The evening had grown cooler by the time they reached the towering Ferris wheel. The ride loomed over the amusement park, its steel arms glittering with hundreds of tiny lights that blinked against the night sky. The crowd had thinned; laughter and music echoed faintly in the distance as families began to leave.
"Big wheel! Big wheel!" Mei's sleepy voice perked up, though her small body sagged with exhaustion.
Yui glanced at her watch. It was late, but Mei's pleading eyes were impossible to resist. "Alright, one last ride. But then we're going home."
Haruto said nothing, merely nodded. The three boarded one of the glass carriages, the door shutting with a soft click behind them. The gondola lurched slightly before beginning its slow, steady climb.
Inside, the air was warm. Yui sat in the middle, with Mei curling into her lap, her tiny hands clutching Yui's sweater. Within minutes, Mei's breathing slowed, her lashes resting against her cheeks.
Yui stroked the little girl's hair, watching her sleep. Her heart softened at the innocence resting against her, a sharp contrast to the boy sitting on the other side of the gondola.
Haruto leaned against the glass, phone in hand, snapping quiet pictures of the cityscape outside. The glow of the neon lights lit up his sharp profile—the cut of his jaw, the way his lashes cast shadows against his cheek. He didn't glance at Yui once, lost in his own world.
The gondola climbed higher, the city sprawling beneath them like a sea of jewels. The lights of the amusement park sparkled, tiny rides spinning below.
Yui hesitated before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why… why did you do that?"
Haruto didn't look away from the view. "Do what?"
Her chest tightened. "Last night. At the pool. Why did you hide me?"
The silence stretched thin, almost unbearable. She could hear her own heartbeat echoing in her ears.
Then, slowly, Haruto turned. But instead of answering, he shifted his phone in her direction. The lens pointed straight at her, catching her wide-eyed expression as he pressed the shutter.
The soft click of the camera was louder than any reply.
Yui blinked. "Wh-what are you doing?"
The corner of his lips lifted. His gaze didn't waver as he murmured, almost carelessly, "I wanted to see you."
The words hit her harder than any taunt he had ever thrown at her.
Her cheeks warmed instantly, a rush of heat crawling up her neck. Her heartbeat quickened, pumping wildly in her chest. She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, afraid her hands would tremble in plain sight.
"See me?" she repeated, her voice shaky, trying to find meaning in his words.
Haruto lowered the phone, his eyes never leaving hers. The playfulness in his tone was gone. Instead, his expression softened into something unreadable. Something almost… vulnerable.
The city's lights glittered in the glass around them, painting his face in shifting hues of gold and blue. For a moment, it felt as though the entire world had shrunk to just this carriage—the silence, the sleeping child, and the two of them caught in a fragile, unspoken tension.
Yui's lips parted, but no words came. She felt dizzy, unmoored.
When the gondola began its slow descent, she tore her eyes away, pressing her lips together to hide the storm inside her.
Haruto leaned back in his seat, slipping his phone into his pocket. His gaze lingered on her, but he said nothing.
By the time they reached the ground, Yui wasn't sure if her legs could carry her.
The door opened. Haruto stepped out first, then turned to lift Mei gently from her lap. His movements were surprisingly careful, his arm steady as he cradled the child against his shoulder. Mei stirred but didn't wake, her face pressed against Haruto's shirt.
Yui froze in the doorway, watching him. The way he carried Mei so naturally made her chest ache with confusion. This couldn't be the same boy who cornered her, mocked her, left bruises on her pride. Could it?
"Come on."
His voice pulled her back. He was already walking ahead, his free hand in his pocket, his stride unhurried.
Something inside her snapped.
"Wait!"
The word came out sharper than she intended, echoing against the night air. Haruto stopped mid-step, turning slightly, his eyes meeting hers with calm curiosity.
Yui took a breath, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. Her heart raced, but she forced herself forward, closing the distance between them.
"I can't understand you," she burst out, her voice breaking.
Haruto tilted his head, saying nothing.
"Why?" Her voice trembled. "Why are you messing with me? One moment you're cruel, the next you're… like this." She gestured helplessly at him, her frustration boiling over. "Why do you keep doing this to me?"
The silence stretched. Haruto studied her, his gaze unreadable.
Then, unexpectedly, his lips curved into a smile. Not the sharp, mocking smirk she knew so well, but a soft one—gentle, almost tender. The kind of smile that stripped him of his armor, leaving him looking like an ordinary boy her age.
Yui's breath caught. Her confusion deepened. She hated him, feared him… but that smile twisted everything inside her into knots.
Haruto shifted Mei slightly, freeing one hand. Slowly, deliberately, he reached out. His fingers brushed against Yui's, curling around her hand with quiet certainty.
Her body stiffened at the contact. Her pulse hammered against her wrist.
"Let's go home," he whispered, his voice low and steady. "It's getting late."
The warmth of his hand against hers sent her spinning. She wanted to pull away, to demand answers, to scream at him for invading her life. But instead, her voice failed her. All she could do was let him lead the way, his grip firm yet strangely gentle.
The night lights glittered around them, rides still spinning in the distance, laughter echoing faintly. Yet Yui barely noticed. Her world had narrowed to the boy beside her, the weight of his hand around hers, and the storm brewing in her chest.
—
They walked through the park quietly, their footsteps in sync. Mei's breathing was soft against Haruto's shoulder, her small hand curled into his shirt. Yui glanced sideways, stealing quick looks at Haruto's profile.
That soft smile was gone, replaced by his usual unreadable calm. And yet, the memory of it lingered, refusing to fade.
Her thoughts swirled dangerously. Was this the real Haruto? Or just another game, another mask he wore to confuse her?
She didn't know.
But as his fingers tightened slightly around hers, she realized one thing with startling clarity—
She wasn't ready to let go.