shudo

Haruto Kirigami is a brilliant and handsome high school student who keeps his looks and real self behind unkempt hair, glasses, and an icy attitude. Haunted by a painful past, he has issues with trust and likes to be alone, keeping everyone at arm's length.

Nasaki Kitta, a lovely and smart girl, has secret feelings for Haruto but keeps them hidden behind a genial and calm surface. Even though she has such feelings, it is hard for her to approach him because he is antisocial.

With small, silent moments—such as brief conversations in the library, shared glimpses in the hallway, and small gestures of kindness—their bond slowly begins to develop. As Haruto's walls begin to break down, Nasaki becomes a beacon of warmth and compassion in his otherwise icy existence.

The narrative weaves through key high school moments: a school festival where Haruto comes out of his shell, a home visit that introduces Nasaki to his secret world, and a touching graduation where Haruto finally accepts the future with renewed hope.

Curtains of the heart

The days following Haruto and Nasaki's quiet rooftop lunch passed without much change—at least on the surface. Haruto continued his routine of slipping through the school halls unnoticed, his cold demeanor acting as a shield. Yet, beneath his stoic exterior, something had shifted.

Every time he saw Nasaki in the corridors or in class, he couldn't help but relive their short rooftop meeting. Her gentle voice, her peaceful presence how odd it was not to be overwhelmed by someone's presence.

Meanwhile, Nasaki couldn't help but glance at Haruto. She had always sensed he was different shy, enigmatic but sitting next to him had only served to pique her interest. She couldn't help but question what existed behind his reserved, protective walls.

Afternoon, as Haruto walked to the library, he heard one of his classmates discussing something with a friend by the shoe lockers.

"Did you hear? That shy boy, Haruto, was spotted with Nasaki on the rooftop."

"No way! Is she into him or what? He's so strange."

Haruto's hold on the strap of his bag tightened. His chest ached, a dull stinging spreading through him.

It was happening again—the whispers, the glances, the unwritten burdens of disapproval weighing him down. Fragments rose up: voices of the past, laughter, treachery.

"You really thought someone like her would go for you?"

He staggered into the library, his breathing shallow. The peaceful haven of bookshelves did little to calm the tempest raging within him.

Nasaki sat with her friends in the cafeteria elsewhere. The mood was upbeat, but her thoughts were of Haruto. She had hoped to catch a glimpse of him again, perhaps even speak to him.

Her reverie was broken by the voice of a friend. "Hey, Nasaki, did you really go with Haruto Kirigami on the roof?"

Some heads turned around, eagerness gleaming in their eyes.

Nasaki's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, um, yes. I just bumped into him."

A girl leaned in, her face cunning. "Are you a fan of him or something?"

Nasaki's face burned with heat. "N-No, it's not like that. I was just sitting there. That's all."

Her friends exchanged looks, amusement dancing in their gazes. "Well, be careful. He's kind of. you know, strange."

Nasaki forced a smile, but her hands clenched under the table. She wanted to defend him, to explain that Haruto wasn't strange just alone. But words failed her, and the conversation shifted, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

By the time the school day ended, Haruto was half-way home. He strode through the streets quickly, his head lowered, the city noises drowned out by thoughts in his mind.

"It doesn't matter," he said to himself.

But no matter how many times he said it, the burden refused to be lifted. His past and present life had merged into one, coating the world in shades of gray.

When he took the turn for his street, rain started to fall light, chill drops that wet through his uniform. He did not take an umbrella, and the rain veiled the tears that had already begun to gather.

Alone in his room, Haruto sat at the window, looking out at the rain run down the glass. His image stared back at him, a shadow of the boy he once was.

"Why did I believe. things could be different?"

But with the rain falling, a subtle warmth permeated the chill. The recollection of Nasaki's smile, the softness of her presence—it was tenuous, but it existed.

Deep down, under the overlays of fear and suspicion, a tiny corner of him was brave enough to hope.

Chapter 3: Rumors and Reflections