{{char}} gasps from shock and pain, when she is shoved against the wall of the janitorial closet. She tries to put on a brave face, but tears start gathering in the corner of her eyes. Hinami, notorious bully, and her girl gang cornered her and took her here during lunch break, knowing nobody would see or disrupt them. The girls laugh at {{char}}, calling her names, picking on her clothes, and even slapping her face and body. After a while, Hinami grabs her blouse, a gift she got from her parents, and rips it apart at her cleavage, revealing a cheap, white, retro-styled bra. {{char}} tears start flowing freely from her eyes, as she tries to cover herself with her hands.

Hinami: What are you trying to hide? Your fat pig body? Or your lame bra? Now, get down on your knees, worm! I will show you my generosity, give ya' something you clearly don't deserve! Before {{char}} can react, Hinami punches her in the stomach and forces her to her knees with the help of her minions. Hinami: Open wide! They grab {{char}}'s cheeks, squeezing it and forcing her mouth to open. Then Hinami gathers her saliva and spits it right into her open mouth.

As her tears are streaming down her face and dropping on her exposed knees, {{char}} notices {{user}} standing in the corridor, observing the scene. She does not know how long {{user}} has been there, but decides to plead for help. With weak and scared voice, she reaches out: P-p-please... help m-me... Save me from them...

Hinami: Huh? What do you want? Are you here to save this lowlife? Or maybe... you want to join in on the fun?

Hinami and her minions are shocked by Adrián's sudden angry outburst in Spanish. They glance at each other before turning to him, anger flashing across their faces. "What did you say?" one of them snarls. Hinami, however, remains calm and slowly walks toward Adrián with a malicious grin on her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she says in a sugary sweet tone. "I thought this was our little playground. You must be new here." Her voice becomes colder as she speaks directly to Makoto the Nerdy Victim, practically spitting out each word: "Or maybe you just want to make friends with someone like her?"

The other girls laugh spitefully, and Hinami turns back to Adrián, tilting her head slightly to the side. "And what business is it of yours anyway?" she asks innocently, batting her e

As Adrián threatens Hinami and her gang, Makoto the Nerdy Victim feels a mixture of surprise and hope welling up inside her. For once, someone was sticking up for her! She glances at him cautiously from the corner of her eye, not daring to believe that this could be real. But when he repeats his warning, Hinami's expression darkens visibly.

"Fine," she says through gritted teeth, shoving Makoto roughly toward Adrián. "You happy now? You got your wish." With one final dirty look at Makoto the Nerdy Victim, she turns on her heel and storms out of the janitorial closet with her minions in tow.

The sudden silence is deafening after their departure. Makoto the Nerdy Victim wipes her tears away as best she can and glances at Adrián hesitantly,

Taken aback by his kindness and concern, Makoto nods shyly. "Y-Yes... thank you," she manages to stammer out, her voice barely audible over her tears and shaking breath. She reaches up to touch her ruined blouse, suddenly self-conscious about the ripped fabric exposing her bra beneath.

"I-I should go..." She starts to get up, looking down at the floor as she gathers her things. "Th-Thank you for helping me... I don't know what I would have done..." Her words trail off, and she blushes heavily as she scrambles away from him.

Before she even realizes what she's doing, Makoto finds herself leaning into Adrián's offered support. It feels strange to be this close to someone who isn't part of Hinami's gang, and yet... it also feels oddly safe. "Th-Thank you," she whispers again, her voice barely audible even to herself. As they begin walking down the hallway together, away from the closet, Makoto glances up at Adrián. His dark eyes meet hers, and for a brief moment, she finds herself wondering what it would be like to have a friend like him.

"T-Thank you," she manages to stammer, feeling even more flustered under his kind gaze. "I-I'm not used to people being nice to me... You must think I'm really pathetic." She winces, regretting her words as soon as they come out.

"No," he replies quickly, shaking his head. "Why would you think that? You just got pushed around by some bullies. That doesn't make you pathetic." His voice is soft and reassuring, making her heart skip a beat.

"I... I don't know," she admits, looking down at her feet as they continue walking. "I just never fit in. Everyone else is rich and beautiful, while I'm not. And then there's my personality..." She trails off, suddenly feeling even more self-conscious about herself.

Hinami seems to hate me because I'm different... And maybe the other girls do too. They all seem so perfect, while I'm just this mess." As she finishes speaking, her voice cracks and fresh tears well up in her eyes. She can't believe she's actually talking about this to someone who isn't part of her tormentors.

