Unraveled Ties-Chapter 41: Testing the Heart

The library was unusually quiet today.

Reiji sat at his usual spot, his books open in front of him, but he wasn’t reading. His mind refused to focus.

*Sena didn’t come today.*

He tapped his pen against the desk, his thoughts drifting back to their last study session. That moment when he had held her hand... the warmth of it, the way she didn’t pull away...

It kept bothering him.

Why?

It was nothing. Just a practice lesson. He was only doing this to learn about love, to understand his feelings for Aoi.

*That’s right. It’s Aoi I want.*

He clenched his jaw, shaking his head.

And yet, *Sena kept coming to his mind.*

It frustrated him.

He didn’t *want* to think about her.

He didn’t *need* to think about her.

Then, as if to answer his spiraling thoughts, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Reiji?"

He looked up.

Aoi stood by the table, tilting her head slightly in concern.

"I’ve been looking for you," she said softly. "Do you have a minute?"

Reiji straightened up, pushing his thoughts aside. "Yeah, what’s up?"

Aoi pulled out a chair and sat beside him. "It’s about class. I’m having trouble with the recent material... Can you help me again?"

Her tone was a little embarrassed, as if she felt bad for asking.

Reiji exhaled. "Of course."

For the next several minutes, he explained the concepts to her as best as he could. Aoi listened intently, nodding along, occasionally making small comments about how dumb she felt for not understanding sooner.

At any other time, this would’ve made him happy.

But today...

Even as he sat with **Aoi, the girl he liked the most...**

*Sena’s presence still lingered in his mind.*

*Damn it... Why?*

His grip on his pen tightened slightly.

Was this really okay? Was this what love was supposed to feel like?

Then, out of nowhere, a thought entered his mind.

*I should test it.*

Before he could stop himself, he turned to Aoi and said something unexpected.

He hesitated, looking away. "You know when ... You mentioned the other day that you owe me one for helping you?. So... Can I ask for something?"

Aoi seemed even more confused but nodded. "Uh... sure? What is it?"

Reiji inhaled slowly.

Then, with a voice quieter than usual, he finally asked:

"Can I... hold your hand?"

Aoi’s eyes widened slightly.

A brief silence fell between them.

Reiji felt his pulse quicken. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting—rejection, maybe? Aoi laughing it off?

But to his surprise—

Aoi hesitated for only a moment before *lifting her hand and placing it in his.*

Reiji’s breath hitched.

Her hand was different from Sena’s.

It was *softer.* Smaller.

Aoi’s cheeks turned pink. "Wow your hand is very big."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Reiji swallowed. "I see..."

Aoi glanced at their joined hands, then back at him.

"This is my first time holding a hand," she said with a small, nervous laugh. "A boy’s hand."

Reiji felt his face heat up.

For a brief moment, he thought—*Maybe this is it. Maybe this is proof that Aoi is the one I truly like.*

But then—

The warmth of *Sena’s* hand flashed through his mind.

And his stomach twisted. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

He quickly let go. "Sorry," he muttered. "That was... weird of me to ask."

Aoi, however, didn’t seem upset. She simply tilted her head, still a little flushed, but smiling.

"I don’t mind," she said

softly.

Reiji stared at her.

Something about that answer unsettled him.

But he didn’t understand why.

—