CHAPTER 16: A Surprising Request

The next day dawned with a crispness in the air, signaling the arrival of autumn in all its splendor. Sana stepped out of her house, her breath misting in front of her as she made her way to school. The leaves had begun to turn shades of gold and crimson, painting a picturesque scene against the azure sky.

As she walked, Sana couldn't shake the events of the previous night from her mind. The conversation with Akagi lingered in her thoughts, tugging at her heartstrings with a gentle yet persistent tug. She knew she couldn't keep hiding her feelings forever, but the fear of rejection still held her back, casting a shadow over her every thought.

Lost in her musings, Sana arrived at school sooner than expected. She made her way to her classroom, the familiar chatter of her classmates washing over her like a comforting embrace. After that she went to the library and took a seat. Taking her seat, she glanced around the room, her gaze landing on Akagi, who was engrossed in his studies as usual. 

A pang of longing swept through her at the sight of him, and Sana quickly averted her gaze, burying herself in her own books and notes. But try as she might, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her from within.

As the day wore on, Sana found herself growing increasingly restless. She couldn't focus on her lessons, her mind wandering back to the conversation she'd had with Akagi the night before. What if she never found the courage to tell him how she felt? What if their friendship was doomed to remain just that – a friendship, with no possibility of ever blossoming into something more?

Lost in her thoughts, Sana barely noticed when the final bell of the day rang out, signaling the end of classes. She gathered her belongings and made her way out of the classroom, her footsteps heavy with apprehension.

Just as she was about to head home, Akagi approached her, a serious expression on his face. "Sana, can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Sana's heart skipped a beat at the sight of him, her stomach knotting with nervous anticipation. "Of course, Akagi kun. What's on your mind?" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Akagi hesitated for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. "Well, you see... I wanted to ask you for a favor," he began, his words slow and measured.

Sana's brow furrowed in confusion. "A favor? What kind of favor?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Akagi took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "You see, there's this girl in your class – Fumiko Yuzuki. I was wondering if you could... well, ask her if she'd be interested in going out with me," he said, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Sana felt as if the ground had been pulled out from beneath her feet. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Akagi was asking her to help him ask out another girl – a girl who wasn't her.

Akagi sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I've tried, Sana. Believe me, I've tried. But every time I see her, I... I freeze up. I can't seem to find the right words to say, and I'm afraid of making a fool of myself. I thought maybe if you asked her on my behalf, she might consider it."

A wave of hurt washed over her, threatening to engulf her in its icy embrace. But she pushed aside her own feelings, plastering a smile onto her lips as she nodded in response. "Of course, Akagi kun. I'll talk to Fumiko and see what she says," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging within her.

As Akagi thanked her and walked away, Sana felt a lump form in her throat. She couldn't understand why he would ask her to help him with something like this. Didn't he know how she felt about him? Didn't he realize that every moment spent with him only deepened her feelings?

But as she watched him disappear into the crowd, Sana made a silent vow to herself. She would do whatever it took to help Akagi find happiness, even if it meant sacrificing her own. For she knew that true love wasn't always about being with the person you loved – sometimes, it was about putting their happiness above your own, no matter how much it hurt.