Girlfriend?

After what happened at the store, Haru insisted that Sakura take another week off. So, Sakura missed another week of college.

During that time, she either went out with her family or stayed home catching up on assignments with Haru.

Whenever Sakura went out with her family, Haru intentionally didn't join them. He wanted to give her space, let her have time with them. After all, the past two weeks had been some of the hardest for the Suzuki family. He could tell that Ren and Umeko were relieved to have their daughter back, talking to them normally again instead of spouting nonsense about them being dead.

Gradually, Sakura began to feel better. Her night terrors stopped. The weight on her chest grew lighter.

But the weeks passed too quickly.

And now, Haru had to leave.

Sakura knew she'd see him again. He was her boyfriend, after all. But the idea of him leaving after spending so much time together made her stomach twist. He had become part of her daily life. Her family had even grown fond of him—it was like saying goodbye to a family member.

It's not like you're never going to see him again, she told herself. You'll see him on your next date.

Then, it dawned on her.

Haru and Sakura were boyfriend and girlfriend… yet they had never actually gone on a date.

It was like they'd done things backwards. First, they fell in love, then they made out—shouldn't they have started with dating first?

As Haru threw his bag into the backseat of his car, Sakura suddenly called out, "Haru!"

He turned. "What is it?"

"I just realised something," she said. "Even though we're together… we've never been on a date."

Haru blinked. Then, he smiled, amused. "But we have been on dates."

Sakura frowned, trying to recall. "Nope. We haven't."

Haru chuckled. "Okay, then tell me this—why do people go on dates?"

Sakura hesitated. "I-I don't know. Because that's what couples do?"

"No," Haru said, taking a step closer. "We go on dates because we can't help falling in love. And when we fall in love, we want to know more about each other. We want to be closer to each other. It doesn't have to be somewhere fancy. And isn't that what we've been doing these past two weeks?"

Sakura opened her mouth, then closed it.

He had a point. Sure, Haru had been looking after her and helping her through her trauma, but… there were also moments when they talked for hours, when he held her hand without saying a word, when he wiped her tears without making her feel weak.

She pouted, looking away. "Still… it's not the same."

Haru burst out laughing. "Alright, alright. I'll take you on a normal date, if that's what you really want."

Sakura's face lit up.

"But," Haru added, tapping her forehead lightly, "it's late. We have college tomorrow.

Get some rest."

She smiled. "See you soon."

…

Haru set his suitcase down by the door and exhaled.

Finally, home.

But just as he was about to step further inside, something made him freeze.

A woman's giggle.

His body tensed. The sound came from down the hall. From Aoi's room.

Haru's stomach twisted with unease.

He walked forward slowly, the voices becoming clearer with each step. Aoi's low murmur. The same woman's laughter—soft, teasing.

Something felt wrong.

The bedroom door was wide open.

And when Haru stepped inside, the blood in his veins turned to ice.

Mia.

She was sprawled on Aoi's bed, wearing nothing but his oversized T-shirt. Her golden hair cascaded over the pillows, and her delicate fingers traced small patterns on Aoi's bare chest.

Aoi lay beside her, shirtless, smirking as he twirled a strand of her hair around his fingers.

Haru couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.

His mind couldn't process what his eyes were seeing.

The room spun.

"…What is going on here?" His voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper—before it exploded. "What the hell is going on?!"

Mia gasped dramatically, as if she were the one caught off guard.

Aoi sat up, his eyes widening. "Haru? I—I didn't know you'd be back tonight."

Haru's gaze snapped between them. His chest felt tight, like his heart was being squeezed in a vice.

Mia sat up, draping Aoi's bedsheet over her legs, looking oh-so-innocent. "Oh, Haru… I guess you found out sooner than expected." She let out a small, regretful sigh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Aoi and I… we're dating now."

Haru staggered back like he'd been physically struck.

"What?" The word barely escaped his lips.

"We were planning to tell you soon," Mia continued sweetly, her expression soft, her voice gentle. "But you seemed so busy lately."

Haru couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.

His mind reeled, but nothing made sense. Mia and Aoi? Dating?

His heartbeat pounded in his ears. He felt like he was drowning.

Mia watched him carefully, her smile subtle—calculated.

Aoi sighed, rubbing his neck awkwardly.

"Haru, man, I—"

But he never got to finish.

Haru snapped.

His fist connected with Aoi's jaw before he even realised he had moved.

Aoi staggered backward, clutching his face.

"What the hell?!"

Mia let out a sharp gasp, but her eyes—just for a second—gleamed with satisfaction.

Haru's hands trembled. His vision blurred with rage, disgust, horror.

"You're dating a classmate of mine from college?!" Haru's voice shook, rising with fury.

A small smile tugged at Mia's lips—so faint, so fleeting that if he had blinked, he would've missed it.

"What's wrong with that?" she asked innocently. "Aoi's only five years older than me. And besides…" She tilted her head slightly. "You don't have a say in who Aoi should date, do you?"

Haru's entire body went cold.

"Screw you," he whispered, his voice hollow. His entire world tilted on its axis.

Then, suddenly, his anger exploded.

"Screw you! Screw you!" He bolted out of the apartment, the walls closing in, his chest heaving like he was suffocating.

…

Ding Dong! Ding Dong! Ding Dong!

"Ugh, who is it?" Kei grumbled, shuffling to the door in his pajamas.

As he pulled it open, his tiredness vanished in an instant.

Haru stood there, petrified.

His skin was ghostly pale, his breaths uneven. His wide, unblinking eyes looked like he had seen something beyond comprehension.

Kei felt his stomach drop.

"Haru? What the hell happened?"

Haru's lips parted, but only one thing came out.

"Aoi and Mia… together. Aoi and Mia…" He repeated it over and over, like a broken record, like his brain refused to process it.

Kei grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Snap out of it! What the hell are you saying?!"

Haru finally looked at him, but his expression was empty.

"I saw them," he whispered. "In my apartment. Together. I saw them."

"Saw who?" Kei asked.

"Mia and Aoi. I saw them. They're dating." Haru said in shock.

Kei stared at him, horrified. "What the fuck?!"

Haru let out a broken, hollow laugh, his hands still trembling.

Kei gritted his teeth. That girl. What was she doing? What was she planning?

Kei exhaled sharply. "Alright. Come in. You're staying here tonight."

Haru didn't respond—just numbly stepped inside.

Kei clenched his fists.

Tomorrow, he was getting to the bottom of this.