The Perfect Silence
Chapter 11: Whispers in the Perfect Silence
The Morning of a Changed Boy
The room was quiet — not because it was lifeless, but because it was peaceful.
Haruki folded his blanket neatly. No alarms, no rushing. Just a calm rhythm of someone finally learning to live on his own terms.
He placed two slices of bread into the toaster and then walked over to a tiny corner where two photo frames sat — a smiling woman and a man in glasses.
He lit a small incense stick, bowed once.
> "I'm doing okay, Mom. Dad. Thanks for watching over me."
A gentle breeze from the half-open window made the incense dance.
After a simple breakfast and a quick mirror check — neat hair, soft smile, no more hiding eyes behind messy bangs — Haruki locked the door and stepped out.
A new day.
A better version of him.
---
At College: The Whisper Cloud
But college didn't care much for quiet transformations.
As soon as Haruki entered the gate, he heard it — that soft buzzing.
> "Is that really Haruki? Since when did he walk like that?" "Group presentation fame, huh? Probably a one-week wonder." "Hanging out with Kenji and Rinako… weird combo."
Some snorted. Some just stared.
Haruki heard it all.
But for the first time, he didn't shrink back. He just walked, earbuds in, hands in pockets, posture straight.
Kenji, standing by the wall, noticed it too.
> "Tch. Wanna punch those gossip heads?" he muttered.
Haruki smirked. "Nah. Let them have their drama. We're living an anime arc. They're stuck on episode 1."
Kenji cracked up and bumped fists with him.
---
The Shift in Yua
But someone wasn't laughing.
Yua.
Ever since that day at Kenji's house, she'd grown distant. Not cold. Just... gone.
She still topped her class, still answered perfectly. But something had cracked behind that ice.
Even during lunch, she quietly moved to the library, far from the group.
Rinako noticed first.
> "Okay, did our group's ice queen uninstall the friendship app or what?"
Haruki just smiled awkwardly.
But deep down — it bugged him too.
---
Flashback: A Perfect Life, with Chains
> "Yua, stop wasting time with useless kids,"
Her mother's voice echoed in a memory.
> "You're born to shine — not to play house with classmates. You want to be average? Fine. Throw your career in the trash like your father."
A younger Yua stood by a gate, clutching a soft drink bottle… while her friends played across the street.
She never crossed.
Back to the present — she stared at Haruki, Rinako, and Kenji laughing together from a distance.
> "Sometimes… I wish I was born in a normal family," she muttered.
Then quietly looked away.
---
The Group without the Star
That day, Group 7 had to prep for their next assignment — even though their main presentation was done, they had some follow-up tasks.
But now it was just Haruki, Kenji, and Rinako in the clubroom.
Rinako munched a cream-filled taiyaki with one hand, doodling on the worksheet with the other.
> "Okay! So! Since our royal snow queen bailed on us — we shall survive with curry power and teamwork!"
Haruki chuckled. "You're still thinking about food, huh?"
> "Excuse me! I'm a multi-tasker! I think, eat, and conquer at once!"
Kenji rolled his eyes. "We're doomed."
---
Talk Turns to Change
The discussion turned to deeper things.
Haruki said quietly, "We've changed a lot."
Rinako nodded. "Yeah. You're like… less potato now. More French fry. Crunchy confidence."
Kenji raised a brow. "What about me? What am I?"
Rinako paused dramatically, then grinned.
> "A peeled banana trying to become a smoothie."
Kenji: "WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?!"
Haruki burst out laughing.
> "It means we're still blending, dude. But you're doing good."
Kenji grumbled. "Tch. I'm just trying not to be the villain anymore. That's it."
Haruki clapped him on the back. "That's already more than most people."
---
Rinako's Little Truth
As they worked, Rinako found a quiet moment to speak.
> "You know… I used to think I was just 'that fat girl with good grades.'"
Kenji: "Weren't you?"
> "Hey!" She puffed her cheeks.
"But seriously… I used to hide. Help others from the background. I never thought I'd be seen like this. Not till you guys came along."
Haruki smiled. "You've always had that in you."
Rinako twirled her pen.
> "Maybe. But helping others helped me… believe it."
---
The Mystery of Yua
As they walked out of the room, they passed by Yua — sitting alone by the window, reading a book she wasn't flipping.
Her reflection on the glass looked… lost.
Haruki stopped for a second.
She didn't look up.
Rinako whispered, "Something's not right. That's not just drama."
Kenji muttered, "Maybe her rich fancy world finally cracked."
Haruki said softly, "Let's give her space. But… we won't stop being here."
---
End Scene
As the day ended, Haruki walked home alone again — but no longer lonely.
He looked up at the sky.
His phone buzzed.
A photo from Rinako — of Kenji choking on spicy ramen. Captioned:
> "Banana smoothie under attack!"
Haruki smiled.
---
To be continued…