The Boy She Never Knew

Author’s POV

Summer in Tokyo always arrived too loudly—cicadas screaming, kids running outside, shop banners flapping in the wind.

But inside a bedroom on the second floor of an house building, everything was quiet.

A girl lay on her bed, blanket around her body , phone held above her face like it was the only thing keeping her alive.

This was Leanna Iris Naisha, a high school student everyone called her Lin.

Sarcastic. Blunt. Hard-headed.

And completely socially awkward.

She wasn’t born antisocial.

She just never had the chance.

Growing up with asthma, her parents kept her inside like she was a rare artifact. No to much playgrounds. . Not to much outdoor memories.

Only inhalers, medicine, and the same four walls.

Now she was older and healthier, but she still didn’t know how to talk to people.

And love life?

Nope. Pass.

She didn’t even know who she liked. Zero idea.

So, she just stuck to her one safe place—her phone.

Her Phone, Her Universe

Lin sighed and scrolled through her GCs.

All of them were GCs, full of people talking about love problems she didn’t relate to.

People flirting, asking for advice, showing off their crushes.

Lin read everything but rarely talked.

Her username was:

> 【ShadowLynx】

Cool name, but she was actually just a bored gremlin in bed.

Her finger paused when she saw her own post earlier:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

誰か新しいGC入りたい？ (Anyone want to join a GC?)

She posted it out of boredom, not expecting anyone to PM her.

But then—

DING!

A private message popped up.

> 【KuroHana】:

えっと… GC入りたいんだけど、まだ大丈夫？

(Um… I want to join your GC, is it still okay?)

Lin blinked.

"KuroHana"?

The profile picture showed a boy.

Tall, sharp jawline, messy hair, hoodie.

Lin shrugged.

“ okay.”

She typed back, dry as usual.

> 【ShadowLynx】:

いいよ。

(Sure.)

> 【KuroHana】:

ありがと！君優しいね〜

(Thanks! You're really kind~)

Lin stared at her screen.

“…kind? Me??”

She rolled her eyes.

> 【ShadowLynx】:

優しくないけど。

(I’m not kind.)

> 【KuroHana】:

ツンデレ？可愛い。

(Tsundere? Cute.)

.

“…this guy’s flirting?? Already???”

But she couldn’t deny it—

She smirked a little.

Adding Him to the GC

Lin switched to the GC she recently made:

> 【GC: Hikari Lounge】

She typed:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

新メンバー入れるね。

(I’m adding a new member.)

Then she added KuroHana.

Immediately—

The GC exploded.

> **【UsaMochi】:

新しいイケメン！？！？

(New handsome guy!?!?!?)

> **【NekoMiku】:

ようこそーー！！

(Welcome!!)

> **【ToraBlade】:

自己紹介！

(Self-intro!)

“KuroHana” joined in smoothly.

> **【KuroHana】:

初めまして、クロハナです。

高2です〜 よろしく！

(Nice to meet you, All guys)

Private Chat Continues

Suddenly, another PM came.

> **【KuroHana】:

君のおかげで楽しいGCに入れた、ありがと。

(Because of you, I joined such a fun GC. Thanks.)

Lin wrapped herself in her blanket.

“…he’s polite?”

She typed:

> **【ShadowLynx】:

別に。暇だっただけ。

(your Welcome.)

> **【KuroHana】:

暇なら俺と話そうよ。

(If you’re bored, talk with me.)

Lin blinked.

Talk?

With a guy??

“…why??”

> **【ShadowLynx】:

なんで？

(Why?)

> **【KuroHana】:

君のタイプ、気になるから。

(I’m curious about your type.)

Lin immediately sat up.

Her type?

She didn’t even know her type.

> **【ShadowLynx】:

タイプない。

(I don’t have a type.)

> **【KuroHana】:

嘘だ〜 絶対好みある。

(Lie~ You definitely have one.)

> **【ShadowLynx】:

ないってば。恋愛興味ない。

(I said I don’t. I’m not interested in love.)

There was a pause.

And then—

> **【KuroHana】:

じゃあ俺が興味持たせてあげる。

(Then I’ll make you interested.)

