Stay

Haru stood up, running a hand through his hair. "I'll be downstairs if you—"

A soft tug stopped him.

Sakura's fingers clutched the hem of his shirt, trembling slightly as she held on.

Haru froze. His breath hitched at the way her touch lingered, hesitant but insistent.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The room was quiet, the space between them charged with something unspoken.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper— "Stay."

His heart stumbled.

"Sakura?" His voice was softer now, careful.

She hesitated, then slowly lifted her gaze to his. Her eyes were wide, pleading, still glassy with fear, and in that moment, Haru felt helpless against her.

"I'm still scared," she admitted, her voice trembling. "Please stay with me."

Haru's chest tightened.

He had seen her vulnerable before. Had seen her hurt, shaken, crying. But this… this was different.

She wasn't just asking him to stay.

She was trusting him to stay.

"…Okay."

He slid under the covers beside her.

They had slept next to each other once before.

But this time felt different.

This time, she immediately curled into him, her forehead pressing against his chest. Her body fit against his in a way that sent a slow, aching warmth through him.

This time, Haru wasn't just sleeping next to a girl who had her drink spiked.

This time, they were touching.

And this time, they were together.

Boyfriend and girlfriend.

His arms wrapped around her instinctively, pulling her close. His fingers traced slow, absentminded circles against her back, grounding her.

But he was the one losing himself.

Her breath was warm against his collarbone. Her fingers, still lightly gripping his shirt. She felt too soft, too perfect. And the way she fit against him—so effortlessly, so naturally—made something tighten in his chest.

Sakura let out a quiet sigh, her body finally relaxing against his.

Then, she shifted.

And suddenly, everything changed.

Her chest pressed fully against his. Her leg tangled with his, her thigh slipping between his own.

Haru sucked in a sharp breath, his body locking up.

They had slept beside each other before.

But not like this.

Not with her body pressed this close.

Not with her fingers brushing his skin like she belonged there.

Not as lovers.

His mind spun, his heart pounding so hard he was sure she could feel it.

And then—her hand moved.

Slow. Careful. Resting right over his chest.

Her fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his shirt.

Then, in a quiet, half-asleep murmur, she whispered—

"At that time… I chose friendship over love."

Haru's breath caught.

His entire body froze.

"What?"

His brows furrowed slightly, but before he could ask, Sakura sighed softly against him, her voice distant, almost dreamlike.

"I didn't fight for you like I should have."

Haru's stomach twisted.

"So I am now."

He blinked, confusion flickering through him.

What on earth was she talking about?

He opened his mouth, ready to ask—but before he could, she spoke again, even softer than before.

"I pretended like I wasn't hurting when you were about to marry Mia…"

Haru's breath stalled.

"But in truth, it was like a knife to the heart."

…What?

His chest tightened slightly, his mind struggling to catch up.

Him? Marry? Mia?

A strange, uneasy feeling crept up his spine.

He stared down at her, waiting for her to say something else, but she had already nestled deeper into his chest, her breathing growing slow and steady.

Like she hadn't even realised she'd spoken.

Haru's lips parted slightly. His pulse was still uneven, his mind turning over her words again and again, trying to make sense of them.

But nothing made sense.

She must be dreaming. Haru thought.

He let out a quiet breath, his arms still wrapped securely around her.

She was exhausted. Frightened. Maybe her mind was mixing up memories—or making up things entirely.

That's all this was.

…Right?

His jaw tensed slightly, but he forced himself to relax, pushing the thoughts away.

It didn't matter.

Not right now.

Right now, all that mattered was that she was safe.

Even if the things she said made no sense at all.

"Will you stay all night?" she whispered, voice barely above a breath.

Haru sighed against her hair.

"Of course," he promised, his voice quieter now.

Because it meant something different now.

Sakura hummed softly in response, her grip on his shirt loosening—but never letting go.

Haru closed his eyes, sinking into her warmth.

Something about what Sakura said earlier felt peculiar…and Haru had a strange, nagging feeling that she knew something he didn't.

But what was it?