Chapter 19: "What Did You Say?"

Haruto sat on his bed, gazing at the ceiling. His mind rewound to the day he encountered Hyuka Ayomi once more.

No pain. No regret. No leftover emotions.

Just. nothing.

He had anticipated something—perhaps an old wound getting reopened, perhaps a fleeting sense of sadness. But all he experienced was tranquil emptiness.

The past no longer kept him captive.

Instead, his mind wandered elsewhere.

Or rather—to someone else.

The following day at school, everything seemed fine. Too fine.

Haruto was sitting at his desk, drumming his fingers against the top. On the other side of the room, Nasaki Kitta was laughing with a couple of friends, her normal hyper self.

Recently, they had been hanging out a lot more.

And weirdly, it didn't seem strange.

She wasn't making herself speak to him. He wasn't shoving her away.

It was… normal.

Haruto exhaled and leaned back in his chair.

Before he could think further, lunch break arrived, and as if it was the most normal thing, Nasaki sat beside him in the cafeteria.

"Hey, you're not skipping lunch today?" she teased.

Haruto glanced at his tray—simple food, nothing special. "No reason to."

"Good," she said, sipping her juice. "You were so pale when you were ill. I swear, I thought you were dead."

He gave her a sarcastic glance. "Thanks for the sympathy."

She laughed lightly, and for a moment, they ate in comfortable silence.

Then—Haruto remembered something.

"By the way…," he said, picking at his food in a nonchalant manner. "What did you tell me then?"

Nasaki blinked. "Huh?"

"When I was ill," he explained, looking toward her. "You told me something before you slept."

Nothing.

The minute he asked that, Nasaki became stiff.

Her hand briefly shook as she set down her drink.

"I-I…" She stuttered and began to get hot suddenly.

Haruto pinched his brows together. "What? Don't you recall?"

Nasaki's mind spiraled into freakout mode.

He heard it?!

Did he hear everything?! Did he remember those humiliating words?!

No way. No way. No way.

She hastily averted her gaze, her face flushing.

"I-I… I said… g-goodbye…!" she exclaimed.

Haruto furrowed his brow. "Goodbye?"

"Y-yeah!" she nodded too hastily, not meeting his gaze. "That's all! Nothing important!"

Liar.

Haruto knew she was lying.

Rather than pester her some more, he just glared at her, studying the way her ears were reddening.

Then—he smiled mischievously.

Nasaki saw it and panicked even further.

"Y-you're making that face again!" she pointed at him, her voice higher than usual. "That stupid smirk—stop that!"

Haruto shrugged, amused. "What face?"

Nasaki groaned, grabbing her things. "I-I have to go!" she declared, standing up so fast she almost tripped.

Haruto watched as she hurriedly left, her face completely red.

She didn't even finish her drink.

He leaned back in his seat, resting his chin on his palm.

That reaction… was interesting.

Meanwhile, Nasaki stormed out of the cafeteria, her heart pounding.

Stupid Haruto! Stupid question! Stupid everything!

She covered her face, groaning.

Why did she get so flustered? Why does she feel this way?

And why does Haruto's smirk make her feel even more embarrassed?!

She shook her head aggressively.

"Nope. Nope. I'm not thinking about this anymore."

But even as she walked away—she knew she wasn't going to forget it anytime soon.

Back in the cafeteria, Haruto took a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling.

Then—he smiled wryly.

"She's really something else," he grumbled to himself.

For the first time in ages, Haruto Kirigami didn't feel stuck in the past anymore.

Instead, he was anticipating something new.

Or rather—to someone new.

End of Chapter 19