Haruto's POV
It was a cold January morning when I trudged through the school hallway, yawning as I shuffled along. I wasn’t one for new year excitement, preferring to think of each year as just another stretch of classes and studying.
“Happy New Year, Haruto!” Hinata greeted me with her usual warmth, catching me just as I passed her near the lockers.
I blinked, her voice snapping me out of my haze. “Oh... yeah, Happy New Year.” I shrugged. “Another boring year, I guess.”
Hinata’s eyes sparkled, a smile playing on her lips as she gave me a quick, knowing look. “It won’t be,” she said, leaving a hint of mystery in her voice before walking off toward her classroom.
I stood there, staring after her, feeling a strange sense of deja vu. The way she looked back at me, her quiet confidence and kindness, it was so familiar. In that brief moment, I remembered my childhood friend, the one who would always make me laugh and share the same encouraging words. Could it be...?
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice when Hinata circled back, her hand waving in front of his face. “Daydreaming again, are we?” she teased, tilting her head slightly.
I shook my head, snapping out of it with a quick laugh. “Just... thinking, I guess.”
Before I could say anything else, the bell rang, pulling us both back into the rhythm of the day.
***
I tried his best to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to Hinata and the memories of ten years ago. I could picture my childhood friend clearly. Our shared games, her bright smile, the way she’d always bring a bit of sunshine into my day. Somehow, being with Hinata now felt like living those days all over again.
I was so deep in thought that I barely noticed when the teacher’s voice cut through my daydream.
“Haruto! Why don’t you answer question eight for us?”
I jolted upright, my eyes darting around in panic as I tried to make sense of the question on the board. I had no idea what they were even discussing.
“Psst...” I heard a soft whisper from my right. “Two... it’s two.”
I glanced sideways to see Hinata, her hand subtly covering her mouth as she leaned over. I nodded. “The answer is two.”
The teacher nodded, satisfied, moving on to the next question. I exhaled in relief, shooting Hinata a grateful look as she hid a small smile behind her textbook.
***
Hours later, the final bell rang, I gathered my books, making a mental note to thank Hinata for saving me from another embarrassing moment. But as I looked up, I noticed her rushing toward the door, her face a mix of worry and urgency.
“Hinata?” I called, quickening my pace to catch up.
She stopped briefly, glancing back. “I... I just got a call from my mom. My grandma passed out, and they’re taking her to the hospital.”
Without a second thought, I slipped my bag over my shoulder. “Come on, I’ll call a cab.”
The ride to the hospital was silent, filled only by the muffled sounds of the city outside and Hinata’s anxious glances at her phone. I didn’t know what to say, so he just sat beside her, close enough to be there if she needed me.
***
As soon as we arrived, Hinata rushed out of the cab and into the hospital, her footsteps echoing down the sterile hallways. I watched her go, then settled into a seat in the lobby, leaning back as I exhaled a deep breath. I hoped her grandmother would be okay, I hated seeing Hinata in so much pain.
Time stretched on, the soft hum of the hospital lulling me into a trance. I'd been there for what felt like an eternity when, finally, I saw Hinata emerge from the hallway. She walked toward me, her steps slow and her eyes tired and rimmed with redness. She still had traces of tears in her eyes, but she tried to smile when she saw me.
“You’re... still here?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I stood, meeting her halfway. “Of course. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
She looked down, biting her lip, a fresh wave of emotion washing over her. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
Without a word, I reached into my pocket, offering her a packet of tissues I’d grabbed from the lobby desk. She took it, dabbing at her eyes, her shoulders relaxing just a bit as she steadied herself.
“Is... is she going to be okay?” I asked softly.
Hinata nodded, though her gaze remained distant. “They’re still checking on her, but... she’s stable for now.”
I nodded, not wanting to press her for more. Instead, I offered her a reassuring smile. “If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll be here for as long as you need.”
Hinata looked up at me, her lips curving into a soft smile as she took a shaky breath. “Thank you, Haruto. Really... thank you.”
We sat together in the quiet lobby, the weight of worry still heavy, but a small sense of comfort settling between us.
After a moment of sitting in silence, I glanced toward the vending machines down the hallway. “Hey, do you want to take a quick walk? Maybe get something to drink?”
Hinata looked over at me, surprised, but then nodded. “Yeah... that sounds nice.”
We walked together, the fluorescent lights overhead casting a soft glow across the otherwise dim corridor. I stayed close, hands tucked into my pockets, glancing over now and then to make sure she was alright. At the vending machine, I bent down, studying the options before picking two warm cans of tea.
“Here,” I said, handing one to her. “It’s chamomile. Figured you could use something calming.”
Hinata smiled, grateful. “Thank you, Haruto.”
We walked back, taking slow steps. The hum of the machines and quiet murmur of hospital life were all that filled the air. As we sat down on a bench near the courtyard windows, Hinata finally spoke, breaking the silence that had hung between us.
“I really appreciate you staying with me,” she said, her gaze fixed on the can in her hands. “I know you didn’t have to.”
I shook my head. “Hey, friends look out for each other. Besides, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Hinata took a sip of her tea, her eyes softening as she looked down at her lap. “I... I didn’t realize how scared I’d be. Seeing her like that... it just made everything feel so fragile.”
I nodded. “When things like this happen, it hits hard. I mean, it’s easy to forget how much people mean to us until we think we might lose them.”
Hinata glanced up at me, searching my face. “You get it, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” I said, offering her a reassuring smile. “I do.”
We sat in silence for a few more minutes, watching the world outside grow darker as evening fell. Then, with a gentle sigh, I glanced over at her. “You know, your grandma’s strong. And you’re strong too. She’s going to be alright.”
Hinata smiled, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. “Thank you, Haruto. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
I scratched the back of my head, feeling my cheeks warm slightly. “Well, I’m just glad I could be here.”
We sat there, drinking our tea together, as the quiet wrapped around us, the kind that felt safe and comforting, a soft reminder that, even in the hardest times, we weren’t alone.
To be continued…