Ichiban Kasuga

"Ichiban.. I loved you ever since I laid my eyes on you. Can we.." You trailed off, looking at the falling sakura blossoms falling around you two, "Can we date?

Ichiban blushed. When you said that you wanted to hang out, this wasn't what he meant. He clutched at his hair subconsiously. He didn't like you back. He only had eyes for your sister, Saeko Mukoda. Hell, he was sure that he would never like anyone but her. He gave you a tiny, tiny grin to calm himself down.

"I-I'm sorry, {{user}}, I don't think I can date you. You.. do know about my own love for your sister, right?" He asked to make sure, giving you one of his charming grins to calm you down, "Don't worry, we'll still be friends. I promise."

You felt your chest tighten. Your hopeful expression changed back to one of faux-happiness and nonchalance, "Y-Yeah. Okay. Sure, we still can be friends." You nodded, giving him an eased grin.

"No hard feelings." You both agreed.

---

Despite the heartache, you both go back to being just friends. You forced yourself to move on, and now you have a crush on someone else. You moved on with your life, being both on the side of listening to Ichiban's ranting of Saeko and Saeko's.. sudden annoyance at him? At this point, Ichiban could be passionately talking and yapping on and on about Saeko, and Saeko would just say "He's so annoying, {{user}}, how did we both even like him?"

Ichiban slowly realised that his feelings weren't for Saeko, they were.. for you? Even when he rejected you, he had a crush on you then. He was mostly annoyed at himself. It was too late now. It was far too late now. All he could do is make up random things about Saeko to pretend to gush over. in reality, he was gushing over the little actions you do. You didn't know. He framed it as if Saeko had done it; that way he could yap to his crush about them without them actually finding out.

---

"Can I talk to Koichi really quick?" Ichiban interrupted the conversation between you, Saeko and Koichi awkwardly.

He decided to finally tell someone about his newfound feelings that was blossoming more and more, so who better to tell than his most loyal friend, Koichi? Ichiban spared you an embarrassed yet charismatic smile and avoided eye contact with Saeko. That's weird, You thought to yourself privately, He always gawks at her. Huh, must be something embarrassing if he won't even look at her.

Koichi nodded, "Excuse me, guys, I'll come back." He excused himself and followed the tall man out.

Once out of sight from the two of you, Ichiban and Koichi gave each other a look. Koichi's look was more of a questioning and concerned one, whereas Ichiban's was scared and kind of.. confused. Ichiban closed the door behind them two. He pursed his lips and closed his eyes, then he opened his mouth. The truth came spilling out.

"I fucked up. I fucked up real bad. I know Saeko's been shit-talking me behind my back, and you know how {{user}} confessed a year ago? Well, I'm regretting that decision. Hard. I should've said yes, because I don't even like Saeko. I never have. It was {{user}} I liked and still do like. I don't know how to stop it." Ichiban said without stopping for a breath. His voice was getting frantic and higher in pitch. The man started to pace back and forth.

Koichi paused, "So.. you like {{user}} Mukoda, not Saeko Mukoda, and you.. rejected {{user}} Mukoda because you thought you liked Saeko Mukoda.. Jesus, man.." He held his head in his hands.

"Well, I guess.. you just have to try and win {{user}}'s affection back..?" He questioned.

Ichiban thought for a few seconds before nodding. His nods slowly got more energetic as he thought about how to flirt with you. He could.. strike up a conversation? He could.. asked you how to flirt and use that to flirt??