---Time:6:40Am_Tuesday---
The morning sun slipped through my curtains in broken stripes, too bright for the weight in my head. A dull ache throbbed behind my eyes, not sharp enough to stop me, but heavy enough to remind me of last night's collapse.
I forced myself up, dragging through the routine. Toothpaste stung against my gums, water cooled my skin, steam from the shower fogged the mirror until I couldn't even see my own face anymore. Maybe that was for the best.
From the other side of the door, my mother's voice came, soft but hesitant.
"Haruto… are you really going? You could take one more day off."
"I'll be fine," I called back. My voice didn't even convince me.
When I stepped out, towel around my shoulders, my father was already at the table. He looked almost strange sitting there without his usual rush, hands steady around a teacup.
"You're not leaving early today?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
He shook his head. "The meeting's not until ten tonight. Boss told us to take it slow." His tone carried a rare calm, one that didn't match the man I usually saw running out the door.
My mother set down plates with a small clatter. "Eat before it gets cold."
For a few minutes, we almost looked like a family again quiet, ordinary. But the silence between us wasn't comfortable. It was heavy, stretched thin over cracks no one dared to touch.
I finished quickly, muttered a goodbye, and stepped outside.
The air felt damp, heavy, and every step toward school dragged like my own shadow was trying to pull me back.
--Time:8:10Am---
When I reached the classroom, I let myself collapse into my seat, resting my forehead on the desk. My body felt drained, like my charm, my usual mask, had been stripped away.
A voice stirred me.
"Haruto?"
I lifted my head slowly. Miyuki stood there, her eyes wide with worry. "Good morning. You really shouldn't have come today. You look pale."
"I'm fine," I said, forcing the words out.
"You're not." She bit her lip, leaning a little closer. "You should've stayed home."
"I said I'm fine."
The firmness in my tone startled even me, but it shut her up. For a moment.
From across the room, I felt Souta's stare. Cold, sharp, unblinking. Like he wanted to burn a hole through me.
Homeroom crawled by. When it ended, my teacher's voice stopped me as I stood.
"Haruto. Come to Staff room in Break."
I nodded without arguing.
The staff room smelled faintly of coffee and paper. My teacher sat across from me, concern etched deep in her expression.
"You shouldn't be here today. Look at yourself. What happened?"
"Nothing," I muttered. "If I stayed home, it'd just be worse."
Her brows knitted. "Worse? How?"
"I hate closed rooms. Being stuck. It makes me feel… trapped."
She studied me for a moment, then let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You really are stubborn. Fine. But if you feel faint again, go straight to the infirmary. Don't be reckless."
I nodded. "I'll manage."
"Haruto." Her voice softened, almost pleading. "Don't carry it all by yourself."
The words clung to me even as I left the room.
The hallway buzzed with voices, but my attention locked on the sight ahead.
Miyuki and Souta stood close together near the windows, talking in hushed tones. Her head tilted, her lips curving in a faint smile at something he said.
My stomach dropped. It's only been days… and already?
Before I could move, a cheerful voice cut through the fog.
"Haruto! Good morning!"
Yui appeared at my side, bright as always, her energy so out of place against the weight in my chest.
I caught Souta's glare again sharp, knowing. A memory slammed into me without warning: his hand pressed against Miyuki's face, his voice dripping venom as he spat insults at me.
Something inside snapped. My hand reached for Yui's without thinking.
"Come with me."
"Eh? W-wait, Haruto? Where"
"Student council room," I muttered. "I need to ask you something.It's a sensitive matter"
Her footsteps stumbled to keep up with mine.
Inside, she crossed her arms, cheeks puffed in irritation. "You drag me here without warning, and now you're acting all serious. What's going on? Sensitive topic, right? So say it."
I swallowed, then asked before I could stop myself:
"What do you think about me?"
Her eyes went wide. A flush spread across her cheeks. "Wh-what kind of question is that, idiot?!"
