The first time you saw Kita Shinsuke, you knew he was someone special. He stood among his peers, his posture perfect, his calm demeanor radiating confidence without a single word. It was during the opening ceremony of your first year of high school, and although there were many faces to remember, he stood out to you. You couldnât put your finger on why, but you were drawn to his quiet confidence.
From that day on, Kita became a familiar face in the hallways, court, and your classes. But despite being classmates, you never quite found the courage to talk to him. It wasnât that you didnât want to â no, you wanted to speak to him more than anything. It was just that, for some inexplicable reason, every time you tried to approach him, you froze up. His calm presence and composed nature were both intimidating and awe-inspiring.
At first, it was just little things that made you smile. The way his friends teased him about his leadership role, and how heâd respond with a small, knowing smile. How he always made sure everyone in the volleyball team was accounted for, whether during practice or after games, with the air of someone who genuinely cared for the wellbeing of others. You found yourself developing an overwhelming fondness for him, a secret affection that you couldnât seem to shake off.
The first few months of school were uneventful, at least in terms of getting closer to Kita. You would occasionally see him in passing, often in the library or the gym, but he was always surrounded by his teammates or friends. You observed him from afar, quietly enjoying his company in the most subtle ways â like how he would carry his textbooks with such care, or how he would lend a hand to anyone in need, always so effortlessly kind.
You never expected anything to come from your crush, but that didnât stop you from feeling a little flutter in your heart every time he smiled, whether it was directed at someone else or when his eyes casually met yours. Those moments were enough to make your day, though you never let anyone know just how much he occupied your thoughts.
But soon, you decided to take small steps to get his attention â or perhaps just to make him aware of your existence.
It started with leaving him notes. The first one was simple: a small thank you for the way he handled things during a group project, how he made everyone feel included, even though you knew you were the shy one in the group.
You left it in his locker, tucked between the pages of his volleyball folder, hoping he wouldnât think too much about it. But the next day, you received a quiet nod from him in the hallway. It was the smallest acknowledgment, but to you, it was everything.
From there, you continued leaving little notes â harmless compliments about how he handled himself during practices, or how his leadership on the volleyball court inspired you. Each time you left one, your heart raced, hoping that heâd notice, yet dreading the idea of being found out.
As midterms came and went, the distance between you and Kita felt even more noticeable. It wasnât that he didnât acknowledge you, but rather, you had begun to notice how focused he was, always giving his best in everything he did. He spent hours studying, ensuring that he was prepared for each exam, and it only made him more admirable in your eyes.
The most you ever exchanged were brief moments between classes, when your paths would cross in the hallways, and youâd share a brief smile or polite greeting. But it never went beyond that.
Then came the day when your secret was almost exposed.
You had, once again, left a note for Kita after a particularly intense volleyball game. This time, the note was longer. You thanked him not just for his leadership, but for how he seemed to inspire his teammates, even in moments of doubt. It was honest, heartfelt, and something you had poured your feelings into. You hoped that it would give him some comfort, as it was clear that his responsibilities weighed heavily on him.
But this time, you made a mistake. You were too distracted by the thought of Kita reading your note that you didnât realize someone had noticed you leaving it in his locker.
The next day, as you entered the gym to watch the team practice, one of his teammates â Aran â approached you with a teasing smile.
âYou know,â Aran began with a knowing smile, âKitaâs been reading your notes, huh?â
Your heart skipped a beat. You felt the blood rush to your cheeks, and you immediately stammered, âW-Wait, what?â
âDonât worry, he hasnât said anything about it.â Aran smirked, clearly enjoying your flustered reaction. âBut weâve noticed him reading them during breaks. He looks kind of⌠distracted after.â
You were mortified, and yet, a small part of you felt a sense of relief. Kita had noticed your notes, and despite not saying anything, he was taking the time to read them. But still, the idea of him knowing the truth made your stomach turn.
Aran must have seen your panic because he patted your shoulder, trying to comfort you. âDonât worry. Kitaâs not the type to confront someone about something like that. Heâs more of the âkeep it to himselfâ type. But just so you know, heâs been curious.â
The second semester rolled around, and it felt like everything had changed, though nothing really had. Kita continued to be his composed, reliable self, leading the team, excelling academically, and taking care of his friends. However, now there was an unspoken tension â one that was impossible to ignore.
It was during a school assembly that you found yourself in a situation where you could no longer avoid him. He was seated two rows in front of you, and though you tried to focus on the speaker, your attention kept drifting to him. His posture, the way his hair fell into his eyes, and the quiet intensity with which he listened â you couldnât help but admire him even more.
Then, during the break between sessions, you noticed him walking toward you. Your heart raced, and you instinctively tried to make yourself smaller, but it was too late.
He stopped in front of you and gave you a slight smile, one that made your knees weak.
âThank you,â he said softly. âFor the notes. I⌠appreciate them.â His voice was calm, yet there was something else in it â a warmth, a sincerity that made your breath catch.
You blinked, unsure how to respond. âI wasn't- I didn't realize you knew it was me,â you stammered, avoiding eye contact.
He gives a sympathetic smile and explains, âI saw you leave one a few months ago. I figured that if you werenât signing your name, you wouldn't respond well to me pointing it out.â He hesitates before adding, âI noticed you stopped leaving them recently. I wasnât sure if I said something wrong.â
You shook your head quickly. âNo, not at all! I just⌠wasnât sure if they were helpful,â you said, voice barely above a whisper. âI just wanted to⌠let you know that I think youâre doing great.â
Kitaâs eyes softened as he nodded slowly. âYou donât have to worry about that. I always appreciate kindness.â
For a moment, there was silence between you, the air charged with unspoken words. You were both nervous to be the first to speak, but he broke the silence.
âI think youâre a good person,â he said with a gentle smile. âAnd Iâd like to get to know you better, if thatâs alright.â
You froze. For a moment, everything felt unreal. The crush you had carried for so long, the notes you had written in secret, the unspoken affection â it was all finally coming to light.
âIâd like that too,â you finally replied, your voice steady now, the nerves replaced by a growing sense of warmth.
And just like that, the secret you had held for so long was no longer a secret. Kita had seen it all â the quiet admiration, the small gestures â and he wasnât pushing you away. Instead, he was inviting you closer.
note: I had an urge to write for him... hope y'all enjoy!! Lev is next btw :)
