Chapter "Ryugari-Sha's Warning"

Hisashi watched as they approached him, encircling him with Taiga positioned directly in front. The air between Hisashi and Taiga crackled with tension; Hisashi appeared nervous, while Taiga exuded confidence, a smile playing on his lips.

"What was your name again?" Taiga sneered, his friends grinning in mocking tone.

"Hisashi Ogawa," Todoka added, joining in, "a buddy of Subaru's.”

"Hisashi, friend of Subaru, don't you feel ashamed of yourself?" taunted Taiga in a mocking tone.

"Ashamed?" Hisashi asked, looking puzzled.

Taiga's smile widened. "Your friend ended up like this because of you," he said, leaving Hisashi in further confusion.

"What do you mean by that?" Hisashi asked, with a puzzled expression.

Taiga didn't respond; he simply gazed at him with a knowing smile.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed around them. Taiga sidestepped, revealing Kosuke stepping forward to face Hisashi.

Hisashi appeared nervous as he faced Kosuke. In a low tone, Kosuke said, "So you think you're better and more deserving than Taiga?" Upon hearing this Hisashi's confusion deepened.

Kosuke rested his hand on Hisashi's shoulder, "I'm sorry, but I'm just not seeing any potential in you.” His tone was firm yet critical. “All I see is a scared, timid kid," he remarked, making Hisashi visibly uneasy, unable to meet his gaze.

Kosuke fixed Hisashi with a gaze tinged with annoyance and disappointment. "Listen, kid," he began, his voice stern. "Forget about that top prize and stay clear of the karate ring. Look around you—those guys will tear you apart," he warned,

Hisashi glanced around, noticing Taiga and the other Ryugari-Sha students fixated on him.

In a trembling voice, Hisashi muttered, "I need to leave." He hurried away, his breath coming in quick gasps, refusing to glance back…..

Now seated on a hospital bench, Hisashi replayed the earlier encounter with Ryugari-Sha in his mind, flashes of the confrontation swirling vividly.

"What was he saying?" Hisashi pondered to himself, confusion and concern clouding his thoughts. "Am I somehow responsible for Subaru's condition?"

Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder. Hisashi swiftly turned around to find Hanae standing there, her smile warm and reassuring.

"Hanae, what's happened?" Hisashi's voice carried urgency.

Seating herself beside him, Hanae responded gently, "The Ryugari-Sha students appeared, so I thought I'd join you." She glances at Hisashi and notices his troubled and sorrowful expression.

"Hisashi, what happened? Are you okay?" Hanae quickly inquired, her concern evident.

Hisashi, gaze fixed downward, nodded slowly in response.

Hanae's voice softened as she spoke, "I hope you didn't forget your promise to spend today with me?"

"I'm sorry, Hanae,” Hisashi uttered, In a hushed tone, “But right now, Subaru needs me more."

Hanae's eyes widened with a mixture of disbelief and sadness as she stared at Hisashi, who kept his gaze lowered.

As Hanae started to say, "But—" her words were abruptly interrupted by someone calling out, "Hisashi Ogawa?”

Hisashi sprang to his feet upon seeing the Doctor standing there. He rushed over and promptly initiated a discussion about Subaru's health.

Hanae sat quietly on the bench, her expression tinged with sadness. She whispered softly, "But today is my birthday," her eyes downcast, betraying her melancholy. her gaze fixed downward, sadness flickering in her eyes…..

During the night, Hisashi's apartment door swung open, allowing Hisashi, Hanae, and the bandaged Subaru to enter.

"Come, Subaru, sit here," Hisashi said, motioning towards his bed.

Subaru smiled warmly and settled onto Hisashi's bed.

"Lie down and rest," Hisashi urged gently, smiling. Subaru complied, stretching out on the bed.

"You two sit down, I'll whip up something to eat," Hisashi said cheerfully before heading toward the kitchen.

Subaru smiled, but his gaze shifted to Hanae, who stood silently, looking down with an air of sadness.

"Hanae?" Subaru called out gently.

Hanae turned her gaze towards Subaru. "Yeah?" she responded softly.

Subaru appeared puzzled. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

She moved to sit on the bed, a melancholic air about her, then nodded faintly. "I'm fine."

Subaru remained unsure, sensing her answer didn't fully alleviate his concern…..

"Here you go," Hisashi said swiftly, handing a bowl of rice to Subaru, who accepted it with a smile.

Next, Hisashi offered another bowl to Hanae, who met his gaze with a mix of sadness and anger in her eyes. Hisashi furrowed his brow in confusion, but Hanae silently took the bowl.

Hisashi settled onto a small sofa nearby, bowl in hand. "Let's dig in," he said, and began eating, but Hanae remained still.

"Hey, Hanae, it's getting cold," Subaru prompted, but Hanae didn't respond. Suddenly, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and promptly ended the call.

"Hisashi," Hanae whispered softly, drawing his attention.

"Yeah, Hanae, is everything okay?" he asked, concern evident in his tone.

"You promised to spend the day with me," she reminded him gently.

Subaru's eyes widened slightly in surprise, while Hisashi looked visibly disappointed.

"Hanae," Hisashi began gently, "Subaru needs me more right now. I can't leave him alone, especially since he lives by himself.”

A graceful smile tinged with sadness graced her face. "Not even for an hour?" she murmured, as Hisashi maintained his remorseful demeanour.

"Hisashi, if she insists, you should go. I'll manage," Subaru added quietly, and a solemn silence filled the room.

"It's okay, Subaru," Hanae said, setting her bowl aside. She stood, grabbed her bag, and began to walk away.

"Hanae?" Hisashi called out, causing her to stop in her tracks.

Hisashi rose from his seat. "Tomorrow? Will that be alright?”

A faint, sorrowful smile touched her lips as she spoke without meeting his gaze. "I just wanted to spend this day only with you."

Hisashi and Subaru exchanged wide-eyed looks, both taken aback by her words.

With that, she walked out of the apartment, leaving a stunned Hisashi behind.

"Hisashi?" Subaru called out, catching Hisashi's attention as he turned around.

"What happened between you two?" Subaru asked, concern evident in his voice.

Hisashi walked over and sat on the sofa. "I don't know," he began quietly. "I don't understand why she was so insistent on spending today with me.”

Subaru appeared perplexed, while Hisashi seemed both confused and disappointed.

Suddenly, a phone began to ring, causing Hisashi and Subaru to exchange glances.

"It's not my phone," Subaru remarked.

Hisashi furrowed his brow in confusion. "Neither mine," he said, scanning the room before spotting Hanae's phone on his bed.

"Oh, Hanae left her phone here," Hisashi observed, picking it up. "It's her father calling," he noted, checking the caller ID.

"Answer it," Subaru suggested.

"No, I'm not going to answer it," Hisashi said firmly.

"Come on, Hisashi," Subaru urged. "Tell him she's on her way. Her father must be worried."

Hisashi took a deep breath and reluctantly picked up the phone, placing it to his ear as he prepared to speak.

"Hey Hanae, where have you been?" her father's voice came through urgently. "Guests have been here all this time. I've called you a hundred times. How can you be so careless, especially on your birthday?"

Hisashi's eyes widened in shock. He was stunned, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.