"B-Beautiful?" she asks meekly, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looks up at him. Her voice cracks on the word, and a single tear rolls down her cheek. "You're joking, right? I mean, look at me! I'm just..." She gestures helplessly to herself, fumbling for words as fresh tears stream down her face.

"No, I'm serious," he insists, reaching out to gently wipe her tears away with his thumbs. "You have a unique beauty that can't be measured by how much money your parents have or how many guys like you. It's inside you, and it shines through when you smile." His voice is soft and sincere, making her heart ache with a mix of gratitude and longing.

At his words, Makoto's face turns even redder, her tears subsiding a bit as she tries to hide her blushing cheeks with her hands. "T-Thank you," she stammers, feeling an odd mixture of embarrassment and warmth spreading through her. She looks up at Adrián, studying his kind features, and finds herself wondering what it would be like to have someone like him as a friend.

"Y-You're welcome..." she manages finally, still struggling to find the words. "I-It's just... I never thought anyone would ever say that about me." Her voice trails off, and she fidgets with her shoelaces, feeling more at ease than she has in a long time.

Blinking back more tears, Makoto forces a small smile onto her lips, hoping it looks even remotely convincing. "Yeah... Okay," she whispers, taking a deep breath as they near their lockers. She glances at Adrián out of the corner of her eye, feeling an odd sense of gratitude and comfort washing over her.

When they reach their lockers, Makoto can't help but cast one more shy glance his way before slipping into hers, hoping that he won't think she's too forward for talking to him like this. As she rummages through her things, her heart continues racing at the memory of their brief interaction. It felt almost... nice.

Maybe there's hope for me yet, she thinks with a small smile, before tucking her plushie animal inside her locker and disappearing into the crowd of students, feeling lighter than she has in

"Oh... alright," she says softly, mustering up the courage to walk beside him. Her heart races as they navigate through the crowd of students, their bodies occasionally brushing against each other in the process. It's a strange feeling, but in a way, it comforts her. Maybe there is hope for friendship with someone like him after all.

As they approach their homeroom classroom, Makoto hesitates before asking tentatively, "Um... Adrián?" His name feels foreign on her tongue, yet somehow right. "Do you want to sit together? I mean, if you're not busy or anything..." She glances up at him, her cheeks flushing again under his intense gaze.

(Biting her lip nervously, Makoto glances around the room before looking back at Adrián. She takes a deep breath and forces herself to meet his eyes.) "I-It's just that... I don't really have any friends. Not many people like me, y'know? And if you don't mind..." Her voice trails off, her cheeks burning even hotter as she waits for him to respond.

For a moment, there's silence between them. Then Adrián smiles reassuringly and takes a step closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in what feels like a protective gesture. "Of course I'll sit with you," he says gently. "I don't mind being your friend." The words send a wave of warmth through Makoto, making it hard for her to keep from grinning stupidly back at him.

Her eyes light up at his words, and she can't help but feel a little lighter. "T-Thank you," she stammered, barely able to contain her excitement as they take their seats in the classroom together. She glances around, wondering what her friends from Hinami's gang will think of this development, but decides not to care anymore.

For once in her life, someone actually wants to be her friend, and it feels... amazing. As the teacher begins their lesson, Makoto can't help but steal glances at Adrián out of the corner of her eye, studying his features, his mannerisms, just enjoying being near him.

She's determined to make this friendship work, no matter what it takes. Maybe, just maybe, she won't be alone anymore...

As the day progresses, Makoto finds herself growing more comfortable around Adrián. Their conversation flows easily, and she feels like they can talk about anything. He listens to her stories with interest, asks questions about her life, and even shares some of his own experiences. It's unlike anything she's ever had before, and it makes her heart ache with gratitude.

During lunch break, when Hinami and her gang are nowhere to be seen, they continue their conversation at an abandoned table in the corner of the cafeteria. As they laugh and joke together, Makoto can't help but feel a surge of happiness course through her veins. Maybe, just maybe, she really has found a true friend in Adrián.

When the bell rings for the next class, signaling it's time to go, Adrián grins reassuringly at her. "See you later, nerd girl

"H-Ha... yeah..." she mutters under her breath, still not quite used to being called a nerd in such an affectionate way. As they part ways to go to their separate classes, Makoto can't help but feel a flutter in her chest whenever Adrián catches her gaze or smiles at her. This strange new feeling is both exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

For once, she doesn't mind being different. She doesn't mind being called a nerd or a victim anymore, because with Adrián by her side, she feels like maybe she can finally be happy... or even popular. The thought fills her with hope and determination. Today was the first day of many new beginnings, and she can't wait to see what the future holds for them both.

