“Cmon Yuna! Just say hi to him!” Her BFF Azami nudged her while whispering.

Yuna quickly looked away her face turning slightly red. “No… Azami… Look at him and then look at me.. i’d probably trip over my own feet before i got even close..” She felt that familliar wave of insecurity. Her sister Mitsuki always told Yuna that she was to shy for her own good, but Yuna couldnt help it. For Yuna Takashima was like the sun, to bright to look at directly.

Suddenly the atmosphere changed. Reika swept past them, her long hair swinging perfectly. She didn’t just walk. She commanded the space.

Reika knew exactly where Yuna was standing, and she made sure to stop right in front of

Takashima leaning in close.

“Takashima!” Reika chirped, her voice loud

enough to echo. “I was thinking since we both Love Shinkai, that maybe you could come over later. I have the new posters!”

Reika threw a sharp look back at Yuna. It wasn’t just about Takashima, Reika loved to make Yuna feel small. She knew that Shinkai van Yuna’s

Favorite band and she was using it like a

weapon.

Yuna felt a lump in her troat, she wanted to

dissepear. “She is doing it on purpose…” Yuna whispered her voice trembling. “She knows..”

Yuna remained frozen. She watched as Takashima offered Reika a polite, albeit slightly distracted, smile. "Oh, the Shinkai posters? That’s cool, Reika. I didn't know you were into them."

Reika giggled, a sound like glass shattering in Yuna’s ears. "Oh, I adore them. Their lyrics are so... deep, don't you think?" She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, never breaking eye contact with Takashima, though her shoulder was angled pointedly toward Yuna like a shield.

Suddenly, Takashima’s gaze shifted. He looked past Reika’s shoulder, his eyes landing on Yuna. The "sun" was looking directly at her, and for a second, Yuna forgot how to breathe.

"Wait," Takashima said, his voice cutting through Reika’s chatter. "Yuna, right? You were wearing a Shinkai hoodie during the festival last month."

Reika’s smile stiffened. The silence that followed felt like a physical weight.

"I—" Yuna started, her voice cracking. She took a breath, feeling Azami’s supportive hand on her back. "Yes. Their... their new bridge in 'Lunar Echo' is incredible."

Takashima’s face lit up, a genuine, warm glow that made Reika’s calculated charm look dim. "Exactly! That bass line is insane. I've been trying to learn it on guitar but I can't get the timing right."

He took a step toward Yuna, leaving Reika standing in the wake of his movement. The power dynamic shifted in a heartbeat. The sun wasn't too bright to look at—it was simply waiting for her to step out of the shadows.

"You play?" Yuna asked softly, her insecurity still there, but fading under the heat of his interest.

"Trying to," he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Maybe you could help me figure out that rhythm? Since you’re the expert."

Behind them, Reika’s grip on her bag tightened until her knuckles were white, but Yuna didn't notice. For the first time, she wasn't looking at the floor. She was looking right at him.

“Ehm… Yes sounds nice..” Yuna says.

Reika wasn’t used to being background noise. Her eyes narrowed, the "perfect" mask slipping for a fraction of a second as she watched Takashima lean toward Yuna.

"Oh, Takashima," Reika interrupted, sliding back into his line of sight with a sharp, practiced laugh. "I’m sure Yuna is far too busy studying to help you with guitar. Besides," she turned to Yuna, her smile not reaching her eyes, "didn't you say you were struggling with the rhythm section in music class? It might be a bit... advanced for you to teach anyone else."

Yuna felt the old sting of doubt. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but Reika moved faster.

"Actually, Takashima," Reika continued, "my older brother has the professional sheet music for 'Lunar Echo.' Why don't you come over this Friday? We can look at it together, and I can have my driver pick you up. It’ll be much more efficient than... well, guessing."

The invitation was a trap, wrapped in silk. Takashima looked hesitant, his gaze flickering between Reika’s polished confidence and Yuna’s trembling hands.

"I don't know, Reika," Takashima said slowly. "I kind of like the idea of figuring it out by ear. It’s more—"

"And Yuna!" Reika snapped her fingers as if she’d just remembered something trivial. "I almost forgot. Weren't you supposed to help with the cleanup crew for the art club this Friday? I’d hate for you to get in trouble with the faculty because you were... distracted."

