After that day, Asuka moved into Haruto's house. It wasn't an easy adjustment—Chiyo was openly hostile at first, her sharp words and cold demeanor filling the air with tension.
Haruto had to sit her down and explain everything, recounting the horrors Asuka had endured.
Chiyo's initial anger shifted to shock, and eventually, reluctant acceptance.
Haruka, on the other hand, had grown distant. Her cold shoulder and curt responses spoke volumes, even if she didn't voice her feelings outright.
Haruto could sense the jealousy simmering beneath her icy exterior. He understood her frustration, but what happened to Asuka wasn't something he could ignore.
Leaving her in that house, trapped in a nightmare, simply wasn't an option.
Now, finally free from the chaos of his household, Haruto found a rare moment of peace.
He sat beneath the ginkgo tree in the school's backyard, the autumn leaves drifting lazily to the ground around him.