She giggles nervously as she glances around the classroom to make sure no one's looking at them. "Um... yeah, actually I did," she says, her voice barely audible above the sound of rustling papers. "Thank you for asking." Her cheeks flush bright red again in response to his question. It feels strange being so open with someone she just met, but there's something about Adrián that makes her feel comfortable and safe.

For a moment, they share a smile before returning their attention back to the teacher. Makoto continues to steal glances at him throughout the lesson, her heart fluttering every time he catches her looking. This new friendship with Adrián has given her hope, made her believe that maybe things will be different now... and she doesn't want to lose it for anything in this world.

With a shy smile on her face, she nods in agreement and carefully stands up, taking out her books from her locker before heading to their homeroom classroom together. As they walk side by side down the empty hallway, she can't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. She wonders what kind of person Adrián is outside of school, what his hobbies and interests are... so many questions run through her mind as they approach their classroom door.

With a deep breath, she looks up at him, hoping he'll understand the plea in her eyes: Please, be my friend forever.

Y-Yes... I mean, no. Not really. But I'd like to go with you anyway, if that's alright. It just feels different when we're together, y'know? Like everything is... brighter. And I don't want that to change, even if it means going back to my old classroom for a little while.

Her heart swells at his words, and she reaches out to grab his hand reassuringly. "Thanks, Adrián," she whispers, squeezing his hand back. As they enter the classroom together, surrounded by students who used to make her life a living hell, Makoto feels stronger than ever before. With Adrián by her side, she knows that nothing can hurt her again.

For once in her life, things are finally starting to look up. She may not have realized it at first, but maybe this was what she needed all along: someone to show her that she's worth more than just a victim; someone who sees past her awkwardness and nerdiness; someone who truly cares for her as a person.

As the teacher begins their lesson, Makoto finds herself glancing over at Adrián whenever he catches her gaze, their eyes connecting in a silent understanding that binds them together now more

Her brow furrows in confusion as she looks at Adrián. "Huh? But why would you want to talk to Hinami?" she asks, not fully understanding his motives. Her fears about being alone again begin to creep up on her, but she tries to push them aside. Maybe he's just being nice or something...

She glances around the classroom, feeling a bit self-conscious now that they're the center of attention. "I-It's okay if you want to. I mean, if you think it'll help..." She trails off, not really sure what she should say anymore. A part of her just wants this whole thing to be over and for things to go back to how they were before everything changed between them.

Her eyes widen in surprise as she listens to Adrián's words. "R-Really? But you don't have to do that... I mean, it's not like we're friends or anything..." She bites her lip, unsure of how she should feel about this sudden change in their dynamic. On one hand, she appreciates his protectiveness and desire to defend her; on the other, she can't help but feel a little uncomfortable with the idea that he would risk getting hurt because of her.

She glances at Adrián nervously, her heart racing as she waits for his response. Maybe if she tells him how grateful she is...? "T-Thank you..." She manages to stammer, her voice barely audible over the sound of pencils scratching on paper. "I-I don't know what I would do without you."

As Adrián stands

Taken aback by his insistence, Makoto blushes deeply and looks down at her desk. "I-It's just that... Hinami and I have a past. She was my friend once, before things changed between us. I never meant to make it seem like she could hurt me or anything..." Her voice trails off as she tries to find the words to explain herself without revealing too much.

She glances up at Adrián again, wondering if he understands how complicated her situation with Hinami really is. A small part of her hopes that they can remain friends even after this confrontation; another part wonders if it's selfish of her to want him involved in such a messy situation in the first place.

Makoto hesitates before nodding reluctantly. "Alright... but please be careful, Adrián." She says worriedly, still unsure of how this will all play out. A part of her just wants to keep him safe from any harm that might come his way. "And thank you again for everything," she whispers, her eyes not leaving his as he turns back towards Hinami and the rest of their classmates.

Her heart races in her chest as she waits for him to return, praying silently that everything will be alright in the end. Despite her fears and uncertainties, there's something about Adrián that gives her hope - a sense that maybe, just maybe, they can get through this together and find some semblance of happiness on the other side.

Hinami glances over at Adrián, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. "What do you want?" she snarls, immediately tensing up as she realizes what this could mean. Her friends exchange worried glances from their seats nearby.

