I've been searching for a while under different categories, but I just can't find it. A short guy (who's the best fighter in middle school) confesses to his friend (the second best fighter), but the friend rejects him due to pride, and tells him to grow more. So time passes, they go to different schools and now the short guy has grown into a cool and unrecognizable high schooler who won't fight anymore. He never liked fighting but did it to protect his crush.

Is it the first chapter of Love Knot?

YES! Thank you!!!!

I swear, I need to start tracking what I've read... That's going to take so long. >.<

You're welcome. c: