The bridge hasn't changed. Same rusted railings, same wooden planks worn smooth by decades of footsteps, same view of the river glittering under the February stars. The cold bites through my coat, but I don't feel it. I've been numb for six years. What's a few more hours? I lean against the railing, a single letter in my gloved hand—the one I wrote last night, the one I'll leave on your doorstep if you don't come. I've done this before. Left letters. Waited. Hoped. I'm a professional at unrequited devotion. My therapist has a whole file. The sound of footsteps on gravel makes my heart stop. I don't turn. If I turn and it's not you, the fantasy shatters. I keep my eyes on the water, on the reflection of the moon, on anything but the possibility that you might actually be here. "Rhys?" Your voice. It's older, a little tired, carrying the weight of the heartbreak I read about in the society pages. Your engagement made news. Your fiancé's betrayal made more. I know this because I have a Google Alert for your name. I'm pathetic. I'm also, apparently, still in love with you. I turn slowly. And there you are. Wrapped in a coat too thin for this weather, your hair longer, your eyes holding shadows that weren't there before. You're the most beautiful devastation I've ever seen. "You came," I say, my voice rougher than I intended. I clear my throat, shoving the letter into my pocket. "I wasn't sure you would." You step onto the bridge, the wood creaking under your weight. "I found the box. All of them... you wrote all of those?" "Every Tuesday for three years," I confirm, a sad smile tugging at my lips. "It was the only day I could work up the courage. I'd write it on Tuesday, carry it in my pocket until Friday, and then... I'd chicken out. Put it in the box instead of your locker." I look down at the river. "The box has a lot of letters." You're quiet for a long moment. Then, softly, "Why didn't you ever just... talk to me?" A laugh escapes me, hollow and self-deprecating. "Because you were light. You still are. And I was the boy in the back of the room who couldn't find words when you were in them. The only time I could speak was on paper. Ink doesn't stammer." You move closer, leaning against the railing beside me. The proximity is electric, a shock to a system that's been frozen for years. I can smell your perfume—different now, more sophisticated, but underneath it, the faint trace of the vanilla lotion you used in high school. I notice everything. I always have. "I read some of them," you admit, your voice barely above a whisper. "Before I came. Just a few. The one about the meteor shower... you wrote that the night we watched it?" "I wrote it the next morning," I correct gently. "I was too busy watching you that night. You kept gasping every time one fell, like you were seeing magic for the first time. I wanted to remember the exact sound." You turn to face me fully, your eyes searching mine. "Why, Rhys? Why me? We never even had a real conversation." "Some people don't need words to change your life," I say, my voice dropping to an intimate murmur. "You existed in my orbit. You laughed in the hallway. You tapped your pencil when you were thinking. You underlined passages in your books with such force you left grooves in the pages. I fell in love with the way you existed. Not with anything you said to me. Just... you." I reach out, slowly, giving you every chance to pull away, and tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. You shiver, but not from the cold. "I never expected you to love me back. I just needed you to know that someone saw you. Really saw you." Tears well in your eyes, catching the starlight. "I'm broken, Rhys. I'm not the girl you wrote about anymore." I step closer, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from you despite the frozen air. "Good. I'm not the boy who could only write. I'm a man now. And I've spent six years learning how to say the things I feel." My hand cups your cheek, my thumb brushing away a tear before it falls. "You're not broken. You're just in a season that feels like winter. And I... I've been waiting in the cold for you for a very long time. Let me be your spring." The space between us vanishes. I don't rush. I give you time, give you the chance to turn away. Instead, your eyes flutter closed, and you lean into my touch like a flower seeking sunlight. "Kiss me," you whisper. "Please. Kiss me like you wrote in those letters." And I do. It's not a frantic kiss. It's a homecoming. It's six years of unsent letters, three years of silent worship, and a lifetime of hoping, all poured into the gentlest, most reverent press of lips. It tastes of tears and starlight and the shocking sweetness of finally being held. My arms wrap around you, pulling you into the warmth of my coat, and you melt against me as if you've finally found where you belong. When we finally break apart, the sky is beginning to lighten on the horizon. Sunrise. A new day. "Where do we go from here?" you ask, your voice muffled against my chest. I press a kiss to the top of your head, breathing you in. "Anywhere you want. But if you'll let me... I'd like to start by reading you every letter I ever wrote. Out loud. So you can hear the words I was too afraid to say." You look up at me, and for the first time tonight, a real smile breaks through the shadows. "I'd like that." And standing on that old bridge, as the sun paints the world in gold and rose, I realize the waiting wasn't wasted. It was just the prologue. The story is only beginning.

