The faint rustle of pages and the soft chirping of birds nearby faded when Tomoe felt a presence behind her. Her shoulders tensed, breath catching as a chill ran up her spine.
"…I'm back, Tomoe." The voice came from close behind, low and deliberate. "Did you miss me?"
Her fingers stiffened against the book in her lap. She turned her head inch by inch, neck tense, her body moving before her thoughts could stop it.
And then she saw him.
He stood there smiling. It wasn't warm or casual. The corners of his mouth were set too deliberately, his eyes fixed on her without wavering.
Tomoe's breath caught sharply. She lurched to her feet, the book slipping from her grasp before she pinned it against her thigh. Her legs shook beneath her, but she forced herself upright, shoulders tight as she faced him.
"N… no…" The word slipped out unevenly as she took a step back, shoes scraping against the ground. "It… it can't be…"
Her voice broke apart halfway through. Her chest tightened with each breath, shoulders rising as she struggled to steady herself. "Why… why now?" Her gaze wavered, unable to settle on his face. "Why of all times did you have to come out of the hospital, Jirou?"
Her breathing grew thin and rapid. Her grip clenched at her side as memories she had forced down pushed back to the surface. The long nights. Voices too close to her ear. The image of her brother's face, frozen at the moment everything collapsed.
Jirou tilted his head, the grin on his face widening by a fraction. His eyes stayed locked on her. "Why now?" The pause that followed was deliberate. "Tomoe… is that really how you greet me after all this time?"
He stepped closer. His shoes scraped lightly against the pavement, the sound carrying in the brief silence between them. His smile sharpened. "You know… those words hurt."
"No…" The sound barely carried past her lips. She shook her head, breath uneven, taking another unsteady step back.
He didn't stop. His mouth kept moving, his attention fixed on her as the space between them continued to tighten.
"That's it?" The grin slipped from his face, his jaw tightening as his gaze hardened. "That's all you have to say to me?"
He lifted a hand, pushing his long hair back from his face in a slow, deliberate motion. His green eyes stayed on her the entire time. "After what your dear big brother Hiroki did to me… after everything I went through…" He let the words hang, then continued, voice dropping. "You didn't visit me...Not even once.Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"
Tomoe's lips trembled, the words catching before they could form. Her vision blurred as tears gathered, her breath coming out uneven.
"You're horrible, Tomoe." The chain at his neck shifted and caught the light as he moved, the metal settling against his collarbone.
"Stay away." Her hands lifted slightly in front of her without thinking, fingers shaking. "Don't come closer… I—I'm begging you."
A low laugh slipped from him, brief and sharp. His shoulders rose and fell once as he looked her over. "And who's going to stop me? Your brother?"
The corner of his mouth lifted as he leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing. "Oh, right. He's not here to save you." His voice stayed steady as he finished, watching her closely. "He's locked up, isn't he?"
Her body went rigid. Her breath stalled in her chest, muscles locked in place.
"Right now, there's no one." He straightened, voice steady as he spoke over the silence. "No one to pull you out of this." He paused, letting the words settle before continuing, his tone easing into something lighter. "But listen." He lifted his chin slightly. "My father's a judge. My mother runs a law firm." His fingers brushed the chain at his neck as he spoke. "I could put in a word. And just like that you could see your brother again—without a wall of glass between you."
"All you have to do is exactly what I tell you. Simple, right? Or what… don't you love your brother? Didn't he give up everything for you? Basketball. His future. And you're hesitating?"
"You're really disappointing me, Tomoe."
He reached out his hand, fingers extending toward her without hesitation.
"No…" Her breath hitched as her chest tightened.
Don't touch me…
The memory surged back. Running. Fear pressing in. No place to stop.
She squeezed her eyes shut, her voice breaking. "Someone… anyone… please…"
And then—
A hand closed around Jirou's wrist before it could reach her, the motion abrupt and firm.
Jirou's eyes widened as his head snapped up. "What the hell?" His gaze sharpened on the person in front of him. "Who are you?"
Standing there was Tetsuo. His expression remained blank, posture steady as he faced Jirou.
His eyes shifted briefly toward Tomoe, then returned forward. "You know her?"
Jirou held his gaze for a brief moment, then the corner of his mouth lifted. "…Oh." His eyes slid past him and back again. "So you're the one she's dating now?"
At the sound of Tetsuo's voice, Tomoe opened her eyes. She moved forward unsteadily and caught hold of his arm, fingers tightening as she pressed close behind him.
Tetsuo registered the weight at his side but didn't turn. His hold on Jirou's wrist stayed firm as he looked back at him, his expression unchanged.
Tetsuo didn't raise his voice. His stance stayed square, grip steady.
"I'm on a date with her." A brief pause followed. "If you've got a problem, it can wait."
A short laugh escaped Jirou as his shoulders loosened. "So the princess found herself a knight. How dull."
He twisted his wrist sharply, knocking Tetsuo's hand away, then stepped back. "Fine. I'll go." His eyes narrowed as he looked him over. "But you should know who you're dealing with, first-year."
He slipped his hands into his pockets and leaned in just enough to meet Tetsuo's gaze, the smirk returning to his face.
"Tetsuo Kawaguchi. Class 1-T. "You're on the basketball team, right?"
