CHAPTER SIX;
a BIG humbling experience

You couldn't keep your nerves in tact, all you could think about was the dinner party later this afternoon. At some point, you tried to convince yourself to just not go and make up a stupid excuse as to why.

But a part of you was looking forward to it, though the outcome of the confession is unpredictable, that's what makes it worth the anticipation.

"Are we the only ones going?" Amari broke your shaky train of thought.

"I'm not sure, Watanabe didn't mention anything about other people attending, only the football team. But I'm assuming there will be." you answered, crumpling the piece of paper you were writing on.

What were you writing?

A birthday letter to Itoshi Rin, you were planning to give him a gift, a box of cookies, along with the letter. However, each sentence you wrote delivered a sour aftertaste to your face. Each of your drafts, you deemed cringe and embarrassing.

"What the hell are you wasting all of these papers for?" Amari questioned, throwing all of the scrunched-up papers in a plastic bag.

"It's nothing," you sighed, finally giving up. You tucked your things inside your bag, as you were about to zip it close, your cellphone lit up.

You took it out and saw a notification from Watanabe Ryomei displayed on your lock screen.

watanabe

11:49 AM

hey l/n you still up for later?

yeaahh

why? is there a change of plans?

NOO hahaha just wanted to
confirm

i was worried you might've
changed your mind

i almost did 🤞

whaatt ☹️💔

HAHAHAHAHAJAH I WAS
JUST FEELING A BIT SHY

BUT I'LL STILL GO DON'T WORRY

hmmmm

i'll pick you and amari up

what

where LOL

your houses

do you even know where
i live

no 😁

amari's house is like a train
ride away from mine LMAO

let's just meet up somewhere

alright

you promise you'll come?

i promise

The first thing you did when you got home was check whether or not the cookies you left in the fridge were left untouched. And thankfully enough, they were safe and sound.

"What do you want for dinner?" your mom chimed in as she entered the kitchen.

'Shoot.' You didn't ask for permission to eat outside yet.

"Um, mom, about that..." your voice trailed off, catching your mom's full attention. "A few friends actually invited me out for dinner, it's just for a celebration."

"Who are these friends?" you didn't know whether you should lie or not, because you have no idea how your mom would react if you told her you'd be spending dinner with a bunch of boys.

"Amari and a few girls from the club." you chose to lie.

"Oh, Amari's there, sure! Remember to message me when you get there."

A breath of relief escaped your lips, and you smiled at your mom. You climbed to your room upstairs and texted Watanabe to ask what time the dinner would start, you had about an hour and a half before you have to leave.

You got into the shower to wash the day off your body, it also helped you think deeply about some things.

After that fulfilling shower, you rummaged through your closet to pick an outfit that wasn't too casual but not too formal either. Since it was Autumn season, you decided it'd be best to wear something warm.

You shot Amari a quick text, agreeing to meet her at the convenience store near the restaurant. Before leaving, you told your parents goodbye and asked if they could feed Ai her dinner. With that settled, you grabbed your bag and headed out the door.

Fortunately, the train ride was quick. You were glad you were out of such a cramped space.

"Oh, hey L/n!" Watanabe Ryomei greeted.

"Hey! You were on the same train as me?" you asked.

Ryomei shook his head. "Nah, I was just passing by. Let's go together?" He gestured to your tote bag. "Want me to carry that?"

"Sure," you said, surrendering the bag.

You picked Amari up at the convenience store, and you were met with an interrogating stare by your best friend when she saw Ryomei with you.

"Hi, Watanabe."

"Hello, Suzuki." Ryomei greeted with a smile. Amari's eyes fell on the familiar tote bag that hung on his shoulder.

"I see you guys are together," she confirms, her voice laced with suspicion.

"We just ran into each other at the train station." you were quick to add.

She hummed and gave y/n a 'You tell me about this later.'  look.

The three of you walked into the restaurant and were greeted by the other people in the football team. "L/NNNN!" Kousei cheered.

"Hello, everyone," you greeted with a smile. As your gaze moved across the table, your smile faltered slightly when your eyes met Rin's. He barely acknowledged you before returning his focus to the appetizer in front of him.

Amari exchanged a few greetings with them too, and it was only then did you realize you were the only girls at the table.

And since these boys were scheming little rats, they made it so Amari was seated opposite of you, and you were seated between Rin and Ryomei.

Turning to Rin, you mustered your courage. "Happy birthday," you said softly.

Rin didn't look at you. "Mm," he mumbled, spearing a piece of food with his chopsticks.

You slumped slightly in your seat, feeling foolish.

"Are you okay?" Ryomei asked quietly, passing your tote bag back to you.

"Yeah," you muttered, flashing him a small smile.

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "He's scary, right?"

You grinned and playfully tapped his shoulder. "No."

"Hey! Not at the table, guys!" Kousei teased.

"Yeah, not in front of Rin," Rui added with a grin.

Rin rolled his eyes. "Piss off," he muttered, clearly irritated.