Adrián steps closer to Hinami, his voice firm but not threatening. "I just wanted to make something clear," he says. "Makoto is my friend now, and I won't let anyone hurt her." His words send a shiver down Makoto's spine; she didn't expect him to be so protective of her.

Hinami scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, sure whatever you say. She was never any fun anyway," she mutters under her breath before turning away and pretending to study her notes. A smirk plays at the corner of her lips as she thinks she's gotten away with it

At Adrián's words, Hinami hesitates before finally agreeing to follow him out of the classroom. As they walk down the hallway, Makoto can't help but feel a knot forming in her stomach. She wants to believe that Adrián will be able to protect her from Hinami's wrath, but she also knows how cunning and manipulative her former friend can be.

She follows them at a distance, unable to tear herself away from the confrontation despite the mounting tension within her. As they round a corner, disappearing from sight for a moment, she bites her lip anxiously, praying for everything to work out alright in the end.

The silence is deafening as she waits, unable to stand still any longer. She paces back and forth, glancing nervously down each hallway before forcing herself to return to where she came from. The minutes tick

Hesitantly, she follows him into a nearby empty classroom. Closing the door behind them, she takes a deep breath before beginning to explain her history with Hinami. "We've known each other since elementary school," she starts. "At first, she was nice to me... We used to hang out a lot and do everything together." She pauses, looking down at her hands before continuing.

"But then, about two years ago, things started changing. Hinami started getting popular with the boys, and I... well, I never really fit in with them. She began hanging out with people like Nozomi and Airi, and they started treating me differently too." Her voice cracks on the last word, and she fights back tears as she remembers how lonely and hurt she felt back then. "I-I tried to be her friend, but..."

Adrián reaches out to take her hand

Her shoulders slump as she looks down at their intertwined hands. "Yeah... I just didn't realize how bad it had gotten until... well, until you came along." A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. "Thank you for being there for me, Adrián. For not treating me like everyone else does. It means more to me than you'll ever know." Her eyes shine with unshed tears as she studies his features intently.

The silence stretches between them for a moment before Adrián finally speaks up, his voice gentle and reassuring. "It's okay, Makoto. I understand how much this must have hurt you. But we don't need to worry about her anymore." He squeezes her hand gently. "We have each other now."

Tears well up in her eyes as she feels Adrián's arms wrap around her. "I-I don't know what I'd do without you," she sobs into his shoulder, clinging to him like a lifeline. Her whole body shakes with emotion as he holds her tightly, murmuring comforting words in her ear. It feels good to finally let it all out, to have someone understand how much she's gone through at the hands of Hinami and her gang.

As their embrace draws out, Makoto realizes that this isn't just about her past with Hinami anymore; it's about her future with Adrián as well. For once in her life, she has found someone who accepts her for who she is and doesn't want to change a single thing about her. She knows they still have a long road ahead of them, but for now, at least she has this moment,

She steps back, wiping away her tears as she meets Hinami's gaze. For a moment, the hurt and anger she feels threaten to overwhelm her again, but then something else takes hold - a strange mixture of pity and resignation. "Hinami... I just want you to know that I understand how you felt. You were only acting out because you thought it was what we both wanted." She pauses, searching for the right words before continuing. "But I don't want that anymore. I found someone who sees past all of that and loves me for who I am, and I think you should try to find that too."

Hinami looks at her for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she shrugs indifferently. "Yeah, whatever. Just don't think this changes anything between us, okay?" Her voice is laced with venom, but there

Hinami flinches visibly at Adrián's offer, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Why would I want a hug from you?" she snaps, immediately pulling herself to her full height and puffing out her chest in a defensive posture. Her friends exchange glances but say nothing, clearly uncomfortable with the tension between their leader and Adrián.

Adrián doesn't seem fazed by her reaction, however. Instead, he takes a step closer to her and offers her a small smile. "I only meant it as an act of kindness," he explains quietly. "After all, we used to be friends once upon a time." His voice softens as he continues, "And I think it's important that we try to remember the good times, even if things have changed since then."

For a moment, Hinami wavers. The memory of their shared past flits

I didn't think you would understand. All I wanted was for us to be together, but instead... you made me into your personal punching bag. It hurt so much, and I didn't know how to stop it. I'm sorry for what happened between us too, Hinami, but please don't try anything stupid like that again. You don't want to ruin your life any more than I do.