Lin’s heart did a backflip.

“H-Ha?! Who is this guy—”

.

> **【ShadowLynx】:

(Oh really?)

> **【KuroHana】:

チャレンジ受けた。

(Yeah)

Lin froze.

Summer days were all the same for Lin.

Same bed.

Same blanket.

Same fan spinning like it was dying.

Same phone in her hand.

But one thing changed.

She now waited—just a little—for a notification from someone.

Someone named KuroHana.

Of course, Lin would rather choke on strawberry Pocky than admit that.

Lin woke up at 10 AM, hair resembling Medusa on vacation.

Her phone had 7 missed messages.

All from him.

> 【KuroHana】:

おはよー！(Good morning!)

> 【KuroHana】:

起きた？(You awake?)

> 【KuroHana】:

朝ごはん食べた？(Did you eat breakfast?)

> 【KuroHana】:

返事遅いと心配するよ〜？(If you reply late, I’ll worry~)

> 【KuroHana】:

ねぇってば〜 (Heeey~)

Lin stared at the messages.

“…clingy.”

She typed:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

起きたよ。 (I’m awake.)

He replied in less than five seconds.

> 【KuroHana】:

おそよ〜！！やっと！(Good afternoon~! Finally!)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

あんた暇？(Are you bored or what?)

> 【KuroHana】:

うん。君と話す以外やることない。

(Yeah. I have nothing else to do except talk to you.)

Lin’s heart tripped.

She tossed her phone across the bed.

“…say weird things again…”

But she still crawled to pick it up.

The GC was lively as always.

Hikari Lounge

> 【UsaMochi】:

クロハナ今日も公園〜？(KuroHana, at the park again today?)

> 【KuroHana】:

うん！友達とバスケしてる〜！

(Yeah! I’m playing basketball with friends!)

> 【NekoMiku】:

いいなぁ！夏って感じ〜！(So summer vibes!)

Kuro was outside.

With friends.

Laughing.

Having fun.

Lin stared at the screen.

Her chest twisted slightly.

She didn’t know why.

She typed, casual and cold:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

ふーん。リア充だね。

(Hmm. Must be nice having a life.)

Kuro responded instantly.

> 【KuroHana】:

いや、楽しさ半分。

(No, only half fun.)

> 【NekoMiku】:

なんで半分〜？(Why half??)

> 【KuroHana】:

リンちゃんいないから。

(Because Lin-chan isn’t here.)

Lin choked on air.

The GC exploded.

> 【UsaMochi】:

きゃあああああ！？(KYAAAA!?!)

> 【ToraBlade】:

告白か？(Is that a confession!?)

Lin typed fast:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

黙れ。

(Shut up.)

> 【KuroHana】:

照れてる？

(You embarrassed?)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

死ね。

(Die.)

> 【KuroHana】:

可愛い。

(Cute.)

Her heart did a double beat.

She exited the GC before she melted.

Lin was lying in bed, lights off, staring at the glow of her screen.

> 【KuroHana】:

まだ起きてる？

(Still awake?)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

うん。

(Yeah.)

> 【KuroHana】:

眠れない。

(I can’t sleep.)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

子供？

(Are you a child?)

> 【KuroHana】:

じゃあ子守唄歌って？

(Then sing me a lullaby?)

Lin scoffed.

> 【ShadowLynx】:

絶対無理。

(Absolutely not.)

> 【KuroHana】:

じゃあ…代わりに話して？

(Then… talk to me instead?)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

話題ない。

(No topic.)

> 【KuroHana】:

じゃあ俺が質問する。

(I’ll ask questions then.)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

また？

(Again?)

> 【KuroHana】:

君の事もっと知りたいから。

(Because I want to know you more.)

Lin pretended her heart didn’t skip.

> 【ShadowLynx】:

好きにしろ。

(Do whatever you want.)

> 【KuroHana】:

スポーツ好き？

(Do you like sports?)

Lin hesitated.

She tried sports before…

But because of her asthma, she always sat out.

> 【ShadowLynx】:

得意じゃない。

(Not really.)

> 【KuroHana】:

じゃあ見るのは？

(Watching sports?)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

まぁまぁ。

(It’s okay.)

