波紋 (Hamon – Ripples)
Ripples
Tuesday, 7:50 AM – Ren's House, Dining Table
Everyone was at the table.
Cereal bowls. Toast. Steam rising from miso soup.
But no one spoke.
Ren sat in the middle, surrounded by five girls he adored… and yet, the silence between them felt like a crack in glass — spreading, silent but impossible to ignore.
He looked to his left. Haruka stirred her cereal absently.
To his right, Yui scrolled through her phone, screen brightness reflecting off tired eyes.
Mei quietly sipped tea, as if listening to the silence itself.
Rika wore headphones. Music blasted, even though no sound was playing.
And Emi?
She was eating normally.
But she wouldn't meet anyone's eyes.
"We're all sitting together…But no one's here."
Scene: The Missed Touch
Ren reached for the jam.
So did Haruka.
Their fingers brushed — and she instantly recoiled.
"…Sorry," she mumbled.
He froze.
She didn't.
She stood, left her toast unfinished, and walked to the garden.
Rika's eyes followed her. Just briefly.
Then turned away.
Scene: A Talk That Wasn't
Ren followed Haruka out to the garden.
She was crouched near the sakura tree, poking the soil with a stick.
"…Hey."
No answer.
"I don't want you to feel pushed away."
Still no answer.
"I miss your voice," he said, softer now.
Finally — a whisper.
"It's not fair, Ren."
"I know."
"I thought I was okay with the harem thing. I thought I could win."
She stood, dusting her hands.
"But now I feel like I've already lost, and we're not even halfway through this story."
Ren opened his mouth.
But she was already walking back inside.
Scene: Yui's Eyes Burn
Later that day, Ren caught Yui alone, lounging upside down on the couch.
He sat beside her, waiting.
"You know," she said suddenly, eyes upside-down and unreadable, "I hate this feeling."
"What feeling?"
"…The feeling of not knowing whether I should be angry at you… or just sad at myself."
Ren's heart sank.
She sat up, face serious.
"I used to think being loud and flirty would be enough. That if I could just make you laugh, maybe you'd love me back without thinking too hard."
She laughed bitterly.
"But now everyone's thinking too hard."
Scene: The Mei Moment
In the hallway, Mei caught Ren again.
As always, quietly. Softly.
But this time… she didn't speak.
She just placed a folded note into his hand.
And walked away.
He opened it:
"Not every storm makes noise.But it still breaks things.– M."
Scene: Rika's Exit
That evening, Ren knocked on Rika's door.
"Dinner's ready," he said.
"…Not hungry."
"Everything okay?"
"Yup."
But her voice cracked on the 'p.'
He pushed the door open.
Her gaming chair was empty. Her desk light was off.
She sat by the window. Knees to chest. Hoodie oversized.
"I don't belong here anymore, do I?" she asked.
Ren blinked. "What— Of course you do!"
"Then why does it feel like everyone's playing a game I didn't sign up for?"
He stepped closer.
She didn't move.
"I don't want to lose to girls who cry softer than I do."
"…You're not losing," he said gently.
"I feel like I am."
She didn't say anything else.
Neither did he.
They just sat in the dark, window open, wind blowing.
Final Scene: Emi's Realization
That night, Emi passed Ren in the hallway.
He looked like he hadn't slept.
She bit her lip.
"Ren…"
He stopped.
"…Maybe I was wrong. Maybe telling you how I felt wasn't fair to the others."
"…No," he said. "It's not your fault. It's just…"
"It's real now," she finished.
He nodded.
Closing Line:
"One confession doesn't break a bond.But it sends a ripple through still water.
And everyone has to feel it…Before it settles again."