"Sorry," you offered lightly, hoping to smooth things over.

Rin shot you a brief glance. "Sure. Whatever."

Your mouth was then sewn shut, you knew that Rin talked in this manner with his friends. But you didn't expect he'd talk like that with you too, though he wasn't obligated to put up a pleasing personality for you, you at least expected a different (and nicer) response from him.

But he was probably just tired, you brushed it off and talked with the others. You spent the dinner party talking about how hard the exams were, their plans for football games, and hobbies.

Surprisingly enough, Amari got along well with almost everyone else. She was one of the loudest people in the table.

"This is my treat, no need to give your share of the bill, guys." Yuuji announced.

And while the dinner party neared its end, it was clear who enjoyed it least; ironically enough, his birthday was supposed to be celebrated today too.

"It's late, I don't think it's safe for Suzuki and L/n to go home alone. Where do you guys live?" Yuuji asked.

Amari rode the same train as Kousei, and to your surprise, you lived in the same neighborhood as Rin.

"Ryomei, do you not want to go with them?" Kousei teased.

"Shut up, man. Don't mind him, L/n." Ryomei adds.

"It's fine," you laughed.

As the group dispersed, you found yourself walking to the station with Rin in complete silence. The tension felt suffocating, and the chance to clear the air seemed to slip further away with every step.

"You go first," Rin said when you reached the train. You thanked him quietly and boarded. The train was far less crowded this time, giving you space to gather your thoughts.

When you finally reached your stop, you felt your window of opportunity closing. While walking the road towards your neighborhood, you called his name out, "Itoshi," you called out.

Rin stopped, looking back with a tired expression. "What?"

You reached into your tote bag and pulled out a neatly wrapped box. "Here," you said, extending it toward him. "It's just some cookies."

Rin frowned. "We just ate. I'm full."

"You can have them later," you insisted.

"I follow a diet," he said flatly.

You hesitated, feeling the situation slipping further from your grasp. "Maybe someone in your family would like them-"

"What's your deal?" Rin snapped suddenly, frustration bleeding into his voice.

Your breath hitched. "I just wanted to give you something for your birthday," you said softly. "It'd feel wrong not to."

Rin scoffed, "Then give it to someone else. Give it to Ryomei."

You blinked in confusion. "Why him?"

"What do you mean?" His voice sharpened. "Aren't you guys together?"

"No," you said firmly, and you grasped at the chance. "The person I'm interested in... is you."

Rin stared at you like you'd just spoken a different language. "Why?"

"I... I don't know," you admitted.

"What do you expect out of confessing?" His tone turned colder, harsher.

And here it was, the gut-wrenching feeling forming in the pit of your stomach. You were suffering the same outcome as the previous girls you witnessed. You were stupid to hope it'd be different with you.

"I don't know, to know you more-"

"Well, here's your answer," Rin said with finality. "I'm not interested. What's wrong with you?"

"What do you mean what's wrong with me?" you retort, offended by him.

"You say nothing's going on between you and Ryomei, have you not considered the factor that he probably likes you?" his voice started to rise, "And here you are confessing to his teammate. I know the feeling of getting used just so they could get close with someone you're connected with all too well." he spat, his voice covered with bitterness.

A lump formed in your throat, "I don't know what kind of idea you have about me," your voice cracked, "But I'm sure I'm far from the kind of person you think I am."

You walked away, leaving him there.

And one thing is for sure, Itoshi Rin too, was far from the kind of person you thought he was.

foot and ball suckers

3:13 PM

kousei
guys

kousei
is it just me or i don't
see y/n that often
anymore these days

hiro
no it's not just you. she
hasn't been visiting the
clubroom either

rui
@ryomei did you guys fight?

ryo

nope, she rarely responds to
my messages nowadays too.
she said she was busy

kousei
that's weird

rui
she started avoiding me too

jin
usually she'd greet me and
ask if i wanted cookies after
school

ryo
it started after the dinner party

yuu
did any of you do something
that made her uncomfortable?

kousei
no. she was having fun during
the party

jin
true

yuu
who did she go home with?

rui

rin

kousei
oh

jin
oh

hiro
😐😐

yuu
@rin what happened??

what

ryo
with y/n

who?

ryo
the person you went
home with after the party

oh right

it wasn't even a big deal

ryo
??? what happened

she confessed

kousei
OUH....... WHAT...

rui
see i told you guys

ryo
what did you say

what i always do

ryo
you could've been nicer
about it

why would i be

be thankful i told her off
that she shouldn't go

using people to get close
with the one she wants

ryo
what the hell?????

ryo
the fuck do you mean

rui
as in you told her she was
an asshole for using ryo to
get close to you???

what did i say

ryo
you better apologize to her

ryo
idk what made you guys think
l/n and i were together

ryo
apparently the idea of two opposite
genders being friends can't be
comprehended by most of you

ryo
we really have nothing going on.
she isn't even interested in me
like that, neither am i

kousei
bruhh

yuu
apologize to her rin

yuu
that's not good

whatever