I saw a dream of my future...Where he came to congratulate me after miyuki got pregnant...
Souta's hand clapped against my back with that same easy grin.
"Congrats, Haruto! Not only did you marry Miyuki the class beauty but you even made her pregnant? Man, you really won!"
I glanced at Miyuki, but what I saw froze me.
Her cheeks flushed red, her lips curling into a shy smile not for me, but for him.
Souta leaned closer, whispering something in her ear, and she laughed softly.
My chest twisted.
No… not again.
The world blurred, suffocating me until the my alarm clock ring and tore through the dream.
---Time: 8:00 AM---
I jolted upright, drenched in sweat, my chest heaving. The images clung to me like chains, my fists trembling against the sheets.
"How… how did it all end up like that?" I muttered, my voice hollow.
But I didn't have time to think. I slapped the alarm, dragged myself to the bathroom, and let the cold shower clear my head. By the time I buttoned my blazer, the dream still gnawed at me, but I forced it down.
I opened the kitchen door where the smell of rice filled the air.
"Breakfast's ready," my mother said softly.
"I don't need it today," I cut her off quickly, snatching my bag. "I'll eat outside."
Before she could respond, I was already out the door, the cool morning air brushing against my face.
--Time:9:30AM--
Hoshikawa Park was quiet when I arrived. The trees swayed gently in the early breeze, and the faint chatter of morning joggers echoed in the distance.
But she was already there.
"Haruto-kun!" Miyuki waved, cheeks pink as she ran toward me. "You're early too?"
"Yeah," I replied, catching my breath. "Didn't expect you to be here this soon."
Her fingers fidgeted with her bag strap, her smile bright. "You know I was… too excited. I couldn't stay at home because this is my first time going on a date."
Something in my chest softened despite the storm of doubts.
"Then let's make the most of it," I said.
Our first stop was the movie theater. The posters lined the entrance, glowing under the neon signs.
Miyuki pointed her finger at the scAM--en. "Haruto-kun, what do you want to watch? Action? Romance? Comedy?"
I shrugged. "As long as it's not boring."
She giggled. "Then… how about this one?" She pointed at a light romance flick.
I sighed, but nodded. "Alright. Let's watch it."
Inside, the dim lights wrapped us in a strange warmth. She leaned closer during the movie, her shoulder brushing mine. I kept my eyes on the screen, but her quiet laughter and gasps reminded me just how close she was.
--Time:1:20AM--
By noon, we ended up in a small restaurant tucked between two streets. The smell of grilled meat and spices filled the air as we slid into a booth by the window.
Miyuki picked up the menu, glancing between the options. "What should we get? Everything looks so good…"
"Order whatever you want," I said, resting my chin on my hand. "It's my treat today."
Her eyes widened. "Eh? Really? You don't have to-"
"I insist," I cut in, smirking faintly. "It's a date, right?"
Her face turned crimson, and she ducked her head behind the menu. "Y-you don't have to say it like that…"
I chuckled under my breath.
When the food arrived, Miyuki clapped her hands together. "Itadakimasu!" she said brightly.
I nodded, digging in quietly. She watched me for a moment before smiling.
"Haruto-kun, you always look so serious when you eat. It's kind of cute."
I paused, chopsticks halfway to my mouth. "Don't say weird things like that."
Her laughter rang out, soft and genuine.
For a moment, I almost forgot the darkness looming over us. Almost.
But then… I saw him.
Through the reflection in the window, a figure lingered outside. A black hoodie. Mask. Sunglasses.
His gaze was fixed on us.
My body tensed. I clenched my chopsticks, forcing myself to stay calm.
"Haruto-kun?" Miyuki looked toward the window. "Something wrong?"
I quickly set my food down and stood. "Nothing. Let's go."
"Eh? But we haven't-"
I grabbed her hand. "Come on."
I put money on the table and I pulled her out the door. The figure shifted, moving closer. My heart raced.
A bus pulled up beside us just in time. I yanked Miyuki inside, and as the doors shut, I glanced back.
The man in the hoodie stood on the streets, frozen, his face hidden but his intent clear.
The bus rolled away, leaving him behind.
Miyuki's voice broke the silence. "…Haruto-kun, what just happened?"
I forced a smile, loosening my grip on her hand. "Nothing. Just thought… since it's our first date, we should do something more fun. Let's go to the beach."
Her eyes widened, then softened into a bright smile. "The beach? Really? That sounds wonderful."
The afternoon melted into gold as we reached Hoshikawa Beach. The waves sparkled under the sun, children ran along the shore, and the sea breeze carried laughter.
Miyuki kicked off her shoes, running toward the water. "It's so beautiful! Haruto-kun, come on!"
I followed slowly, watching her twirl in the sand, her hair glowing in the fading light.
For the rest of the day, we played like normal teenagers splashing water, walking along the shore, sharing small jokes.
--Time:5:20PM
And as evening fell, the sky painted in streaks of pink and orange, we made our way back toward the station.
Miyuki clutched her bag to her chest, her face still glowing. "Today was… perfect.Thank you haruto-kun for this. See you on school"
I nodded, though the unease never left me.
Because somewhere in the back of my mind, the shadow of that hooded figure lingered.
And I knew this was only the beginning.
The sky had turned deep navy by the time I walked Miyuki to the station and watched her disappear into the train. Her smile lingered in my mind, warm and fragile, like something I couldn't allow myself to break.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and started toward home, the streets buzzing with neon signs and the quiet shuffle of people heading back from work.
--Time:6:10PM---
At the corner, I ducked into a convenience store. The fluorescent lights hummed faintly overhead as I grabbed a bottled tea, trying to calm the knot in my chest.
But then my blood ran cold.
There. By the magazines.
The man in the black hoodie. Mask. Sunglasses.
He wasn't buying anything. He wasn't even pretending. He was staring straight at me.
My legs locked in place, the bottle slick in my grip.
"…Why are you following me?" I muttered, my voice low but sharp.
No response. Just silence. The man tilted his head slightly, like a predator studying prey.
My throat tightened. Instinct screamed at me to move. I blinked just once. And in that instant, he was gone.
"What…?" My head whipped around, but the aisle was empty. The automatic door chimed faintly, the sound already swallowed by the night.
I rushed out, scanning the street. Nothing. No footsteps. No shadow. Only the hum of the city.
Heart pounding, I gritted my teeth and bolted toward home.
---Time:6:35Pm
"Haruto."
The familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.
At the intersection, under the glow of the streetlamp, stood my father still in his work suit, his tie slightly loosened. A rare sight.
"Father?" My chest heaved. "What a surprise. I thought you'd be working late… like always."
He chuckled softly, lifting a hand."My job finished early today. For once."
Only then did I notice what he was holding.
A bouquet of roses.
My brow furrowed. "…What's that for?"
He looked at it with a small, almost embarrassed smile. "I thought… since I'm coming home early for the first time in a while, I should bring something for your mother. She'll be happy, won't she?"
I stared at him, words stuck in my throat.
Happy?
If only he knew. If only he saw her true nature…
Inside, my thoughts twisted with bitterness. Father… you don't know. You never knew.
But I forced a small nod, masking the storm in my chest. "I'm sure she'll like it."
"Come on," he said warmly, adjusting the bouquet. "Let's head home together."
I followed, my steps heavy. The shadow of the man in the hoodie still clung to me, but now, another unease stirred deeper, older, buried within the walls of the house I was about to step into.
And as we walked side by side, I couldn't help but wonder
Which truth would destroy me first? The one chasing me from the shadows… or the one waiting at home?