs swept through the room as the name "y/n" echoed among the boys. "who's y/n?" "y/n?" "who?" they questioned, their curiosity piqued.

nagi seishiro, sensing a connection to the name, chimed in, "is her full name l/n y/n?" his question hung in the air, awaiting confirmation from sae.

sae's eyes widened in surprise, mirroring rin's astonished expression.

the revelation that nagi knew y/n had left them both reeling, their minds racing with questions.

could they be cousins or some other form of distant relatives? intrigued, sae couldn't resist asking, "how do you know her?"

nagi, still engrossed in his phone, responded nonchalantly, "hmm, she's my friend," his voice barely above a whisper.

"WOAH EVEN NAGI HAS A GIRL FRIEND ⁉️😲" exclaimed by someone who is obviously none other than bachira meguru.

"bachira, no, that's— oh what's the point..." isagi sighed at his friend's antics.

"we've been friends since a long time ago... idk, you ask her," nagi added, his fingers dancing across the screen with practiced ease.

"it's a hassle to do the talking," nagi remarked, his eyes glued to the phone.

with a renewed sense of determination, itoshi sae resolved to ask further about what was her relationship with nagi tomorrow.

ᨓ

as the clock struck 8:45 pm, signaling the impending closure of the cafe, the once bustling space began to thin out, leaving only a handful of people lingering.

amidst the dwindling crowd, itoshi sae and his group of football boys prepared to depart, their pre-resort gathering nearing its end.

"alright, guys," reo announced, his voice carrying over the subdued chatter, "let's just meet at my place and head to the resort together."

"you guys can go ahead without me," sae interjected, his tone laced with a hint of disinterest. "as i mentioned earlier, i'll be bringing y/n."

"she can join us, you know!" bachira exclaimed, his curiosity piqued by the enigmatic y/n. "i'd love to meet her!"

aiku, ever the charmer, chimed in, "yeah, bring her along. i'm sure she'll enjoy the company."

chigiri chuckled, adding, "aiku's probably going to flirt with her, just like he does with every girl he sees."

shidou, his patience wearing thin, remarked, "jeez, sae, it's all y/n this and y/n that. are you two dating?"

sae, unfazed by shidou's comment, simply rolled his eyes and shot him a glare before striding out of the cafe, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and lingering curiosity.

ᨓ

as the young prodigy stepped through the doorway of his home, his thoughts were consumed by the relationship between y/n and nagi.

the white-haired male's assertion that they had been friends for an unspecified duration sparked an unsettling curiosity within sae.

was there more to their bond than mere friendship? had y/n's silence in response to his confession been a reflection of her affection for nagi?

a wave of self-doubt washed over sae as he contemplated these possibilities.

"no, no, no," he muttered to himself, forcefully suppressing the intrusive thoughts. he clung to the hope that y/n reciprocated his feelings.

to bolster his spirits, he decided to keep a constant eye on the countdown until his soulmate's arrival, a reminder that their destined encounter was within reach.

with thirteen days left, he refused to succumb to despair. instead, he resolved to cherish every moment with y/n, cherishing the bond they shared.

'to be her soulmate is my only desire.'