[Joint Practice Note] Is it okay to press invisible buttons?

Every morning, all sorts of people pass through the plaza in front of the station. A salaryman walking briskly with a smartphone in one hand. An elderly couple chatting with the police officer at the box while walking their dog. A child with a red school bag on their back, hopping along.

I sit on a bench, resting my chin in my hand, and watch them idly. I’ve come to like this time spent waiting for my friend, Yori-chan, for one reason or another.

I see that person often lately. Those glasses look intellectual, maybe they're kind of nice...

"Morning."

At that moment, I heard Yori-chan's voice as she sat down next to me.
"Are you staring at people again?" She looks at me with an expression of exasperation.

"But... I'm bored while I'm waiting for you, Yori-chan."
I tried making that excuse, but it was half true and half a lie. Perhaps I am just prone to falling for people.

Yori-chan, who knows that all too well, says with a laugh.
"You know, you're constantly pressing the 'Like' button in your heart for all sorts of people every day, aren't you?"

'Like' button, she says. This isn't note. I laugh a little to brush it off.

"But you know, if you stare too intently, eventually someone is going to misunderstand and think you're interested in them, right?"

"No way! I'm just looking!"
Saying that, we stood up and headed toward school.

I like observing people and finding their good qualities.

The police officer at the box. A boy about my age waiting for the bus while studying in his spare time. A businessman rushing off to work with hurried steps.

Many people pass through the station plaza with various expressions. I find myself feeling a little flutter for the invisible stories behind those people, and I can't help but press an invisible 'Like' button in my heart.

♡

The next day. Once again, I was at the usual plaza in front of the station.

"Morning."

Yori-chan calls out to me and approaches.
“...You don't seem like yourself today. What's wrong?”

I answer Yori-chan with a smile that is, if anything, tired.

“Well, you see... on my way home yesterday. That 'Glasses Guy' I'm always watching... he talked to me.”

“Wait, seriously?” Yori-chan's eyes go wide.

“Yeah. We ran into each other at the station by chance. He said, 'Excuse me, you're always at the plaza in front of the station, right?' And then, 'I've been curious about you because we make eye contact a lot. If you'd like...'”

“See? I told you you were staring too much. But that's great, isn't it? Why don't you just go out with him?”

Yori-chan nudges me with her elbow, half-joking, but I can't bring myself to laugh. “...I ran away.”

“Huh? Why? You were watching him because you liked him, right?”
There's a hint of confusion mixed into Yori-chan's voice.

I struggle to find the words.

“...I don't know about that.” I reply in a small, quiet voice.

“Because... love is fun just because you're watching from afar. I don't want it to come true.”

My voice gradually gets quieter.

“If it comes true, doesn't it just fall apart after that...”

Yori-chan watches my face in silence. Her eyes look a little bit hurt, too.

“...That's not necessarily true, you know.” Her voice is a little lower, and serious.

I stare intently at the tips of my shoes. But...

“Because... Yori-chan, you cried so much, didn't you?”

That's why love is scary.

In that moment, I feel like Yori-chan's expression changes as if stung by pain.

“Why are you the one getting hurt instead of me, the one who got rejected?”

"...That's what I said. Because I love you so much, Yori-chan."

"Are you an idiot?"

"Besides... I don't need a boyfriend. I have you, Yori-chan."

"What would you do if I got a boyfriend?"

"Even when you got a boyfriend, Yori-chan, nothing ever changed, right? I'm your number one. So, it's fine."

"Number one... I wonder about that?"

"Don't say things like that. Yori-chan, we'll be together forever, right?"

"Eh. I want a boyfriend, so no way."

Yori-chan said that with a smile that looked embarrassed, exasperated, and a little gentle, adding, "Anyway, you should apologize to Glasses later. You were just plain rude."

"I'm going now, I'll be late for school." Yori-chan said that, stood up briskly, and started walking down the usual path.

A single refreshing breeze passed through the plaza in front of the station.
The morning light spilled through the gaps in the rows of trees, shining brightly.

No matter how many people flow by, I hope this path where I walk side-by-side with Yori-chan never changes.

I took a deep breath, filling my chest with air, and started running to catch up to her back.