Koga Mitsuki wasn't the type to draw attention to herself.
She liked keeping to the background—watching, listening, letting other people take the spotlight. Even in the Music Club, where she played guitar, she preferred the quiet moments; tuning strings, scribbling chord progressions in the margins of her notebook, practicing alone after everyone had left.
Which was why Oosawa Aya nearly dropped her drink when she saw Mitsuki on stage at the school festival.
Holding a guitar.
With a microphone in front of her.
And looking directly at her.
Aya had always known Mitsuki played, but she had never—not once—seen her perform. Mitsuki always refused when people asked, brushing them off with a lazy "Not my thing." But now, under the stage lights, her black hair slightly messy, oversized hoodie hanging off one shoulder, she looked... different. Nervous, maybe. But determined.
The murmuring crowd settled as Mitsuki leaned into the mic.
"This one's... for someone special," she said, voice quiet but steady. "Hope she gets the message."
Before Aya could even process that, Mitsuki started playing.
It was soft at first—gentle chords, fingers moving effortlessly over the frets. Then came her voice, lower than expected, smooth and honest. The lyrics were simple, unpolished, but they hit Aya harder than any love song she'd ever heard.
She felt like she couldn't breathe.
The words—about noticing someone when they weren't looking, about wanting to speak but never knowing how, about waiting for the right moment—were meant for her.
She was sure of it.
Aya's grip tightened on her drink. The people around her swayed along, oblivious, while her whole world tilted.
By the time the song ended, Mitsuki exhaled, looking relieved but still uncertain. She scanned the crowd, searching, waiting.
Aya didn't think. She just moved.
She pushed through the people, making her way to the front, until Mitsuki's eyes finally found hers.
Mitsuki's lips parted slightly, like she was about to say something.
Aya beat her to it.
"You could've just told me," she said, voice barely above a whisper.
Mitsuki gave a small, lopsided smile. "Would you have believed me?"
Aya's heart stumbled.
Instead of answering, she reached for Mitsuki's sleeve, tugging her down off the stage. Mitsuki let herself be pulled, amusement flickering in her eyes.
Aya leaned in, heart pounding.
"I got the message," she murmured.
Before she could overthink it, she pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to Mitsuki's cheek.
The crowd cheered like crazy.
Mitsuki just stared at her for a moment—blinking, stunned—before laughing under her breath.
"...Guess that makes us even."
Aya smiled. "Guess so."
As Mitsuki grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together, Aya thought— Maybe this was her favorite song now.