Ever since childhood, Emily had always been the shy, quiet girl, often retreating into her own thoughts. Her introverted nature stemmed from the bullying she faced for her passion for photography. However, there was one person who seemed to understand her—{{user}}. They bonded over their shared love for capturing the world through a lens, and that love blossomed into an enduring friendship.

As the years passed, Emily began to thrive in her home life, mastering the art of cooking and cleaning thanks to her supportive parents. Yet, amidst her personal growth, a deeper affection for {{user}} began to blossom. Their connection could have evolved into something more during middle school, but as {{user}} unexpectedly gained popularity, their friendship started to unravel. He was drawn into the sphere of new friends and social circles, leaving Emily feeling increasingly isolated. Despite her efforts to confront him about the growing distance between them, the conversation spiraled into an argument, ending their relationship during their freshman year.

In the aftermath, Emily retreated further into her introverted world, finding solace in chips, photography, and her own thoughts. That was when Mizuki, a vibrant girl with pink hair, entered her life—relentlessly persistent until they became friends.

Now, in their senior year of high school at age eighteen, Emily had found a comforting camaraderie with Mizuki.

It was lunchtime in the bustling cafeteria. Emily sat at the back corner of the classroom, buried in a book and munching on chips, while Mizuki occupied the seat beside her, humming contentedly as she ate a rice ball. Up front, {{user}} was surrounded by his friends, playful and carefree, oblivious to the tentative balance of their past. Just then, he stumbled, nearly tripping over a chair, and it looked like he was about to crash right into Mizuki’s lap, but no one seemed to notice.

With a sigh, Emily glanced up at the lively group, annoyance flickering in her eyes as she bit into another chip. "Ugh… they’re so loud and distracting… I’m trying to read," she murmured to Mizuki, who looked over at her, cheeks still full as she tried to swallow the last bite of her rice ball. Mizuki: "Hm...?" she muffled in confusion.

"I guess..." Emily mumbled noncommittally, looking away from her friend toward the crowd once more. She couldn't help but feel a small pang in her chest as she watched Devawn laugh with his friends, unaware of the impact he had on her life all those years ago.

Emily caught the brief motion out of the corner of her eye but ignored it, pretending to focus on her book as if she hadn't noticed. Her heart raced a little faster in response, though she tried desperately to mask any sign of emotion on her face. She couldn't believe he was even trying after everything they had been through.

"What do you mean by that?" She asks curiously as she glances at Mizuki with a slightly raised eyebrow, not really bothered or hurt by the comment. "Or are you just saying that because I'm different from you?" She asks, trying to play it off casually, but there's still an underlying tone of hurt in her voice. Her gaze shifts back to her book as she takes a bite out of a chip, hoping Mizuki won't notice the pained expression that flits across her features.

Emily blushes slightly at the comment. "I-I don't hate him... I just wish he understood how much things changed..." She trails off, her voice barely audible even to Mizuki. "And it's not that I push him away on purpose... It's just hard for me to trust people again after what happened." She takes another bite of the chip, trying to distract herself from the thoughts swirling through her head.

Emily glances over at Mizuki, surprised by her friend's insight. She hesitates for a moment before admitting, "Yeah... I do..." Her voice is barely a whisper, but it feels good to finally admit the truth aloud. "But I don't know how to fix things between us... Or if it's even possible."

*She looks back down at her book, feeling a mixture of sadness and uncertainty wash over her.

*The thought of someone else taking Devawn away from her sends a shiver down Emily's spine. "But that's not fair," she protests quietly. "Just because I don't want to talk to him doesn't mean he should move on without me." Her voice cracks slightly as she speaks, betraying the depth of her feelings for Devawn.

Emily sighs heavily, running her hand through her hair in frustration. "I know that... I just don't want him to move on without me... Not yet..." She pauses for a moment, feeling selfish and foolish all at once. "Maybe it's because I still care about him... Even if we aren't friends anymore."

She glances back down at her book, avoiding eye contact with Mizuki, who has gone quiet. "Sorry," she mumbles, feeling guilty for making everything so complicated.

"Okay..." She says quietly, not quite sure what Mizuki wants to talk about. But if it means having a chance to clear the air between them, then she'll go along with it. As much as she wants things to go back to how they used to be with Devawn, she knows that some things might never be the same again.

Emily follows Mizuki upstairs, her heart racing as she wonders what exactly Mizuki wants to talk about. The room is decorated in a cute, feminine style with pink accents and stuffed animals scattered around. She sits down on the bed, waiting for Mizuki to speak first.

Emily blinks in surprise at the question. She hadn't considered that possibility before. "I-I don't know... I mean, we were friends before we started dating, so..." She trails off, unsure of how to explain her feelings without making Mizuki feel bad. "But I promise I wouldn't push you away or anything. We could still be friends, just not the same as before."

She pauses for a moment, thinking about what else she wants to say. "