My world has been like this since childhood.
I've never really been interested in many things.
I like drawing, but no one around me seems to appreciate it.
Kinda sad, right?
But wait… there's more, to be honest.
I'm not tall.
I'm not very studious.
I'm not popular either.
And worst of all—
I'm an introvert.
There are so many things I should work on, yet I'm lazy too.
Sigh…
Sometimes, I don't even know why I was born.
But still, there are things that don't bother me much.
I don't really care what people think of me.
It's my life, so it's up to me what I do with it.
My goal is to become a famous mangaka.
Hehe… I know it sounds like a beautiful dream, but as I said, everyone around me opposes it.
After graduation, I want to live somewhere else.
Somewhere far away.
Somewhere I'm allowed to do the things I want to do.
Life would be so beautiful then…
"Oi! Didn't I say no talking to yourself?!"
I flinched.
"Tell me if something's bothering you, dude. I'm here to listen, you know!"
That was Lumi—my best friend.
Yeah, I actually do have a best friend. His situation is pretty similar to mine, yet somehow, he manages to keep up with everything.
He's a femboy, but to me, he's just my best buddy.
He's the only one who truly understands me.
And honestly? His sense of fashion is insanely good.
Lumi: Listen, I know life's hard for you. Whenever you feel alone, just remember me, okay?
Now, stay up like a good boyyy~
Lumi grins. "Hehehe."
MC: He does this every time I feel sad. He's the besttt.
It was almost time for class.
Lumi: Hey, I'm gonna go attend my class, okayy?
Make sure to stay highhh~
Now byee-byee! Meet you at lunchhh!
He waved and rushed out.
MC (head down, practically lying on the desk):Sometimes, I think my life isn't as harsh as I believe it to be.
Slowly, he turned his head to the left.
And for the very first time in his life—
After being an artist,
After living in shades of gray—
He saw the true colors of his world.
He saw a girl.
A girl so beautiful and charming, effortlessly drawing everyone's attention.
She smiled brightly, and somehow… everyone around her smiled too.
She is Yumi — the class representative.
She shines as brightly as the sun,
yet she is as calm as a flowing river,
and as gentle and charming as a flower-filled valley.
How should I even describe her?
She is the first person I ever saw as truly human.
Before her, everyone except my friend felt like nothing more than stick figures —
faces without emotion, voices without warmth, lives without color.
But Yumi was different.
She had presence.
She had warmth.
She had life.
And in my gray, quiet world…
she was the first real color.
And before I even knew it,
I had already fallen in love with her.
No… no, no, no—
This can't be happening.
It's not even possible.
How can someone like me fall for someone like her?
She's my complete opposite.
Bright
Confident.
Loved by everyone.
And I'm just… me..
But still—
She's the only one who doesn't look like a stick figure to me.
The only one who feels real.
My thoughts tangled together, refusing to settle.
How am I supposed to deal with this?
How could I ever confess something like this?
No… I can't do this alone.
Should I ask Lumi?
At this point, it's not even a choice anymore.
I have to tell him during lunch.
I lifted my head slightly.
My eyes drifted toward her without permission.
She was sitting a few rows ahead of me, in the middle row, surrounded by her friends.
From my seat near the window, I could mostly see her back — the soft sway of her hair as she laughed, the small movements she made while talking.
Even from behind, she felt… radiant.
I kept staring.
Maybe too much.
Then, suddenly, she turned her head slightly.
For a split second, our gazes almost met.
Almost.
But she was probably just looking around, lost in her own conversation.
Still—
Why is my heart beating so fast?
No—stop.
I can't take this anymore.
Wait—
Am I seriously going to die like this?
My chest tightened, my breathing faltering for a moment.
…No.
It was just my heart racing.
Just a little.
The lunch bell rang.
Ringgg—
I flinched.
I should go to Lumi's class right now.
This is really important… but even after everything I've thought through, I still can't fully believe it.
I've never even been part of a proper two-friends group before.
So why am I trying something like this now?
But still—
I want to give this everything I've got.
Because moments like this… don't come again and again, right?
As I stepped into the hallway, scanning the crowd, I suddenly spotted Lumi, who seemed to be searching for someone.
Our eyes met.
And the next second—
He waved energetically and rushed toward me.
Lumi: "Oww~ this is new! I don't usually see you walking this fast, Kairu. Did something happen?"
He leaned closer, narrowing his eyes playfully.
"And did you eat your lunch already??"
Kairu: "Lunch…? Oh—sorry, I forgot it in the classroom."
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
"Hehe… I wanted to ask you something important, so I kinda forgot."
Lumi's eyes widened dramatically.
Lumi: "OHW MW GOWDWW— are you gonna confess to me?! Yayyy~!"
Kairu: "No—! But it's… related to that."
Lumi: "Oww~ okayyy~"
He grinned mischievously.
"But let's go get your lunch first, okay?"
Kairu: "Umm… yeah."
We went up to the rooftop — one of my favorite places in the entire school.
It was quiet, calm, and peaceful. Hardly anyone ever came here. The gentle wind brushed against my face, carrying the warmth of the afternoon sun.
This place always helped me think.
Lumi leaned against the fence, looking at me with curiosity.
LUMI: "So, Kairu… what did you want to say?"
I hesitated.
KAIRU: "It's just… I— um… how should I say this…"
My words tangled in my throat.
"I… um… ah—"
LUMI: "Let me guess."
He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling.
"You've started liking someone, right?"
I froze for a second, then slowly nodded.
KAIRU: "Mm."
LUMI: "Really…? WAIT— REALLYYYYYYYY?!"
His sudden shout made me flinch.
KAIRU: "Mm…"
I nodded again, my face burning.
"And I wanted to talk to you about it."
Lumi's face instantly lit up.
LUMI: "Yesss, my dear friend! I'm so happy for youuuu!"
He clasped his hands dramatically.
"By the way… who's that lucky girllll~?"
I swallowed.
KAIRU: "Um… it's… the class representative."
Lumi blinked once.
Then—
LUMI: "OHHH! You mean Yumi, right?"
He grinned.
"Her name even matches with mine lumi-Yumi , hehehe~"
My heart started pounding.
KAIRU: "Um… so I want to… con… confe…"
I took a deep breath.
"CONFESS TO HER!!"
Lumi stared at me for a second.
Then suddenly—
LUMI: "OWWW! That was rare! You actually said something out loud for once! Congratulationssss~!"
He laughed proudly.
"And about confessing…"
His expression softened a little.
"You know I know you. This is gonna be really hard for you, my boii."
KAIRU: "Yeah… I know."
I looked down at my hands.
"But the thing I wanted to ask is…"
"Is there any easier way to do this?"
I clenched my fists.
"I want to confess face-to-face, but… I don't really want to talk…"
"I mean, I can talk, but you know…"
"I'm way too shy for this. I'm such an introvert…"
Lumi gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
Lumi: "No tension, my friend."
He smiled warmly.
"From what you've told me, and from how well I know you…"
"I think the easiest way for you would be…"
"Giving her a CONFESSION LETTER. Directly."
I looked up.
LUMI: "It covers everything."
"You don't have to speak too much, you can express your feelings properly, and it'll still be sincere."
He grinned.
"And honestly? It suits you."