Time: 7:00AM -- Friday Morning
The rain from last night had left the streets glistening, puddles scattering faint reflections of the gray sky. I walked toward school with my bag heavier than usual not because of books, but because of the words Miyuki whispered last night.
"Even if the whole world turns against you, I won't."
I wanted to hold onto that. To believe it. But another voice echoed, darker, crueler: Souta's.
"Tomorrow, Miyuki… you'll see what kind of 'boyfriend' he really is."
My stomach twisted.
Time: 8:10AM -- School gates
Whispers chased me again, but this time the tone was different.
"So it's true… Miyuki admitted it yesterday."
"I didn't think Haruto had it in him."
"She's way out of his league though."
Souta stood by the entrance, leaning against the wall, eyes sharp as a blade. He didn't say a word. Just watched. Waiting.
Miyuki appeared beside me, bright as ever. "Good morning, Haruto."
"Morning."
The tension in my chest eased slightly at her smile, but Souta's smirk in the corner of my eye made the air colder.
Time: 10:30AM -- Between Classes
In the hallway, Yui cornered me. "So, boyfriend," she said, grinning, "how's it feel? Everyone knows now."
I sighed. "Feels… heavy."
"Yeah, well, heavy is better than being invisible." She jabbed my shoulder lightly, but her eyes carried concern. "Don't let Souta mess with your head. He's already planning something, I can tell."
My stomach dropped. Yui was sharp sharper than most gave her credit for.
Time: 12:30PM -- Lunch
I sat with Miyuki for the first time, just the two of us. Conversations buzzed all around, people sneaking glances, whispers like waves crashing against my ears.
"Are you okay?" Miyuki asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah," I lied.
"You're lying," she said softly, picking up her chopsticks. "But that's fine. You always do. Just… don't push me away, Haruto. Please."
The plea in her voice pierced deeper than Souta's venom ever could.
But behind her shoulder, across the courtyard, Souta was watching. Smiling.
Time: 3:40PM -- After class
As students filtered out, Souta casually brushed past Miyuki's desk, slipping a folded paper onto it.
She frowned, picking it up. Her eyes scanned the words quickly. I caught only a glimpse:
"Library rooftop. After class. Don't tell Haruto."
Her hand trembled slightly before she stuffed the note into her bag.
I pretended I hadn't seen. But my nails dug into my palm.
Time: 4:30PM -- Library rooftop
Miyuki stood nervously, the paper still clutched in her hand. The rooftop was quiet except for the hum of the city beyond the school walls.
Souta leaned casually against the railing, smile sharp.
"You came."
"What do you want, Souta?" Miyuki asked firmly.
"I just wanted to talk. About Haruto."
She frowned. "What about him?"
Souta stepped closer, voice dripping with poison.
"Do you really think he's the one for you? Look at him. Collapsing in PE, weak, invisible to everyone until you said his name. You could do better, Miyuki. Much better."
Her lips pressed thin. "I don't need better. I chose him."
He chuckled, dark and low. "Chosen out of pity, maybe. But love? No. You'll regret it, Miyuki. When you see the truth about him."
Miyuki's fists clenched. "I don't regret it."
Souta leaned closer, whispering:
"Then prove it. Stay by his side… while I take everything from him."
Time: 6:00PM -- Haruto's room
Books lay open, but my hands shook too much to turn the pages. I had seen the note. I knew Miyuki had gone to meet him.
The reflection in my window stared back at me, blood-soaked and hollow-eyed. My future self again.
He didn't speak. Didn't move. Just stood there, waiting.
Waiting for me to break.
Time: 9:00PM -- Souta's room
He replayed Miyuki's words in his mind, her defiance only feeding his obsession.
"She doesn't regret it, huh?" His laugh was sharp, bitter. "We'll see how long that lasts."
On his desk lay two photos: one of Miyuki smiling at me under the old tree, and another taken secretly today of her reading his note on her desk.
He pressed them together, eyes burning.
"This game's just getting started."
Time: 10:00PM -- Haruto's room
Books lay open, but the words blurred. My pen trembled in my hand.
The window's reflection shifted again. He was back. My future self.
Same face. Same eyes. But his smile was sharp, cruel.
"You saw it, didn't you?" he whispered.
I froze. "…saw what?"
He lifted his hand. The glass rippled like water, and images spilled into view like scenes from someone else's life.
Miyuki on the rooftop, standing close to Souta.
Miyuki smiling faintly as he leaned in.
Her lips moving but I couldn't hear the words.
My chest clenched. "That's not real."
He laughed, low and hollow. "Real enough. Do you think she'd choose you? Weak, pathetic, always collapsing? Souta's stronger. Smarter. He knows how to fight for her. You just sit here, hiding behind books."
The images shifted again Miyuki walking home beside Souta, the two of them talking, his hand brushing against hers.
"No…" I staggered back from the desk. "She wouldn't"
"She will," my future self hissed, eyes burning. "She'll leave you, just like everyone else. And when she does… what will you have left?"
I covered my ears, but the voices wouldn't stop. Souta's laughter. Miyuki's whisper. The world cracking open beneath me.
The reflection leaned closer, his voice dripping with venom.
"You can't stop it, Haruto. You never could."
My knees gave way. The room spun.
For the first time, I wanted to smash the glass if only to silence the version of me staring back.