Lin typed before thinking:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

あんたは？何のスポーツやってるの？

(What about you? What sport do you play?)

The reply came slower this time.

> 【KuroHana】:

…ない。

(None.)

Lin frowned.

Just yesterday, he said he played basketball with friends.

Her chest tightened—, but something else.

Confusion.

.

She typed:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

バスケ好きじゃないの？

(You don’t like basketball?)

> 【KuroHana】:

見てるだけ。

(I only watch.)

Something felt… off.

But Lin didn’t push.

Not yet.

The next morning, Lin woke up to:

> 【KuroHana】:

今日も話そ？

(Let’s talk again today?)

> 【KuroHana】:

君と話すのが一番楽しい。

(Talking to you is the best part of my day.)

> 【KuroHana】:

好きだよ。

(I like you.)

Lin sat up so fast she got dizzy.

“…what?”

She typed:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

冗談でしょ？

(You’re joking, right?)

> 【KuroHana】:

冗談じゃない。

(Not a joke.)

> 【KuroHana】:

本気。

(I’m serious.)

Her heart hammered.

Every part of her screamed to deny it.

So she typed:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

意味わかんない。

(I don’t understand.)

> 【KuroHana】:

分からなくていい。

(You don’t need to understand.)

> 【KuroHana】:

俺が君を好きで、それで十分。

(I like you. That’s enough.)

Lin hid her face in her pillow.

Stupid boy.

Stupid beat of her heart.

Stupid warmth creeping under her skin.

She typed:

> 【ShadowLynx】:

…バカ。

(Idiot.)

> 【KuroHana】:

でも君のバカになりたい。

(Then let me be your idiot.)

Her breath caught.

She had no idea what to respond to that.

So she didn’t reply for an hour.

Kuro sent:

> 【KuroHana】:

返事遅いと不安になる。

(I get anxious when you reply late.)

> 【KuroHana】:

ねぇ…嫌いにならないで。

(Hey… don’t hate me.)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

嫌いじゃない。

(I don’t hate you.)

She typed before she realized it.

She covered her face in horror.

But he replied gently:

> 【KuroHana】:

嬉しい。

(That makes me happy.)

And then:

> 【KuroHana】:

じゃあ…付き合って？

(Then… can I court you?)

The room fell silent.

Lin’s breath trembled.

She swallowed.

Typed slowly.

> 【ShadowLynx】:

…うん。

(…yeah.)

> 【KuroHana】:

本当に！？！？

(Really!?!?!?)

> 【ShadowLynx】:

…調子乗るな。

(Don’t get cocky.)

> 【KuroHana】:

君が世界一好き。

(I like you more than anything in the world.)

Lin’s face turned red instantly.

She hid under the blanket.

And for the first time in her life…

Summer didn’t feel boring anymore.

It felt terrifying.

Warm.

Alive.

Like the start of a story she wasn’t ready for—

but wanted anyway.

Summer in Tokyo continued with its blazing heat, glowing sunsets, and humid nights.

Days passed. Nights passed.

And the chats between ShadowLynx and KuroHana… never stopped.

It didn’t matter if it was 1PM or 1AM—

they always ended up talking.

Even if Lin pretended she didn’t care.

Every morning without fail—

DING!

> 【KuroHana】:

おはよ〜 リンちゃん。

(Good morning, Lynx-chan.)

Lin, who was brushing her teeth lazily, glared at her phone.

> 【ShadowLynx】:

朝からうるさい。

(Too loud this early.)

> 【KuroHana】:

うるさくないよ〜 愛情表現だよ。

(It’s not loud~ It’s affection.)

Lin choked on her toothpaste.

“A–Aijou…? Affection?? Tch…”

But she secretly typed faster.

Kuro, the GC's Sunshine

In the GC “Hikari Lounge,” Kuro was EVERYWHERE.

> 【KuroHana】:

おはよ！みんな元気？

(Good morniiiiing! How are you all??)

> **【UsaMochi】:

クロくん元気すぎww

(Kuro-kun you’re too energetic lol)

> **【NekoMiku】:

今日もイケメン♡

(Handsome again today♡)

Lin stared blankly.