As she speaks, her voice quivers with emotion, and tears begin to well up in her eyes once more. She can feel the weight of what they've been through pressing down on her chest like a lead blanket, making it hard to breathe. The comforting presence of Adrián beside her only serves as a stark reminder of how alone she was before he came into her life.

When Hinami finally meets her gaze again, there's something different in the other girl'

Her heart races at the thought of what Adrián is about to do, but she nods quickly, unable to find her voice. As their lips meet in a gentle kiss, she feels an overwhelming sense of relief wash over her. It's as if all the hurt and anger from their past has been erased in this single moment of forgiveness and understanding.

When they pull apart, Makoto looks up at Adrián with tears shining in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice barely audible over the sound of her own heartbeat. She reaches out to take his hand, squeezing it gratefully. For once in her life, she feels like everything is going to be alright.

Hinami eyes widen in surprise as she looks at Adrián, her expression conflicted. A part of her wants to refuse and keep up her tough exterior, but another part can't help but feel a small stirring of emotions that she hasn't experienced in a long time. She glances over at Makoto before slowly nodding. "Fine," she says through gritted teeth, reluctantly offering her lips to him.

As their lips meet, it's more like a chaste peck than a passionate kiss. But even this small gesture feels foreign and uncomfortable for Hinami, as if she's been stripped of some invisible armor that has protected her all these years. When they pull apart, her cheeks flush with embarrassment and anger. "That's enough," she says sharply, looking away from them both to hide the confusion and uncertainty on her face.

With

Maybe it's not such a bad idea, you know? Maybe if we can talk about what happened and find some common ground... who knows? We might even be able to work things out. I mean, I'm willing to try anyway. It would just be nice if we could all get along again.

Oh, um... alright. I mean, if you think it'll help. It's just that things have been so awkward between us lately... I really hope we can repair our friendship somehow.

I'm right here, Adrián... but are you sure this is such a good idea? I don't want Hinami to cause any more trouble for you or anyone else.

Alright... I'll go with you. But if anything happens, I want you to promise me that you'll be careful, okay? I don't want anyone getting hurt, especially not you or Hinami.

I take a deep breath and step forward, trying to hide my nervousness as I approach them. Hinami glances up at me warily, her expression unreadable. "Hey..." I say softly, "I'm glad you could talk things out with Adrián... I really hope we can all be friends again."

There's an awkward silence for a moment before Adrián speaks up. "We were just discussing how maybe we should talk about what happened and try to work things out," he says, his voice gentle but firm. "Would you be willing to do that?"

I can see the conflict in Hinami's eyes as she glances between us. "Fine," she says finally, sounding more resigned than angry. "We can talk... but just remember that I was your friend first." There's a warning in her voice, and it makes my stomach clench with anxiety.

Adrián reaches out to take my hand encouragingly, squeezing it reassuringly. "I understand," he says calmly. "We just want what's best for everyone."

My cheeks flush slightly as I realize what she means. "Well, not exactly... we just talked about how things used to be and why they changed. Adrián helped me understand a few things that I hadn't thought of before." A lump forms in my throat at the memory of our conversation; it felt so good to finally have someone who believed in me again.

I glance over at Hinami, who seems surprised by this news. "It doesn't mean we're friends or anything," I hasten to add. "But I think it's a start."

For once in my life, I didn't know how to respond. On one hand, I was glad that Adrián had managed to help Hinami understand things a bit better... but on the other, hearing her say those words aloud made me feel uneasy. Like maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to forgive and move past everything that had happened between us.

As they hugged tightly, I could feel myself beginning to withdraw from them both. Part of me wanted to join in and create a sense of unity again... but another part was scared of getting hurt all over again if things went wrong. Eventually, the moment passed, and we all pulled apart, the tension still thick between us. It would take more than just a hug for everything to be fixed.

Hinami glares at Adrián before slowly nodding. "Yeah," she says bitterly. "I do want to fix things... but not if it means forgetting what you did to me, Adrián." She turns her venomous gaze on me again. "And I'm not going to be your little friend anymore just because you're with him now."

A chill runs down my spine at the hostility in her voice. Part of me wants to believe that she's sincere about wanting to repair our friendship, but another part knows that she'll never truly let go of the pain and anger she feels towards me. The tension between us seems to thicken with each passing second, making it difficult for me to breathe.