"I know it's weird buy just answer it"
She looked away, fingers fidgeting. "…You're kind. You don't show it, but you care. You're warm. Someone I can rely on. Someone I… like being around."
Her words cut deeper than I expected. They weren't dramatic, but they were real.
"I see," I said quietly.
"Why are you asking this? Did something happen?"
"…No reason.Bye see you"
The bell rang, slicing the tension. I left before she could stop me, her voice trailing after me.
In the hallway, my thoughts spun. Why did I even ask her that? Why did igrab her hand? My mind is really messed up
Distracted, I collided with someone.
"Watch it," a sharp voice snapped.
I looked up. Long, dark hair. Sharp eyes that cut through me. Ayaka Kurobane a senior I'd seen in the council room before.
"Sorry," I muttered. "Do you know where Yui is?"
"She went back to the council room." Ayaka's gaze lingered for a moment, unreadable, before she walked past me without another word.
By the time I slipped into class, the teacher only sighed and waved me in. Miyuki's eyes followed me as I sat, searching for something in my expression. I gave her nothing. Souta's glare stayed fixed.
---Time:12:30Pm---
Lunch break.
I slipped away, heading for the rooftop, but Miyuki caught my sleeve.
"Haruto, wait. Can I eat with you?"
Before I could answer, Souta appeared at her side, voice low with irritation.
"Leaving you alone with him will only make things worse.Can i also join?"
And so the three of us went up.
The wind was sharp on the rooftop. We sat, and Miyuki's eyes turned to me immediately.
"How are you feeling? Really?"
"I'm fine," I said.
"You don't look fine."
Before she could press further, Souta leaned forward. "Then explain why you grabbed Yui's hand earlier. Why'd you run off with her?"
The question froze the air between us. Miyuki's gaze sharpened with quiet curiosity. My chest tightened if I said something wrong, her trust would crack.
"…I wanted to thank her," I said finally. "She's been helping me with classwork. That's all."
The explanation was thin, but Miyuki didn't push. She only smiled faintly.
"Then… Haruto, can I walk home with you today?"
I froze. Souta's jaw clenched.
"Can't," he muttered. "Practice. Big match is coming."
He stormed off, leaving the two of us in the wind.
We ate quietly. A memory came unbidden her pout in some dim restaurant, her voice sharp with complaint: 'Why do you always take me to cheap places, Haruto?'
I blinked, my chest hollow.
"Haruto?" Miyuki's voice pulled me back. "You spaced out again. What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
The silence that followed was heavy, awkward.
I forced a smile. "Don't you usually eat with your friends?"
She tilted her head. "I don't know where they went today. Besides… I wanted to eat with my boyfriend."
Her words made my heart twist. I gave her a small smile, hollow and weak, and she flushed red.
We finished in silence.
---Time:4:30Pm---
Evening painted the sky in orange streaks as we left together. Miyuki's hand slipped into mine soft, warm, painfully familiar. For a moment, I let it be. Then another memory cut me down: her hand intertwined with Souta's.
"Haruto?" she asked softly, pulling me back.
Her cheeks glowed as she smiled. "I'm moving soon. Near your house. That means we won't have to wait so long for dates anymore."
I gave her a small smile, but inside, I was unraveling.
I wanted to ask her what she and Souta talked about earlier. I wanted to demand the truth. But before I could, a voice called her name.
"Miyuki!"
A woman approached, graceful, her resemblance undeniable.
"Mom!" Miyuki waved.
"This is Haruto," she introduced quickly.
Sayaka Tachibana studied me with warm eyes. "So you're the one. Miyuki talks about you often."
"Mom!" Miyuki's face burned red.
Sayaka chuckled softly, then laid a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Come. I need your help with something."
Miyuki hesitated, then smiled at me. "See you tomorrow."
And then she was gone.
I stood there in the fading light, alone with my thoughts. The memories kept clawing their way in, digging into my body until even walking felt like dragging chains.
By the time I reached home, I wasn't sure if I was still myself at all.