Wednesday-

"I still don't see why you can't confess to him."

Kokona's tone confirmed she obviously didn't know.

I sighed and placed the brush I was, moments prior, running through my black hair on the vanity.

"It's...not that simple. I was truly lost before I met him, y'know?" I said, turning my attention to the window and the golden sky beyond it.

"So tell him that!" She said, nearly slamming the curling iron she was using on her purple hair onto the mattress, picking it up just before it touched the cloth, obviously seeing her impulsive stupidity.

I sighed. She didn't know exactly how much Taro was to me. I didn't plan on telling her, of course...but at the same time, I wished she'd get the hint.

"I dare you to confess to Taro on Friday."

"Kokona, you know I'm not up for that."

"Okay, please do it? Please?" She said, giving me the classic puppy dog face.

"Okay, okay, fine. But I'm not at all imitated by that face." I said exasperatedly.

She smiled, that genuine smile I was seeing so much now.

I acted as though I was doing it because she told me to...but deep inside, I was doing it because I felt like I needed him more than ever nowadays.

Kokona slung her backpack over her shoulder and stood up. "Thanks for letting me hang out this afternoon, I had a great time. Can we meet up again on...Friday?" She said, raising her eyebrows up and down at the word Friday.

I playfully shoved her, causing her to stagger momentarily but quickly get back to her feet.

"Goodbye! See you...Friiiiiiiiidaaaaaaaay." She said, bolting out the door the moment the words left her mouth.

I smirked. I'd get her back.

I stood there, looking out the window at the fading sun. Being home alone was...well, lonely.

A thought crossed my mind that honestly hadn't even come into consideration before.

Did I feel lonely before Kokona and I became friends?

When I met Taro, it was love at first sight. I began to feel things I hadn't before...

Happiness...

Embarrassment...

Sadness...

Anger...

but it was almost as if none of these were satisfied. He didn't speak to me. He didn't know me.

But with Kokona...

I started feeling...a different feeling. When we hung out, just as we had been shortly before, it was like we were in our own little world, far away from society.

Feelings overcame me that I didn't know I had, even after Taro.

Our friendship was something I truly treasured now.

I didn't even want to think about the fact I almost killed her. What would life even be like?

Thursday-

I met Kokona at the lockers, a new routine we had started. She was happily tapping the metal with her fingers.

"Oh! Yan-Chan! Guess what? I figured out when Taro-MRRRRMFH!"

Her loud voice was subsided by my hands over her mouth, there only to keep people from hearing.

"Sorry! I just got really excited..." she said almost shamefully when I removed my hands from her face.

"It's fine. What do you want to tell me?"

"So we should memorize a speech you could give to Taro on Friday!"

"Err...not sure...if I messed up, it'd just sound robotic..."

"I think it'd be a good way to do it..."

"Okay...fine...just make it good. Give me the ideas after school."

"Okay! I will!" Kokona said, taking a sheet on lined paper from a folder and walking off to class.

After school, we went to my place-again-I can see why Kokona doesn't want me over there, her father just recovering from drugs and all.

"okay, I have a few ideas!" She said cheerfully, smoothing out the paper from this morning on her lap.

I scooted closer to her to get a glimpse of the paper, but she read anyway.

"You should say how much he means to you, but not on a scale that freaks him out, Etc., etc., etc..."

I didn't listen to all the tips, it felt as if they were dancing around my head and refusing to go into my ears.

"Kokona, it sounds like you just wrote down a bunch of tips." I said, taking the paper from her hands.

She pondered for a second. "I guess I did. Just didn't want to make you memorize an entire speech. Just write a few on your palm or whatever and you'll be good to go."

I nodded. "Thanks. You're a big help." I said, and that was the last thing we did before turning to something else.

Friday-

The school day itself whizzed past in a blur. The entire day I was dazed. I was really going to confess.

I didn't speak to Kokona much that day, just saw her encouraging looks she shot me between classes.

So then it happened...the confession...

The bell rung, and students poured out of the school in a stampede. I didn't walk behind Taro this time, praying I'd remain invisible in his eyes, but instead I walked straight up to him.

It felt strange and awkward...but somehow right.

"Hey...Taro...can I, um, talk to you for a second?" I said, trying my best not to stutter.

"Um...yeah, sure. Oh! Hey, you're Ayano, right? Kokona told me a lot about you." He said as I tried to direct him to the cherry tree without being exposed.

"She...did?" Needless to say, his words shocked me. I'd definitely have to thank her later.

We climbed to the pinnacle on the hill, right beside the tree. Cherry blossoms flew with the wind in the warm summer air.

I glanced down at my palm, squinting at the few phrases I had written in black sharpie.

"I...um..."

I paused and took a deep breath.

"Didn't think I'd be stuttering so much...I've honestly wanted to talk to you for a long time..." I said, turning away when his gaze met mine, making my cheeks flare scarlet.

"Ayano...to tell you the truth..."

I waited nearly impatiently for his next words, the news that could change my life.

"I've wanted to get to know you better too." He said, bending down so I'd have no choice but to look at him.

I blushed harder and nodded.

He walked me back to my house, but we didn't speak. I was in a lovesick trance.

Senpai loves me.

I waved goodbye and opened the door, only to have what I assumed was the worst jumpscare I had ever experienced.

Kokona popped up from behind the couch like a demented jack-in-the-box, right in front of my face.

"Ahh! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?! Why are you here?!" I said, placing my hand on the couch's armrest.

She giggled. "Sorry, I was just so so so so excited to hear about it!"

I sighed. I swear, Kokona can be so ditzy sometimes, but I like her all the same.

"We aren't dating-don't start singing." I said, holding up a finger. She looked like she was about to. "But...he said he's wanted to talk to me for a while." I said, trying to remain nonchalant, but was nearly exploding on the inside.

Kokona squealed for me, luckily. At least she didn't give me a hard time for not confessing, but I had the feeling that I'd be hearing more of that later.

"Thank you, Kokona. For real. It probably wouldn't be like this if not for you." I said, sitting down next to where she had sat.

She met my gaze and smiled. "What are friends for?"

Kokona and I are friends. I secrets too brutal that I couldn't tell her about.

She has secrets too dark she couldn't tell me about.

But we've shared secrets together we wouldn't tell many. Nobody, possibly.

And to us, that's good enough.

Thanks for reading, guys!