Haruto's POV
Four days had passed in the quiet expanse of my grandmother's mansion. The walls remained indifferent to my presence, the garden outside motionless under the afternoon sun. I sat at my low desk, notebook open, pen poised over the page, fingers trembling with anticipation.
The fragments had come. Each one a shard of a future that should have been hidden, but Valkyrie had shown me everything. I traced them carefully, organizing dates, places, and faces.
April 15, first year of high school: Miyuki and Souta at the community pool, laughing, hands brushing as sunlight glinted off the water.
January 6,first year : Miyuki and Souta at a small sushi restaurant, close, sharing desserts, laughter spilling over their seats.
July 2,first year: A camping trip. Miyuki and Souta sitting near the fire, their shoulders touching, shadows flickering across faces too intimate to ignore.
October 17,second year: Miyuki leaving a karaoke bar, Souta holding her jacket, leaning close, whispers I could only imagine.
December 6,second year: My mother and Souta in a supermarket, exchanging glances that were far too lingering, hands almost touching the same fruit, smiles hidden behind polite laughter.
May 9,third year: Miyuki and Souta at the public pool again, swimsuits clinging, laughter echoing across the water, fingers brushing accidentally or deliberately.
July 28,third year: My mother and Souta coming from a red district, hand in hand, dim streetlights hiding their expressions but not their intent.
I scribbled each fragment meticulously, arrows connecting moments, names underlined, notes in the margin: "Timing exact. Witnesses minimal. Threads lead to… escalation."
By the time I finished, the ink had bled across my fingers, the notebook a chaotic map of betrayal and opportunity. I leaned back, breathing slowly.
All of them will be exposed. Every piece. Every lie. Every stolen touch. And I will remain untouchable.
Miyuki's POV
The school hallway buzzed around me, but the noise felt distant, like I was underwater. Haruto's name hung in my mind, heavier with every step I took. He had changed, that much was clear. The boy who once smiled so easily, whose hands fit perfectly with mine, whose laugh made my heart race… that boy was gone.
I met Ayaka at our lockers. Her grin was mischievous, her tone already teasing before we even started talking.
"So… you're still holding onto Haruto, huh?" she asked, leaning on the locker beside me.
"Yes," I said firmly. "No matter what anyone says, I'm not leaving him."
Ayaka raised an eyebrow, smirking. "You really think that's smart? Haruto's… not the same anymore. Cold, distant… he barely even notices you sometimes. Meanwhile, Souta? He's… everywhere, paying attention. He's fun. Charming. He notices the little things about you."
"I don't care," I said, my jaw tight. "I'm with Haruto. That's all that matters."
Ayaka's grin widened. "Okay, but hear me out. I know you love him or at least, the boy you used to know. But there's no rule against… supplementing your love life. You don't have to break up with him, Miyuki. You can… keep him emotionally. And have some fun elsewhere."
I froze. "What do you mean?"
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Souta knows exactly what you like. What excites you. And let's be honest Haruto? With his… limitations, he can't always satisfy you the way you want. You can keep the sweet, caring boyfriend for stability… and have Souta when you need someone… wilder."
My heart thumped in my chest, a mix of fear and shame twisting inside me. The thought was forbidden… dangerous. I looked away, hands gripping my bag strap tightly.
"No," I whispered, almost to myself. "I can't… I won't."
Ayaka laughed softly. "Miyuki, it's practical. You don't have to give up anything. Haruto stays. Souta… just makes sure your desires are met. Think about it."
I pressed my lips together, thoughts racing. Could I really… betray Haruto while pretending everything was fine? Could I touch Souta, feel him, while still calling Haruto mine? The tension twisted my stomach into knots.
Ayaka continued, oblivious to my silence. "You don't have to break up. No one needs to know. You'll get the best of both worlds. Emotional connection, and… the rest."
I shook my head, trying to clear the dizzying heat in my face. "I… I need to think."
She grinned knowingly. "Good. Think fast. The sooner you make a choice, the sooner you can… enjoy it."
Later that day
Souta caught wind of their conversation, overhearing Ayaka's words while she was leaving the school hallway. His lips curled into a triumphant smirk.
"So… she's listening to Ayaka, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Perfect. Just perfect."
