Chasing Dreams We Can’t Reach

“How did this happen?” I asked, eyes full of curiosity. Just ten minutes ago, nothing was going on. How could something like this happen in just two minutes while we were away?

“Sota gave Rei a little push and told him that if the girl he liked was here, he should confess to her.”

Sota? Did he encourage Ray? Wasn’t Sota just rejected this morning? If this really happened…

Hiro, breathless, stood beside us, surprised by my question, looking like he was dying to run back.

“But just now, you said that Sayuri was the one who confessed?” I asked. Then how did that happen?

“Well… Sayuri had stepped outside, probably to get some fresh air. Rei went after her. We were watching them from a distance. Rei started with small talk, saying things like ‘Uh, hey, how are you?’ Sayuri, for some reason, seemed a little down. Even though she said nothing was wrong, Rei kept pressing and told her, ‘I’m ready to do whatever I can for you.’”

Classic Ray, I thought. He always wanted to help people in need. Guess he didn’t realize the weight of his words…

Hiro continued, “Then Sayuri suddenly said, ‘Then will you go out with me?’ Can you believe it, Yuta?! SAYURI CONFESSED TO OUR REI!”

Hiro had started to drift away from me, getting more and more excited.

“I’m heading back. They sent me to inform you guys, but everyone is still downstairs. You should come too.” With that, he dashed off. It would’ve been nice if he didn’t sprint through the hotel corridor like a racehorse.

Yes, I was curious and wanted to see Ray. But I could wait—I’d find out everything eventually.

Honestly, I found it childish and ridiculous to scream about people’s love lives in public or to spectate like this. Most people who fell in love were just fools experiencing the emotion because they had nothing better to do.

Right across from me, Aiko had been standing there quietly while we talked, her face carrying a faint hint of panic.

Right now, my concern was Aiko.

“So, Aiko, why did you come here?” I asked. I was getting tired. We had cried together, made up, and already been through enough strange moments today. I wasn’t sure I could handle more.

“I-I, well…” Aiko hesitated. She didn’t sound like her usual cheerful or sad self—her tone was different. She took a deep breath and continued.

“When you suddenly left, I got worried. I wondered if you left because you felt uncomfortable after what happened between us. While everyone was following Ray for his confession, I slipped away and came to your room. I-I wanted to apologize.”

To be honest, I wasn’t the best at reading girls’ facial expressions. But Aiko’s voice was steady and determined. That, at least, eased my tension. At least she was honest and direct. These days, that was almost impossible to find in people.

“It’s fine. No need to apologize. That’s not why I left. My phone really did ring,” I said. 

“Still, I also wanted to apologize for listening in on your phone call. I didn’t hear everything, and I didn’t mean any harm. I was just… Never mind. I just wanted to check if you were in the room,” she said.

Her face flushed red as she apologized, and her expression fell. I didn’t think she was only down because of curiosity or the events of the night. In fact, during all the chaos, Aiko had looked more surprised and excited. Now, she seemed sad—jealous, even.

Was it because of Lyra?

Thinking about it after rejecting her was pointless, but… if I had accepted her feelings at that moment, what would’ve happened?

Even though I knew deep down that we came from completely different worlds, we still understood each other when it mattered.

But I couldn’t do it.

Being with her now would affect our club, our friends, and us. More importantly—

I couldn’t use someone who had feelings for me just to pass the time. I couldn’t turn a fleeting emotion into a long-term source of suffering.

“It’s really fine. Come on, let’s go see what happened,” I said with a small, understanding smile, slowly pulling the door shut behind me.

Aiko looked at me in surprise. I could see the traces of fear still lingering in her blue eyes.

Something inside me felt missing, yet complete at the same time.

Aiko and I went downstairs in silence. By the time we arrived, all the seniors had cornered Ray. Some were praising him, while others mocked him for being the kind of guy who’d get confessed to before making a move himself. They even gave him the nickname "Clueless Boy."

But the funniest part?

After Sayuri confessed and Ray accepted, the whole club exploded with excitement, overwhelming Sayuri so much that she panicked and ran away!

Apparently, she had bolted with all her strength and locked herself in her room. And since waiting outside her door would disturb the other hotel guests, only her roommates could check on her.

I had no idea what was happening on her end.

When Ray and I finally locked eyes, he practically sprinted toward me.

“WE NEED TO TALK. ALONE,” he shouted, grabbing my arm and dragging me back toward the door I had just stepped out of.

Aiko was left standing there, watching us in shock.

“If you take both of them, that’s cheating, Ray!” The seniors cracked jokes and burst into laughter from their spot.

I couldn’t help but wonder how they were still standing outside in this freezing cold, without jackets, listening in on everything without shivering.

Then again, as I was being “kidnapped” inside, I noticed their legs trembling.

Good. Now I had something to tease them about later. I smirked.

Ray led me up to the top-floor terrace.

“What’s up?” I asked, smiling.

“Let’s get upstairs first. I’ll tell you everything.” His voice was still trembling with excitement.

I watched his hands shake as he pressed the elevator button.

“Alright,” I said with a chuckle.

My best friend had a girlfriend now, huh? It might not have been his first love, but it was his first official relationship.

And when I looked at his face, I saw—

A wide smile. Eyes bright and full of wonder.

Breathing heavily, lost in thought, as if replaying the moment over and over in his head.

And at that moment, I understood—

The feeling you get when your love is returned, It's like the most peaceful note of a melody that I can't make sense of.