Chapter 3 - The Storm Between Us

The dinner table felt like a battlefield.

I sat across from Himari, our plates untouched. My father and her mother chatted like nothing had changed, like they hadn't just shattered the fragile balance of our world overnight.

Himari hadn't spoken a word since she arrived home. Neither had I.

I could still hear her voice from last night—soft, desperate, full of something dangerous.

"You feel it too, don't you?"

I clenched my fist under the table. I had to forget it. It was a mistake. A moment of weakness.

I forced myself to focus on my plate, stabbing at the food.

"Haruto," my father's voice cut through the silence. "You and Himari are in the same grade, right?"

I stiffened. "Yeah."

"That's great! You can look out for each other at school," he continued, completely unaware of the suffocating tension. "And since we'll be living together from now on, I hope you two will get along as real siblings."

Real siblings.

The words made me feel sick.

I forced a smile. "Of course."

Himari's fork scraped against her plate as she set it down. "I'm done. I'll be in my room."

She stood up and walked away without another word.

My father and her mother exchanged an awkward glance, but they didn't say anything.

I wasn't hungry anymore.

—

The Next Day

I barely got any sleep. My mind was too restless, tangled in thoughts I didn't want to have.

By the time I got to school, my exhaustion had turned into frustration. I needed a distraction. Anything to stop thinking about—

"Haruto."

A hand clamped onto my shoulder.

I turned—and froze.

Ryosuke.

His usual easygoing expression was gone. His eyes were sharp, calculating.

"We need to talk."

I swallowed. "About what?"

"You know what."

My stomach twisted. The worst part was that I did know.

He pulled me to the side of the building, away from the crowds of students. His grip was tight—too tight.

"I wasn't gonna say anything at first," he muttered, his voice low. "But I'm not stupid. Himari broke up with me, and now she's acting weird. And you… you've been avoiding me."

I forced out a laugh. "You're overthinking things."

His fingers tightened around my wrist. "Am I?"

I looked away. "We're step-siblings now. Of course, things are weird."

Ryosuke didn't respond right away. He just studied my face, his eyes dark with something unreadable.

Then, finally, he let go.

"Fine," he said. "I'll believe you… for now."

I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my heartbeat.

But as I walked away, I could feel it.

His eyes, still watching me.

This wasn't over. Not even close.

—

That Night

A soft knock on my door.

I tensed.

I already knew who it was before I opened it.

Himari stood there in her oversized sweater, her hair slightly damp from a shower.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then, she whispered, "Can we talk?"

I should've said no.

I should've closed the door.

But instead, I stepped aside, letting her in.

And just like that, the distance between us vanished once again.