Getting off the train in Karakura again felt like walking straight into a past I’d rather leave behind. The exact same cityscape, the stagnant river smell clinging to everything. Instantly, I was pinned down by the unrelenting truth about who I truly was - Keigo, the guy who was a flat-out loser when it came to every girl he ever tried to talk to. That sting hadn’t dulled one bit over the years.

My grand scheme was pretty basic: return home to my parents, juggle odd jobs until I figured out what to do next. But Ichigo, stubborn as ever, pushed me to stay at his place instead. Said it would make things easier while I got back on my feet.

Ichigo. The dude who seemed to pull girls in like a celebrity magnet since forever. Naturally, he’s tied the knot by now. Still, seeing him brought back the old ache and envy simmering beneath the surface.

Caught in limbo, haunted by memories and staring down a future with no guarantees, forced to lean on Ichigo, the guy who always seemed to have it all. Will this pit stop change anything, or will I be left drowning in the same old story? Jump right in, feel the tension, and maybe, just maybe, carve out a new path.