A Star Brighter Than the Sun

Sae Iwata grows up alongside Koki Kamishiro and keeps a quiet crush that survived elementary school and a last middle school sports festival. In high school she ends up on the festival committee with him and learns how far his easy charm draws attention from classmates. Sae tries to be honest without changing the friendship, then meets Yota Ayukawa whose direct interest and steady help complicate her plan to confess. Mio Kagawa and Hisui Onodera watch the triangle form while practice, errands and poster work keep Sae and Koki together after class. Rumors move through the halls and small misunderstandings push Koki to second guess Sae’s feelings. Group study, a photo shoot and festival rehearsals give them chances to talk that they do not use. When the class project fails and supplies run short, Yota runs after Sae first, and the unresolved pull between childhood habit and new attention forces all three to decide what they want next.