Autumn Leaf

“When are you going to make move?”

“W-what move?”

“Make a move to Hara-san.”

It was lunch break and five guys gathered themselves to eat their lunches. During their fun time, Kai noticed Taki stealing gazes at Anzu Hara, his childhood friend. Looking at her laughing made Taki laugh without reason and it made Kai smirked and asked him. Taki slightly stuttered though, he’s a cold-hearted person to the girls but, Anzu Hara is always number one in his heart.

“Kai, are you crazy? She has a boyfriend. You know him, your basketball captain.” Taki rolled his eyes. Reo began to talk after he ate a spoonful of rice.

“If I were you, I will steal her.”

“You’re funny, Reo. Like you just steal a girl before.”

“What?! You don’t believe me? See for yourself.” He finished his lunch and clean up his desk. He went to Anzu Hara and her best friend who has brown hair tied into waist-length pigtails and has a height of 149 cm, the shortest in their class.

“Hey, Hanazono-san,” He said. The two girls paused their conversation after they heard Reo.

“What?” Kurisu Hanazono glared at him.

“Are you going to make fun of my hubby?”

“Hah! That guy from the billboard? Pfft. No way.” The twins heard his statement and made Kai’s lips to curve up and almost releasing his power laugh.

“Then what is it? Hurry up, no-good Chiba!”

“Do you think of me, Hanazono-san?” He casually asked.

“….” Everyone is in silence. What a sudden question came from Reo but it looks like he is very serious about it or is he just pulling some act.

“Stop joking around. Why do I think of you anyway?” Kurisu Hanazono rolled her eyes and crossed her arms around her waist.

“I’m not here to make fun of you. I’m serious, Hanazono-san. No. Kurisu-chan. Do you like me?”

“W-what?” He suddenly leans closer to her and their cheeks almost touch.

“Wait for it and I will steal your heart,” He said with a wink. Kurisu stood up and slapped Reo’s face, leaving the classroom angrily. Anzu chased her friend and left the scenario. Everyone is looking at him as Reo went back to his bros, sat on his seat.

“That’s the way to steal a girl’s heart. How about to hug Hara-san, Taki”

“Are you for real, dude? You’re not you.” Rin stated.

“It’s just an example of Taki. Hahahaha! I’m just teasing her. But, it made me feel annoyed when she brings up a topic she loves. That stupid model on that billboard. If only he didn’t exist.”

Again, Kai almost laughs about it. Reo doesn’t like the model on the billboard because it is Kurisu’s crush but, how poor he is. The model is his friend and he’s beside him today, having cold feet and anxious at him. He slightly smiles and pats his shoulder.

“If I see him, can I punch him?” Kuro asked.

“Yeah, yeah. That would be a great idea” He laughed.

***

“Is Hanazono-san okay?”

“Yeah. She’s all right.”

Anzu chuckled as she looked at Taki. Taki questioned her what makes her laugh and it made Taki shook of her answer.

“Did you know, Kurisu-chan like Chiba-san?”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah. They don’t get along and always argue over things but, she has a crush on him”

“Wait… That’s hilarious. How can she like Reo?” Taki softly chuckled.

“I don’t know but it is unexpected. It made me shocked after she told me about that last week.”

The school hours are over and Taki and Anzu are about to leave together. On their way to the school gate, it seems they enjoy themselves talking and it made Anzu’s bright smile shows. Taki couldn’t help to give her a slight smile on Anzu’s silliness.

“I didn’t even know what’s the sum of three plus two that I even used calculator,” She said while laughing.

“If my calculator had a history, it would be more embarrassing than my browser history”

“You’re silly as always, Anzu”

It seems Taki noticed something on Anzu’s hair. They both stopped and Taki picked a medium-sized leaf and she saw it and gets on his hand. The leaf shape is a heart and it was very unusual to see. They both got a little confused but didn’t we know, Taki’s mind is full of romance?

For him, that heart-shaped leaf is a sign for him to ‘steal the girl he likes’ but, again, he never trusted his friend when it comes to this genre. Anzu has a boyfriend but is it wrong for a person to fall in love? Is it wrong for a person to confess? There’s nothing wrong about it that he suddenly looked at Anzu deep in his eyes. Their smiles faded because the gazes are so intense. Taki instantly held her hands and intertwined it but, he finally saw Anzu’s feeling that was shown by her face. She avoided his gazes and slightly narrowed her brows. She felt something weird and wrong. A wrong move to Taki that made Anzu confused at him.

“What are you doing, Taki-kun?” Anzu questioned, still avoiding his eye contact. Taki didn’t answer her and he only bit his lower lip. He wants her to know his feelings. He wants to say ‘I like you’ to her but, he’s such a coward. No one knew that Taki Miura, a cold-hearted person, is shy when it comes to the girl he likes.

“Anzu-chan.” A male voice came in front of them. Taki quickly let go of Anzu’s hand and looked at the guy. It is Anzu’s boyfriend, Shun Amano, the basketball captain.

“S-Shun-kun...”

“Let’s go?” Shun said. Anzu nodded at him and they both started to walk, leaving Taki behind. She didn’t even look back at him but suddenly, they both stopped and Shun approached Taki with a serious face.

“You may be her friend but please, don’t cross the line.”

Taki went speechless and got lose hope for what he said. He already saw the outcome and no need for him to make a move. She’s not a toy that he can steal whatever and whenever he wants. She’s a human and deserves to be happy. If he steals her away from Shun Amano, does it make her happy?

He regretted not accepting her feelings back then and It is too late for him now. He cannot change her feelings with that single move. He’s falling and she never knows what it is.

Falling…

Falling in love with her.

She is so close to him yet so distant that he can’t even reach her heart.

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