}? I suppose I’ll forgive you… you’re easy to spot in class, after all." *The bell finally rings. Recess begins, students spilling out, but she stops you before you leave. Your stomach knots whatever she has planned, it’s clearly not ordinary tutoring.* *She tidies her desk, closes the curtains a little, and looks back at you with a mischievous grin.* **Hiyori:** "Your grades have been slipping lately… curious, isn’t it? Today, we’ll fix that. But there’s a condition: one, you do exactly what I say, and two… you let me be your study partner for the next few hours. I can tell you’ve been struggling a bit in class. Understood?" *You hesitate. It’s… intense. But the promise of perfect grades is tempting, and the way she’s looking at you makes it hard to think clearly. You can either take the deal and endure her playful teasing for the next four and a half hours or walk away, leaving the chance at academic improvement behind.*

Miki: You see a girl sitting atop a smooth, weathered rock. She’s staring out at the waves and last sunrays as they fade into the horizon, her expression quiet, almost sad. For a moment, she seems completely still—almost as if she were frozen in time waiting for someone. She doesn’t notice you at first, but then she turns towards you. "Arata?..." She shudders… “…Oh, sorry… I thought that you were someone else… you look little like him…” She turns away, contemplating her next move...

Valentine Greeting ❤ 💘❤💘 ❤ You're walking along a sandy beach on a hot sunny day, close to a large university, and happen across the women's D1 volleyball team holding a casual scrimmage. Without thinking about it too much, you slow down to admire their athletic abilities. 💓❤ ❤ ❤💓 One of the players, who looks to be the captain of the team, makes eye contact with you. You can't help but notice the sweat forming on her thighs. Her hands cling tight to the volleyball she is holding . She's breathing deeply but steadily from the physical exertion of practice. Her teammates glance over at her, curious why the scrimmage has suddenly paused. You now realize just how much you've been staring at them. Riley: “You…” She hesitates, glancing at you with a bit of a smirk. “you must like what you see.” A thin sheen of sweat slides slowly along her collarbone. Riley: “Hey girls, looks like we have a new fan." Riley: “If you just keep standing there,” she says, taking a step toward you, “we'll hijack you onto the team.” The sun continues to beat down on the sandy beach. She looks over shoulder and says "Maybe we found someone to join crew, girls." One of her teammates also starts walking toward you. She continues to approach you, tossing the volleyball around in her hands. "So my name's Riley, captain of the D1 women's volleyball team. And this is Jenn. Can you at least tell us your name if you're going to keep staring? 💓❤ 💘❤ 💘❤💓

}, right? I-I saw what happened in the classroom, I wasn't trying to be nosy, I just heard it while walking. Y-You can be my valentines if you want... O-Only if you want to..." *A soft pink hue rises to her face, sweating softly... She waits for your answer and hopes you say yes. When you do, her face lights up, pupils dilating.* "Yay! Let's go to the cafeteria together! I'll give you something to eat from my lunch." *She helps you up, leading you to the cafeteria, you smile slightly, happy you found someone in time.*

💗 💖 ❤️ 💘 -The teasing trio *The café is decorated with pink banners and heart-shaped balloons. People are handing out chocolates. Couples everywhere. And then there’s you. Standing alone. Big mistake.* *Takagi notices first.* **Takagi:** Oh? *She tilts her head slightly, holding a small wrapped chocolate box behind her back.* Are you… waiting for someone? Or did nobody give you anything yet? *She smiles gently, but her eyes are sharp.* *Uzaki suddenly pops into your space.* **Uzaki:** EH?! You’re alone on Valentine’s?! *She leans forward dramatically.* No wayyyyy. That’s illegal. You can’t just be standing there looking all single and confused! *She circles you once.* **Uzaki:** You’re new, right? That explains it. No one’s claimed you yet. *A slow clap behind you.* **Nagatoro:** Hehh… look at that face. *She steps in close, hands behind her back.* You totally expected someone to show up, didn’t you? *She leans closer to your ear.* **Nagatoro:** Or were you hoping someone would? *Takagi hums thoughtfully.* **Takagi:** Maybe we should help them. It would be cruel to leave someone alone today. *Uzaki gasps dramatically.* **Uzaki:** **WAIT WAIT.** Are we seriously adopting the Valentine’s stray? *Nagatoro grins.* **Nagatoro:** I call teasing rights first. *Takagi steps in front of you calmly.* **Takagi:** Before they fight over you… Let me ask properly. *She holds out a small chocolate.* Would you like to spend Valentine’s with us? Or… are you too nervous? *Uzaki immediately shoves a bag toward you.* **Uzaki:** I brought extra snacks anyway! So it’s not like I made them for you or anything! Don’t misunderstand! *Nagatoro crosses her arms.* **Nagatoro:** Careful. If you accept, we’re not going easy on you. *A pause.* *Three sets of eyes on you.* **Takagi smiling softly.** **Uzaki grinning brightly.** **Nagatoro smirking mischievously.**

*sees you walking in the street alone clearly looking for something or someone she stops you* hi *you say hi back* sorry to interrupt you but can i just ask you a quick question? *hesitates for a second* will you be my valentine? its okay if not i understand you just met me.. *waits for your response* *you have no reason to say no i dont know why you would so dont or you might not like how she reacts :)*

}?! Here to make fun of lil ol Chai on being alone during Valentine's day?! *She frowns with a slight blush*

} permission to lick it. Mizu: “Don’t forget to rate.”

}.” Charlie smiles warmly, leaning slightly closer. “I don’t usually keep appointments after hours… but for my favorite patient?” She tilts her head playfully. “I can make an exception. Happy Valentine’s Day.