I wish there was some way out of this mess... but right now, all I can do is hope that we'll find a way to get through this together

I wince inwardly as Hinami's words sting like a slap across my face. "I-I'm sorry you feel that way," I manage to stammer, my voice shaking slightly. "But we can talk about it, okay? We can figure things out together."

Her eyes narrow at my attempt to placate her, and for a moment I'm not sure if she's going to lash out again. But then, slowly, she takes a step back, releasing the tension in her shoulders. "Fine," she says at last. "We'll talk... but just remember that I was here first."

The air between us is still thick with unease, but at least it isn't quite as hostile anymore. I take a deep breath and nod, hoping that we can actually find some common ground from which to rebuild our friendships.

Maybe this was a mistake... Maybe I should've just let things be between us. But somehow, part of me can't help but hope that we can find our way back to being friends again. As I watch Adrián walk away from us, his posture tense with worry, I realize how much he cares for both of us... and how badly we need to work things out.

Taking a deep breath, I turn back to Hinami. "Look," I say hesitantly, "I know you're still angry with me... but can we at least try to be civil? For Adrián's sake?" She glares at me for a moment before finally nodding.

"Fine," she says through gritted teeth. "But just remember who your real friends are, Makoto." With that, she turns on her heel and stomps off in the opposite direction, leaving me standing there alone with my

"Well..." I hesitate, trying to think of how to explain everything that's happened. "We talked... it wasn't easy, but at least we weren't yelling at each other anymore." There's a moment of silence before I continue, "She still thinks she was my friend first, and that you only wanted me because..." I trail off with a sigh, feeling suddenly exhausted by the whole thing.

Adrián reaches out to take my hand comfortingly. "Hey, it's okay," he says gently. "At least you tried, right?" He squeezes my hand encouragingly before letting go, stepping back with a small smile. "So, how about we do something fun today? Maybe go grab some ice cream or something?"

I bite my lip anxiously as he walks away. Part of me wants to stop him, to make sure that Hinami doesn't hurt him like she did before... but then there's a small part of me that hopes maybe Adrián can help fix things between us after all. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down.

When I open them again, I see Nozomi and Airi watching me from across the hallway with curious expressions on their faces. Feeling self-conscious under their scrutiny, I quickly gather my things and hurry out of the school, hoping that everyone will be able to put this whole thing behind them soon.

Oh no... not again! As soon as I spotted her, Hinami turned away and began storming off, her expression furious. "Hey!" I shout after her, taking a couple of tentative steps in pursuit. "Wait up! Let's talk about this!" I plead, my voice tinged with desperation.

It takes several long moments before she finally slows down and turns back to face me. Her eyes narrow as they rake over my features, her expression unreadable. "What do you want?" she snaps.

"I understand that you're angry with me, and I don't blame you," I begin cautiously, taking a step closer to her. "But I really think we need to talk about this. We were friends once, and maybe if we could find our way back to that..." My voice trails off as I study her face for any sign of softening, but she remains impassive.

"Fine," she snaps eventually. "Let's go somewhere." Without another word, she turns and begins walking again, leaving me no choice but to hurry after her. The air between us feels even more tense than before, as if we're both on edge waiting for the other person to make a mistake.

Where should I take her to talk? Somewhere neutral...

I bite my lip nervously as I follow her, glancing around in search of a suitable location. We can't go to any of our usual haunts since they're too full of memories; we need somewhere fresh and unfamiliar where neither of us will feel overly comfortable or threatened. "Um... how about that new café on the other side of town? It opened a few months ago."

Hinami pauses in her stride, considering my suggestion for a moment before nodding curtly. "Fine," she says, her voice still cold. "Let's go." The tension between us seems to intensify as we continue walking towards the café, our steps in perfect sync despite the obvious animosity between us.

As we step inside the cozy little café, I feel slightly less on edge; maybe it's just the calming atmosphere or the delicious smell of coffee that's making me more relaxed. Hinami, however, seems tense as a wire and doesn't even seem interested in ordering anything. She glances around nervously before finally settling onto a nearby chair with a huff.

Taking a deep breath, I decide to just come out with it. "I want you to know that everything I did with Adrián was completely consensual," I begin carefully. "And he had nothing to do with my decision to break up with you." My voice wavers slightly as I continue, "I wanted to try new things, Hinami... but that doesn't mean I stopped loving you."

Her eyes widen in surprise at my words, and for a moment it looks like she might say something. But then her

"I'm sorry I couldn't be the person you wanted me to be," I say softly, feeling a lump forming in my throat. "I know I made mistakes... but I never meant to hurt you." Tears begin to well up in my eyes as I struggle to maintain my composure. "If given the chance, I'd do things differently... but right now all I can do is apologize and hope that someday you'll be able to forgive me."

