Chapter 24: Silent Storm

Haruka's POV

The morning light came through the curtains with an almost gentle touch, but it did little to soften the heaviness I felt. I could hear the muffled sounds of my mom downstairs, her movements quick and purposeful, as if she were trying to outrun something—something I knew all too well.

I had tried not to think about it, tried to block out the tension that had been growing between us for weeks.

But it was hard to ignore when the atmosphere in the house felt like it was suffocating. It wasn't just that my mom and I had started clashing more often; it was that there were things we weren't saying, things that we both knew needed to be said but that neither of us could bring ourselves to admit.

I couldn't remember the last time we'd had a calm conversation, one that didn't end in raised voices or awkward silences.

My mom's career had always been the center of our lives, and for a long time, I thought I could handle it. I'd gotten used to the long hours, the never-ending phone calls, and the tension she brought home after difficult days.

But lately, I felt like I was losing her.

I stretched, trying to push away the growing knot in my stomach. I grabbed my phone from the bedside table, checking it automatically, hoping for some distraction, maybe a message from Kai. But there was nothing new from him, and I couldn't decide if that was a relief or a disappointment.

I had wanted to talk to him last night. I had wanted to tell him that I wasn't fine, either. But he had been distant again. Even when I tried to reach out, he'd closed himself off. I didn't blame him for it—how could I? I knew what he was going through, and I couldn't fix it for him.

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was losing him, and that terrified me.

I shoved the phone into my pocket and stood up, forcing myself to get ready for school. The dull thud of footsteps downstairs pulled me back to reality. I needed to get out of here.

——~

Kai's POV

School felt like a blur, and I wasn't sure whether it was because I was still tired or because I had more on my mind than I knew how to deal with.

I hadn't heard from Haruka since she'd texted me last night, and part of me wished I'd been able to say something that could ease her worries. But I had my own mess to figure out, and the more I tried to get close to her, the more I pushed her away.

It wasn't fair. I knew that. I knew I couldn't keep pretending I was fine when I wasn't. But I wasn't ready for that conversation yet.

I found myself walking through the halls with no real direction, my thoughts spiraling. I needed a break. I needed space to think.

It wasn't until I bumped into Chino in the hallway that I snapped out of my daze.

"You good, man?" Chino asked, noticing the way I was avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah, just tired," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "You?"

Chino looked at me for a moment, then smirked, nudging me with his elbow. "I'm fine. But you know... if you ever want to actually talk about all the crap you've been carrying around, I'm here. I mean it."

I didn't answer immediately. The truth was, I didn't know how to talk about it. I didn't know where to even start. But Chino was persistent, and I knew he was trying to break through the walls I had built.

"Yeah, I know," I said quietly. "I'll... I'll think about it."

Chino raised an eyebrow. "Well, don't take too long, alright? You've been running from it for long enough."

I didn't respond to that. Instead, I changed the subject, asking him about some of the classes we shared. But even as we talked, I couldn't shake the thought of Haruka, and I couldn't push the feeling that I was letting her down.

——~

Haruka's POV

By the time I got home from school, the silence in the house was almost suffocating. It wasn't unusual for my mom to be away for work, but there was something different about today. The tension in the air felt heavier.

I dropped my bag by the door and glanced into the kitchen, where I found my mom pacing back and forth. I could tell she had been on a call again—her eyes were frantic, her fingers tapping against the edge of the counter.

"Mom?" I called out quietly.

She paused for a moment, glancing at me. Her face softened slightly, but the weight of the day hung over her like a dark cloud. "Hey, Haruka. You're home early."

"Yeah, I didn't have anything after school," I said, trying to sound casual, but I could feel the tension between us. It was like there was an invisible wall between us, one that had been slowly building for weeks.

"I'm just trying to finish up a few things," she said, waving a hand. "I'll be done soon. Just give me a little time."

I nodded, though I felt the familiar sting of being pushed aside. I could tell she wasn't really listening to me, that her mind was somewhere else entirely. It wasn't the first time I'd felt ignored, but tonight it felt different. The weight of it pressed on me like a physical thing.

I tried to make myself busy. I found myself picking up a book, flipping through the pages without really reading. My mind kept drifting back to Kai, to the way he'd been distant lately, to the conversations we hadn't had.

But it wasn't just Kai that was on my mind.

I had been walking on eggshells around my mom for so long. Every time she came home, there was this thick, heavy silence that fell over the house. She was always so focused on her work, and I hated it. I hated how she shut me out.

I hated how we both pretended everything was fine when it clearly wasn't.

I stood up and walked toward the kitchen, trying to find something to say, but I could already tell she wasn't in the mood for a real conversation.

"Mom," I started, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. "Can we talk?"

She didn't look up from her phone. "I'm busy, Haruka. Can we do this later?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. I stood there for a moment, watching her, my heart heavy with all the things I wanted to say.

All the things I needed to say.

But the words never came.

I turned away, feeling like a stranger in my own home.

—-~

Kai's POV

That evening, I sat on my bed, my phone in hand, staring at Haruka's name on the screen. I had wanted to reach out. I had wanted to send her something—anything—that could bridge the distance between us.

But my thoughts were a tangled mess, and I couldn't find the right words.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Haruka had been quiet all day, and I knew she was going through her own struggles, her own frustrations.

But I didn't know how to help her when I couldn't even help myself, which was quite pathetic of me.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the headboard, letting the weight of the day crash over me.

I was torn between wanting to be there for her, to pull her closer, and the overwhelming fear that I wasn't enough—that I was too broken to be the kind of person she needed.

I didn't know how to fix any of it. But I knew that if I didn't start trying to change things,

I would lose her.

And that was something I wasn't ready to face.