When I see you, my heart, what should I do?

Yurika Shimizu

She’s been seeing him a lot lately. Last week, she spotted him on a billboard, and the month before that, he was everywhere in subway ads. This time, she finds the male’s image slotted in between the texts of the PowerPoint slide presented in class. One of the students decided it’d be the perfect time to discuss male idols and their branding in their course of marketing.

Yurika’s stomach flips for what seems to be the nth time as she stares at the familiar face — a sensation that feels all too similar to when she filmed the final episode for that variety and reality show back in December last year. ‘Come to think of it, the month of December this time around just started today as well. What a coincidence,’ the female thinks, her eyes never leaving the picture of Sakuma Ritsu on the screen.

How long has it been since she last spoke with Ritsu? Considering the variety and reality show ended in December, wouldn’t it be nearly a year? But that can’t be. Yurika vividly remembers Ritsu greeting her when their units coincidentally starred in the same music show a few months later. Then would it make it five — no, eight months?

At this point, Yurika couldn’t tell. Why did she even bother figuring out the date in the first place? Isn’t the attempt quite futile when she’s terrible with numbers? She chuckles a little at the thought before her lips tug themselves into a small yet sad smile.

One thing’s for sure though is that she misses the Knights member dearly, and to this day, numerous what ifs would often surge through her mind, imagining what their friendship could have been if their variety and reality show lasted a little bit longer — if her unit, GALAKTIKA, never disbanded and remained in the industry further. Would she and Ritsu naturally find their way back to each other despite falling out of touch? She really should have asked for the male’s number back then.

Yurika shakes her head, sighing as she mourns over their severed connection.

“Lily, what’s wrong?” Yurika nearly jumps out from her seat when she feels Akae’s lips brush against the shell of her ear as he whispers, asking, “You’re frowning. Are you thinking about him again?”

Yurika’s cheeks flare as the blue-haired male effortlessly reads her like an open book. It’s at moments like this one where she wonders if her friend was a telepath because there is no way her small frown is contorted in a manner that reveals and screams: I’m missing Sakuma Ritsu. That’s just not possible now, right?

Well, she hopes or it would be embarrassing.

Yurika averts her gaze from the presentation, instead choosing to focus on the empty page of her notebook as if that would pry Akae’s eyes away.

“If you miss him, I truly think you should try contacting Sakuma Ritsu. Sulking like this won’t get you anywhere and it hasn’t been long. If it helps, I can probably ask someone to get his number,” Akae continues. “He’s under New Dimension currently, right? This new girl from my taxation class claims her friend is familiar with the agency’s president. Her friend works as a producer.”

Yurika looks at the blue-haired male, eyes widening. “You… You can do that, Akae-kun?”

Akae laughs, amused by the sudden change in the female’s demeanor. It was like flicking a light switch. “Of course, my Lily. I’ll talk to her later today and I’ll make sure that Sakuma Ritsu’s number is in your hands within the week, okay?”

“Thanks, Akae-kun, but do you think it’s really alright?”

“What do you mean, Lily?”

Yurika bites the inside of her cheek. “That, um, I’ll be texting him out of nowhere like this. Won’t he think it’s strange that an old co-worker of his is suddenly contacting him again?”

“I doubt,” Akae says, giving a reassuring smile. “You mentioned you two made a promise to keep in touch, didn’t you? There’s nothing wrong with trying to reconnect with an old friend.”

“It’s not too late?”