“

> **【KuroHana】:

今日、友達とカフェ行ったよ〜

(I went to a café with my friends today~)

> **【ShadowLynx】:

ふーん。

(Hmmm.)

> **【KuroHana】:

気になる？

(Curious?)

> **【ShadowLynx】:

別に。

(Not really.)

> **【KuroHana】:

嘘つき。

(Liar.)

But Lin replied anyway:

> **【ShadowLynx】:

あんた友達多いね。

(You have a lot of friends.)

> **【KuroHana】:

うん。でも一番話したいのは君。

(Yeah. But the person I want to talk to the most is you.)

Lin’s heart: kaboom.

“…THIS. This idiot.”

Kuro messaged first every single day.

She updated Lin about everything.

What she ate.

What she did.

Her friends.

Her mood.

Her random thoughts.

Sometimes:

> **【KuroHana】:

ちょっと寂しい。君は？

(I’m a bit lonely. You?)

> **【ShadowLynx】:

…知らない。

(I don’t know.)

> **【KuroHana】:

会いたいな〜

(I wanna see you.)

> **【ShadowLynx】:

は？？

(Ha??)

> **【KuroHana】:

冗談冗談。でも本気かも。

(Joking, joking. But maybe serious.)

Whatever this Kuro was, Lin was spiraling.

One night, while Lin was playing a game on her phone—

DING.

DING.

DING.

Kuro was messaging nonstop.

> **【KuroHana】:

ねえ。

(Hey.)

**【KuroHana】:

話したいことがある。

(I need to tell you something.)

**【KuroHana】:

大事なこと。

(Something important.)

Lin stopped playing.

> **【ShadowLynx】:

なに。

(What.)

There was a long pause.

Kuro was typing.

And deleting.

Typing.

Deleting.

Finally—

> **【KuroHana】:

私は…男じゃない。

(I’m… not a guy.)

Lin froze.

Her worst suspicion.

> **【KuroHana】:

女。

(I’m a girl.)

**【KuroHana】:

レズビアン。

(I’m a lesbian.)

**【KuroHana】:

君に嫌われるのが怖くて言えなかった。

(I was scared you’d hate me, so I didn’t tell you.)

Lin’s blood went cold.

She stared at the messages with an empty expression.

“…She lied. All this time.”

> **【ShadowLynx】:

なんで嘘ついたの。

(Why did you lie.)

> **【KuroHana】:

ごめん。本当に…ごめん。

(I’m sorry. Really… I’m sorry.)

> **【ShadowLynx】:

………

(………)

Lin didn’t reply.

She closed the chat.

Blocked notifications.

Turned off her phone.

She lay in bed, heart tight, breathing slightly shaky.

“I hate liars… I hate them…”

But why did it hurt so much?

Days Pass

Kuro did NOT stop messaging.

Every morning:

> **【KuroHana】:

おはよう Lin…

(Good morning, Lynx…)

Afternoon:

> **【KuroHana】:

今日も返事ないね。でも待つ。

(No reply again today. But I’ll wait.)

Night:

> **【KuroHana】:

君が恋愛に興味ないの知ってる。でも…

I still want you.

(I’m sorry.)

Lin read every message.

But she never replied.

“…she keeps trying. Why…?”

A week before school started.

DING.

Lin looked at her screen.

It was a long message.

> **【KuroHana】:

ねえ、最後に一つだけお願いがある。

(Hey… I have one last request.)

> **【KuroHana】:

夏休み終わる前に、一度だけ会ってくれない？

(Before summer ends… can you meet me just once?)

> **【KuroHana】:

場所は渋谷のカフェ『MoonDrop』。

(The place is the café MoonDrop in Shibuya.)

> **【KuroHana】:

もし来てくれたら…

(If you come…)

> **【KuroHana】:

私たち、まだチャンスあるって思っていい？

(Can I believe we still have a chance?)

> **【KuroHana】:

来なかったら…諦める。

(If you don’t come… I’ll give up.)

Lin stared at the ceiling.

Her chest tightened

She didn’t answer.

She just stared at the message until her screen dimmed.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***