It was a blatant lie, but it worked. Yuna felt the eyes of the hallway on her. Reika was making her look like a disorganized student and a mediocre fan all at once. The lump in Yuna’s throat returned, thicker than before.

"I... I should go," Yuna whispered, unable to meet Takashima’s eyes anymore. She turned on her heel, ignoring Azami’s frustrated calls.

"Wait, Yuna!" Takashima called out, but Reika stepped into his path, placing a hand on his arm.

"Let her go, Takashima. You know how shy she is. You’re probably just making her uncomfortable by putting her on the spot." Reika’s voice was pure honey, but as she watched Yuna’s retreating back, a small, triumphant smirk played on her lips. She had reclaimed her territory. Or so she thought.

Takashima’s smile flickered for a second, his eyes darting between Yuna and the girl who had just effectively marked her territory.

"Oh, right. Friday," Takashima said, his shoulders dropping slightly as the excitement from seeing Yuna seemed to drain out of him. He looked down at the floor, then back at Reika. "I... yeah, I’m ready. I didn't forget."

Reika didn't waste a heartbeat. She stepped forward, sliding effortlessly into the space between Takashima and Yuna, her silk sleeve brushing against his arm. "Perfect. My brother already set up the sound system in the lounge. It’s going to be so much more productive than trying to fumble through it alone, don't you think?"

She turned her head just enough to catch Yuna’s eye. The look wasn't one of anger anymore; it was one of pure, cold victory. "I’m sure Yuna understands. After all," Reika added with a sweet, condescending tilt of her head, "she has that big art club cleanup to worry about. We wouldn't want to distract her from her responsibilities."

Yuna felt the familiar weight in her chest return, heavier than before. She looked at Takashima, hoping he would say something—anything—to show he saw through it. But he just gave a small, apologetic wave.

"See you around, Yuna," he muttered, sounding more like he was reciting a script than speaking from the heart.

"Come along, Takashima. We have so much to plan," Reika chirped, hooking her arm through his and leading him down the hall.

Yuna stood frozen by her locker, watching them walk away.

The "sun" was being pulled behind a thick, dark cloud, and for the first time, the hallway felt colder than it ever had before.

Azami let out a sharp breath of disbelief. "I can't believe he just... let her do that."

Yuna didn't answer. She just opened her locker, letting her bangs fall over her eyes again, disappearing back into the shadows where Reika wanted her to stay.

The rest of the day felt like a blur for Yuna. During lunch, she sat picking at her food while Azami ranted about Reika’s manipulative tactics, but

Yuna barely heard her. Her eyes kept drifting to the table across the cafeteria, where Reika sat triumphantly next to Takashima.

Reika was in her element. She had her phone out, showing Takashima photos of "her brother’s studio," leaning in so close their shoulders touched. Takashima nodded politely, but he looked at his watch more often than the screen. Still, he didn't pull away.

Reika had built an invisible wall around him that Yuna didn't dare to break.

When the final bell rang, Yuna walked with heavy shoulders toward the music room to grab her forgotten notebook. In the hallway, she ran into him unexpectedly. He was alone, looking stressed.

"

Yuna!" Takashima called out softly. He walked quickly toward her, glancing nervously over his shoulder as if expecting Reika to teleport behind him. "Hey, about this morning... I’m sorry. Reika can be... persuasive. And she’d already told her brother I was coming."

Yuna felt a tiny spark of hope, but it was instantly extinguished when she heard Reika’s voice echoing from the entrance: "Takashima! Are you coming? The driver is waiting!"

Takashima bit his lip, looking torn. "I have to go. But listen, I wanted to give you this." He pressed a crumpled piece of paper into her hand. "I tried to write down the tabs for 'Lunar Echo' from memory. I still think I’m getting the bridge wrong. Maybe you could... look at it? If you have time?"

Before Yuna could even find her voice, Reika appeared at the end of the hall. Her eyes narrowed into slits when she saw them together. "Takashima! Now," she commanded, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

Takashima gave Yuna one last, apologetic look and walked obediently toward Reika. Reika grabbed his arm firmly, threw a look of pure venom over her shoulder at Yuna, and pulled him toward the exit.

...Yuna stood alone in the darkening hallway. She unfolded the paper. It was messy, with little guitar sketches in the margins. At the very bottom,...

...in hurried handwriting, he had scrawled: Helpme...