Lost Items Are Pieces of a Heart

(Unrequited Love Literature Club "Lost Item" prompt work)

I wrote this for the Unrequited Love Literature Club prompt.
Thank you for the prompt.

🕊Foreword
Lost items. They are not just physical objects; sometimes they are "feelings" or "courage."
Something dropped quietly without anyone noticing—it might reach someone someday.
This time, I have depicted a scene of such a faint and clumsy love.

🌸Main Text: Lost Items Are Pieces of a Heart
"You dropped this," someone called out from behind.
When I turned around, Shinpei-kun was standing there.
My heart began to beat like steel, and I couldn't even look him in the face properly.
I snatched the handkerchief from him and instinctively ran off.
I ran blindly, and as I caught my breath under the large tree behind the schoolyard, a voice came from somewhere.
"I've been standing here for about a hundred years now.
I've seen all sorts of things under this tree: people who confessed and succeeded, people who were rejected.
You, who just came running in, aren't you one of those two?"
"No... I haven't even confessed yet.
I can't even look him in the face, so I can't even talk to him."
The tree sighed a little and then said this:
"Have you ever truly faced life head-on?
The people who confessed here and were rejected faced it seriously; it's just that the result was 'rejection,' but it doesn't mean their whole life was 'rejected,' does it?"
I said,
"I... I get so nervous that I'm probably going to be like this forever.
I'm fine just like this."
Saying that, I ran away from the tree as if escaping.
Even when I returned to the classroom, Shinpei-kun was already gone.
After school, I somehow went back near the big tree and saw Shinpei-kun standing next to a girl.
I instinctively hid in the shadows and ended up overhearing their conversation.
"Eavesdropping on people is against the rules," the tree's voice said.
The moment I was startled and tried to leave, I tripped and fell.
"Ouch..."
Because I made a sound, Shinpei-kun found me.
"You suddenly ran off, so I was worried. It looks like you fell, are you okay?"
My heart began to pound loudly again.
I wanted to run away, but I had sprained my ankle and couldn't move.
Shinpei-kun took me to the infirmary.
Even though I felt the girl's piercing gaze, my heart felt as warm as a sunny spot in the tropics.
Will the lost piece of my heart—
reach Shinpei-kun's heart?
Mikan Katagiri

(June 26, 2025)

🍀Afterword
Falling in love with someone is happy, but it's also scary.
I still can't find the courage or show my true heart.
But if I could move forward, even just a little—
I wrote this with that wish in mind.
I hope a small "piece" reaches your heart, too.