(Prompt SS Lost Item) Heart Seal

I found a lost item.
A white envelope with a heart seal.
"This is... something I shouldn't have picked up."
But the place where it had fallen was unfortunate.
Under the desk of that girl I've been a little interested in.

"What if it's a letter from her?"
"No, no, it must just be a coincidence."
The 'what if' and the 'no way' clashed within me.

After struggling more than I ever have in my life, I tried to gently look at the front side—but I didn't have the courage.
"Hmm..."
As I groaned out loud, the sound of running footsteps echoed through the hallway.
I instinctively looked toward the sound, and the classroom door swung open violently.
Swinging her ponytail and breathing hard, she burst into the classroom.

Without noticing me, she started looking for something while staring at the floor.
She came right in front of me, her gaze rising from my feet up to my hands, where it stopped.
She froze like that for a while.
After a few seconds of silence, I heard her swallow hard.
Trembling at the mouth, she opened it.
"U-um. That letter..."
She stopped there for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued.
"Did you... happen to see it?"

"Uh, um, you're Minami-san, right?"
I pretended to barely remember her name as I asked.
Minami nodded, keeping a serious face.
To be precise, her face looked a little redder than usual.
It must have been because she had run here in such a hurry.

I took a step back, as if overwhelmed by her serious expression.
"I, I didn't see it. Nothing at all. I just picked it up now, is it yours, Minami-san?"
I said, holding the letter out toward Minami.

Minami grabbed the letter with her fingertips while looking down.
However, she didn't take it and remained frozen.
The letter was between me and Minami.
The heart seal was illuminated by the setting sun, shining gold, and it looked quite beautiful.

"Phew!"
Suddenly, Minami let out a big sigh.
Then, she looked up and looked at me.
Maybe it was my imagination, but her face looked even redder than before.
The orange setting sun was dyeing the classroom red.

"Um, you know! The letter you picked up for me, Nishi-kun. Thank you. It's mine."
She paused for a beat.
Perhaps the light got in her eyes, but Minami squinted slightly and continued.
"...And so. I thought about asking for it back, but would you mind just taking it as it is?"
Minami looked at me and smiled a little shyly.
"You know, I like you, Nishi-kun."

The setting sun shining through the window was visible behind Minami's back.
Her ponytail was swaying in the light.
She looked as if she were glowing, and I instinctively reached out my hand.

And so, Minami and I walked through the town together, holding hands.
It was still her unrequited love.

One side of the heart was filled.
It would only be a little while until my heart was filled too.
Until it was closed with a heart seal.
—A fleeting, unrequited love.

That's a youth drama, bittersweet!
Thank you for the prompt♪