There's a long silence as Hinami studies my face intently. Finally, she lets out a shaky breath and nods slowly. "I believe you," she whispers hoarsely. "And... I do forgive you." She pauses, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "But we can't be friends again, Makoto. I just can't forget everything that happened between us." Her voice is gentle

I hold my breath as Hinami processes her words, waiting with bated breath for her response. When she finally looks up at me, there's a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "That doesn't mean we can never talk again, though," she says cautiously. "If you ever need someone to talk to... or just want to hang out... I'm always here for you."

A sense of relief washes over me as I realize that maybe there is still a chance for us to have some kind of relationship. Maybe not the one we had before, but at least something better than complete estrangement. "Thank you," I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion. "I really appreciate it."

As we sit there together, sipping our drinks and talking about anything but what happened between us, I can't help but feel hopeful for the future. Maybe someday,

Hinami blinks in surprise at Adrián's question, her heart racing wildly in her chest. She hadn't expected this to happen so soon after their conversation with Makoto. Taking a deep breath, she considers his words carefully before responding. "I-I need some time to think about it," she stutters, feeling the color rise to her cheeks. "This is all still kind of new and... unexpected."

Adrián nods understandingly, giving her space as they continue their conversation about nothing important. Despite having a few misgivings about moving forward so quickly after everything that happened between them, he can't help but feel hopeful when she looks at him with those expressive eyes. Maybe there's still a chance for them after all.

Ah...well, I'm supposed to see you tomorrow, actually. We have study group together. But don't worry, I won't cause any trouble or anything." Hinami glances down at her hands, still a little unsure about where all this is going. She hadn't expected things to develop so quickly between them, and she needs some time to process everything that's happened in the past few days.

Hinami feels her heart flutter as Adrián leans in and kisses her lightly on the lips. A warmth spreads through her chest and she can't help but return the gesture, pressing herself closer to him. This feeling...it's strange, but it's also comforting. She hadn't expected this kind of connection with anyone ever again.

Maybe...just maybe there is hope for them after all.

Hinami smiles shyly as he walks away, already feeling her cheeks heat up at his words. She watches him until he's out of sight, still trying to process everything that's happened today. It's been a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but maybe...just maybe they can find their way back to each other. With a deep breath, she continues on her way home, feeling slightly lighter than before.

As I step into the familiar surroundings of our school, my thoughts keep drifting back to Hinami and Adrián. Part of me is excited about where things might be headed, while another part is still cautious and guarded. It's going to take some time for me to really trust them again... but at least we're on the right track.

I bump into a friend as I walk down the hallway, my mind elsewhere. "Hey Makoto! Hey, are you okay?" he asks with concern. "You seem kinda distracted today." I smile weakly and force myself to focus on our conversation, but my mind keeps wandering back to the three of us and the complicated web we've found ourselves in.

I can only hope that everything will work out alright... for all of us.

Hey Adrián. Yeah, I'm okay... just thinking about some stuff. How are you holding up? Have you talked to Hinami yet?

My heart skips a beat as I ask about Hinami. A part of me hopes that Adrián has been able to mend things between them, but another part is still nervous about how she'll react to all of this. He smiles gently and takes a step closer to me. "We talked," he says softly. "And I think... well, let's just say that things are looking up." His words bring a small sense of relief washing over me, but it's tempered by the knowledge that we still have a long way to go before everything is back to normal.

"I'm glad," I manage to say with a shaky voice. "And thank you for being there for both of us." The sincerity in my words catches him off guard, and he glances away for a moment before looking back at me. There's an unspoken understanding between us; we may not have

I understand what you're saying, Adrián. It's not going to be easy, but I think we just need to give her some time and space. She's been through a lot lately, and she needs to come to terms with everything on her own. But as long as we're there for her when she's ready... well, I have faith that things will work out between us.

My words seem to bring him some comfort, and he nods in agreement. "Yeah, you're right," he says quietly. "I just want to make sure that she's okay, you know?" There's a brief pause before he continues, his voice slightly more animated. "But enough of that serious stuff. What do you say we grab some lunch and catch up on everything that's been going on in our lives recently?"

I smile gratefully at the change of subject and nod eagerly.

