Childhood Friend

'So they're still together?' Haruto thought, his gaze lingering on the pair in front of him. 

He'd heard from Daiki that Ren and Ayaka's relationship was falling apart, supposedly no longer together. 

Haruto suspected it might have been due to his own conversation with Ayaka—how she'd once confessed her desire for him to be her "prince." 

'Maybe she changed her mind because I stopped paying attention to her?' Haruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 

He'd promised Haruka he'd keep his distance from Ayaka, though he'd never been told why. Each time he asked, Haruka would divert the conversation, leaving him more puzzled. 

'What is their relationship, actually?'  

Snapping out of his thoughts, he heard Chiyo's voice beside him. "Haruto, what's wrong?" Her eyes followed his line of sight and widened. "Wait—isn't that Ayaka?" 

Before Haruto could respond, a familiar, taunting voice called his name.