Time: 6:00 PM
The afternoon sunlight slanted through the classroom windows, but it didn't touch me. My thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in the spaces where Haruto should have been. The boy I loved, the one who had always been warm, gentle, and endlessly kind where had he gone? Lately, he had become distant, quiet, almost unreadable. But I refused to lose him. I couldn't.
I sat at my desk, staring at the clock ticking slowly toward the end of the day. My fingers drummed against the edge of my notebook, restless. Every second that passed felt like a reminder of how far he was physically, emotionally. And yet, every fiber of my being longed for him.
The bell rang, and students spilled into the hallway, their chatter bouncing off the lockers. I hesitated before moving, letting the crowd thin until only a few familiar faces remained.
Then my phone buzzed. My heart skipped. The name on the screen made it surge violently in my chest: Haruto Kurogane.
I answered immediately.
"Hey… Miyuki," his voice was calm, soft, and steady every word drenched in warmth. A shiver ran down my spine. He sounded… perfect. The boy I remembered.
"Haruto… hi," I whispered, trying to steady my voice.
"Hey," he said again, almost like a hug in itself. "I wanted to call first. Make sure you're okay."
I blinked, surprised. "I… I'm fine. Really."
"No," he said gently, a small smile in his tone that made my chest tighten. "You're not fine if you sound like that. Talk to me. Tell me about your day."
I hesitated, my thoughts spilling out before I could stop them. "It was… okay. School was the same. But… I've been thinking about you all day. About how you've changed. About us."
There was a pause, but it didn't feel uncomfortable. It felt deliberate, like he was savoring every word. "Miyuki," he said softly, "I know things seem different right now. I know I've changed. But I want you to know… you're still the most important person to me. Always."
My chest tightened, my throat aching. "But… sometimes I feel like you're far away, like I can't reach you."
"Even when I seem distant," he murmured, "I'm thinking of you. Always. Every moment. Every breath. You're mine, Miyuki. And I'm yours. Don't ever doubt that, even when life feels heavy."
I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall. "I… I can't imagine life without you."
"You won't have to," he said, firm but tender. "I promise. I'm here. I'll always be here. I'll take care of you, Miyuki. Sleep, eat, rest everything. Don't overwork yourself. Don't overthink me. Let me carry that weight for you."
"I…" My voice faltered. I pressed the phone closer, feeling warmth flood through me. "I want to be there for you too."
He chuckled softly, a sound so soothing it made the world shrink around me. "I know. And I feel it. I feel it in every message, every word you send, every thought I imagine you thinking. But right now… you need to focus on yourself. Your health, your happiness. Leave the worrying to me."
A pause. Then he whispered, "Miyuki… I love you. More than anything. Don't forget that. Even if I can't always be there in the way you expect, my heart is yours. Always."
I closed my eyes, letting the words wrap around me like a blanket. My chest ached with longing and relief. "I… I love you too, Haruto. Always."
"Good," he said softly. "That's enough for me. I just needed to hear your voice. To know you're safe. Promise me… promise me you'll eat something, okay?"
"I promise," I whispered, my fingers trembling around the phone.
"And rest," he added. "Even just a little. Don't forget to drink water. Don't let the stress of school get to you. You're too precious for that, Miyuki."
I pressed my forehead against the phone. "I'll try… for you."
"Good," he murmured, and I could almost hear the faint smile in his voice. "Now… relax. Take a deep breath. Let go for a moment. I'll always be here when you need me. No matter what."
I let out a shaky breath, my heart racing, tears threatening to fall. "I… I'll be okay," I whispered. "Because of you."
"That's my girl," he said softly, almost tenderly. "You're strong. You've always been strong. And I'll make sure you stay that way. You don't need to worry about me, Miyuki. Just… focus on yourself. That's all I want."
I held the phone close, letting every word sink deep into my chest. I wanted to believe it. I wanted to trust him, completely, without hesitation.
And for a fleeting moment, I did.
But deep down, somewhere beneath the warmth of his voice, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed something I couldn't see yet.
I let the silence linger, the sound of his voice fading only when the call ended. And as I set the phone down, a strange mix of longing, relief, and unease twisted inside me.
I loved him. I would always love him. And for now, that was enough.
But somewhere deep in the shadows, I knew the story wasn't over.