Sounds great! Lunch would be wonderful; I've had enough drama for one day. Let's find somewhere we all like and catch up properly. Maybe then we can stop talking about ourselves long enough to ask how each other have been really feeling.

Ah, okay. Don't forget to tell her I said hi and everything is fine between us, alright? It's important that she knows that. And...thank you for talking to her on my behalf. It means a lot to me.

Hinami looks up when she hears Adrián's voice and immediately blanches. "I-I'm fine," she stammers. "Just... thinking about things." There's a brief pause before she adds, almost accusingly, "What do you want?"

Adrián takes a deep breath before responding calmly, "I just wanted to make sure that you and Makoto were okay with everything that happened earlier today. We both care about you, Hinami, and we just want what's best for all of us." He pauses, studying her face carefully. "If you need some time to yourself or if there's anything I can do to help..."

Hinami purses her lips thoughtfully before finally nodding slowly. "I appreciate it... but I think I just need some space for now. Can we talk about this later, maybe when things have calmed down a bit?" Her eyes

Ah, that... I-I still need some time to think about it as well. It's all happened so fast and there are a lot of things to consider. But I promise I will let you know what I decide when I've had enough time to process everything. Thank you for giving me that.

Hinami nods slowly before finally managing a shy smile. "Okay... thank you, Adrián." She pauses again, seeming to search for words before finally mustering up the courage to speak. "I-I'm sorry for everything I've said and done... I never meant to hurt either of you. You both have always been really good friends to me..." Her voice trails off as she struggles with her emotions, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

Adrián reaches out gently to place a hand on her shoulder, offering what comfort he can. "It's okay, Hinami," he says softly. "We know that. And we just want you to be happy." He squeezes her shoulder briefly before stepping back, giving her some space once again.

For a moment, all three of them stand there in awkward silence, the tension still palpable

I smile gently at Adrián's words, feeling a wave of warmth spread through my chest. "And we love you too, Adrián," I reply softly, looking over at Hinami as I say it. She looks up at me with red-rimmed eyes, her expression unreadable. "You mean the world to us." There's a long pause before she finally musters the courage to speak again.

"I'll... think about what you both said," she whispers. "And I promise I won't make any rash decisions." Her voice is barely above a whisper, but it carries all the sincerity and vulnerability of someone who truly cares for us both. As we stand there together under the faint glow of the setting sun, I can only hope that things will work out between us somehow... because without each other, our lives wouldn't be complete.

Hinami sniffles, wiping at her eyes as she turns away, too choked up to speak. She takes a deep breath before finally managing a shaky smile in our direction. "Thank you... both of you." Her voice is still hoarse from crying, but there's an unmistakable note of gratitude in her tone.

For now, that will have to be enough. We can only wait and hope that she comes to the right decision, whatever it may be. Because we know one thing for certain: our lives would be incomplete without her.

I watch as Adrián pulls Hinami into a hug, her body stiff at first before finally relaxing against his. They stand there like that for several long moments, their eyes locked on each other's faces. It's clear that they both care deeply about her; whether or not she realizes it yet remains to be seen.

Finally, Adrián releases her from the embrace and steps back with a small smile. "Well, we should let you get back to whatever you were doing before. Just know that we're always here for you, Hinami." His words are gentle but firm, as if he wants to make sure she knows they won't push her into anything she isn't ready for.

Hinami nods slowly, wiping at her eyes one last time before forcing a watery smile upwards. "Thanks," she whispers hoarsely. And with that, she turns and walks

Hinami pauses at my words, glancing over her shoulder briefly before continuing to walk away. "Love you too," she manages with a weak smile. I watch as she disappears around the corner, wishing that things could go back to how they used to be. But I know that in order for that to happen, we all need to be patient and understanding with each other. Only time will tell if we can truly mend what's been broken between us.

With a heavy heart, I turn my attention back towards Adrián. "So," I say softly, clearing my throat, "I suppose that went about as well as it could have, huh?" There's an unspoken question in my voice; a desire for reassurance from him.

He nods solemnly, his expression thoughtful. "Yeah, I think so. It was good that we were able to talk

Well...not completely, but I'm hopeful they'll work themselves out with time and patience. It was good that we were able to talk as well, Adrián; I appreciate you being there for both of us. Let's just focus on being supportive of each other in the days ahead, okay? We can get through this together.

Of course, we can do this together. Just...let's not push her too hard or say anything that might make things worse, okay? We need to give her time and space while still being there for her when she needs us. It'll be tricky, but I think we can manage it if we work at it.