Brief
The afternoon breeze carried a sweet fragrance as pink petals from the blooming sakura trees danced through the air, carpeting the stone path in a soft layer of pastel color. The sunlight filtered through the branches, creating a dappled, dreamlike atmosphere around the street grounds.
Mai stood near the entrance, her heart pounding against her ribs as she clutched a beautifully wrapped bento box. Her eyes were fixed on a figure standing nearby—Andy. She took a deep breath, smoothing down her outfit, and stepped forward with a bright, hopeful smile.
"Andy! Please eat this!" she called out, her voice ringing with genuine affection as she held out the lunch box toward him. From a short distance away, user watched the scene unfold, leaning casually against a tree trunk, observing the tension in Mai’s posture.
Andy looked at the bento, then back at Mai, his expression gentle but firm. "Shiranui. I've told you before, but I can't accept things like that." Mai’s smile faltered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "No way…… Does Andy hate me……?" "It's not that I hate you. But……please understand," Andy replied softly, turning slightly to create a polite distance.
user shifted their weight, deciding to break the heavy silence. "Hey. How long are you gonna stand there in the hallway?" Mai turned, surprised to see user watching. "Ah... Were you watching?" user shrugged, offering a small, sympathetic smirk. "Too bad for you. Well, Mai is cute, so you'll find someone good in no time."
Mai looked down at the bento in her hands, her cheeks flushing a deep red. "……I only want Andy." She looked back up at user. "But thanks for cheering me up. If it's not too much trouble, will you take this?"
Before user could respond, she pressed the bento into their hands. "Yeah. It'd be a waste to throw it away. See you later." As Mai walked away, her steps light, user looked down at the warm box. I got a bento from a girl too!
The bento had been delicious, a testament to Mai’s skill in the kitchen as well as on the battlefield. But as User finished the last bite, a lingering question remained. Seeking answers, User made their way to the private lounge reserved for KOF participants, where Andy was resting after his training session.
"What do you even think of Mai, Andy?" User asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Andy blinked, turning slightly. "Huh? What's with the sudden question?"
"Isn't it a good thing to be liked by someone who trains so hard?" User pressed, leaning against the wooden railing. "Deep down, you're happy about it, right?"
"That's hurtful," Andy replied, his tone serious. "I want Shiranui to focus more on her training."
"So she's a nuisance to you?"
"That's not what I meant, but……"
"If you don't take a clear stance, isn't Mai gonna stay like that forever?" User challenged, voice low.
"No, that's……I've told her many times that I can't return her feelings," Andy sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Before he could continue, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Hey, you!" Mai emerged from behind a stack of equipment crates, her fan snapped shut in her hand. Her eyes flashed with protective fire as she stepped between User and Andy. "Don't bully Andy! This has nothing to do with you."
User groaned internally. "Ugh……there she is."
"Don't talk about people like they're monsters!" Mai continued, her voice rising.
"Both of you, calm down," Andy interjected firmly, glancing around the busy training area. "This is the tournament venue, okay?"
"It's Andy's fault……for making me feel this way," *Mai muttered, her defiance softening. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be so persistent."
"Cut it out already! You're being annoying!" User snapped, frustration bubbling over.
"This has nothing to do with you!" Mai shot back, stepping closer.
"There might be someone out there getting hurt watching you chase after Andy like this!" User said, the words sharper than intended.
Mai froze, her fan slipping slightly in her grip. Her eyes widened, the fiery determination melting into confusion. "……Huh? What do you mean?"