Tetsuo didn't react. His eyes remained steady.
"You've got no idea what you're stepping into." Jirou's tone lowered as he continued. "So take this as advice." A brief pause followed. "Mind your own business."
He tilted his head slightly. "Because if you don't… things might get ugly." His mouth curved faintly. "It'd be a shame if the entire basketball team was suddenly suspended."
Tomoe tensed, clinging even tighter to Tetsuo.
"Remember that." Jirou's voice stayed level as he paused, his shoulder turning just enough for a brief glance back. "I don't break promises."
He shifted, his shoulder angling as he started to turn toward her.
Her arms tightened at once, fingers clutching the fabric at his waist as she pressed closer from behind.
"Don't… don't turn around." Her words slipped out unevenly, breath catching between them as her forehead rested against his back. "Please… just… stay like this." Her grip held firm, then eased only slightly. "Just for a little while."
Tetsuo didn't move. He sighed quietly, feeling her quiet sobs against his back. And so he stood there, still and silent, until her trembling slowly eased.
Later that evening, Tetsuo opened the front door and stepped inside, the hinge giving a soft creak as it swung shut behind him. He bent to slip off his shoes, setting them neatly by the entryway.
"I'm home." His voice carried forward without emphasis as he straightened.
"Welcome home, big brother!" Usagi's voice carried from the living room, light and quick. She sat cross-legged on the floor with her school bag set off to the side, her face lifting as soon as she spotted him.
Tetsuo's brow lifted a fraction as he looked her way. "You're still up? It's late. You've got school tomorrow."
"I know." She drew in a small breath and puffed her cheeks, shoulders rising as she held it for a second. "But I couldn't sleep unless I knew you were back." Her heels lifted and tapped lightly against the floor as she swung her feet, the motion loose and playful.
Tetsuo reached into his bag and held out a small paper packet, the folded top crinkling softly as it shifted in his hand. "Here." He angled it toward her. "Cheesecake."
Usagi's posture straightened immediately, her eyes widening as she leaned forward to take it. "Really?" Her voice lifted before she caught herself, both hands closing around the bag. "My favorite!" She looked up at him, smiling openly. "Thanks, Tetsuo."
He turned away and started down the hallway, his steps unhurried. "I'm heading to bed." He paused just long enough to glance back. "Don't eat it all at once."
"Hey—wait!" Usagi pushed herself to her feet, clutching the bag to her chest as she hurried after him. She stopped a step away, tilting her head up with clear curiosity. "You didn't tell me how your date went!"
Tetsuo slowed to a stop, his hand resting briefly against the doorframe. His shoulders stayed squared, but his gaze shifted down the hall instead of toward her. "…It went well," he added after a short pause. "At first."
"At first?" Her eyes searched his face, curiosity sharpening.
He drew in a quiet breath before answering, voice kept low. "We went to the library. Then a bakery." His jaw set slightly as he continued. "But… someone she knows showed up." A brief pause followed. "It made her uncomfortable. So she ended up crying."
Usagi's expression gentled, her shoulders easing as she looked up at him. "That's… really bad." She hesitated, then lifted her eyes again. "Do you know what happened between them?"
Tetsuo shook his head once, slow and restrained. His gaze stayed forward, unfocused on anything in particular. "I don't know everything." A short breath passed through his nose before he continued. "But I do know this. He's the reason for the look in her eyes."
The next day, the classroom buzzed with the usual chatter. Sunlight filtered through the windows, glinting off scattered notebooks.
Tomoe sat at her desk in Class 2-O, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular. Her hands rested limply on the desk.
The teacher spoke, but the words didn't reach her. Her mind replayed yesterday's encounter. Jirou's voice. His grin. His threats.
Her chest tightened. She could barely breathe. A thin sheen of sweat formed on her forehead.
From behind her, Liam noticed her shoulders trembling slightly. He leaned forward, gently touching her shoulder. "Hey, Tomoe, are you—"
The touch sent her spiraling back into a memory.
Jirou's hand, gripping her wrist. His breath near her ear.
"Leave me alone!" she screamed, jerking away violently.
The entire class froze.
"Yukimura?" Hayato turned in his seat, concern flashing across his face. "Are you okay? You look pale…"
"I was thinking the same." Liam's usual brightness was dialed back, his tone more careful than normal as he leaned an elbow against the desk. "You've been kind of off all morning." He tilted his head slightly, studying her face. "Did something happen?"
Tomoe stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I-I'm sorry," The words slipped out unsteady, barely above a murmur. Without looking up, she turned and hurried toward the exit, her steps quick and uneven as she disappeared from the classroom.
Hayato's eyes followed her until the door swung shut, his brows knitting as his mouth settled into a thin line. He let out a slow breath through his nose, gaze lingering on the empty doorway.
…Something's wrong. His head tilted slightly as he spoke, more to himself than anyone else. But what?
Tomoe moved through the halls without slowing, turning toward the library as soon as it came into view. She pushed through the doors and headed for the back, her pace steady but tight, drawn toward the section she always used when she needed quiet.
She stopped short.
Books lay strewn across the floor, covers bent back, bindings split open. Pages were torn loose and scattered in uneven piles, edges ragged where they'd been ripped apart.
Her books.
The breath left her chest as she lowered herself to the floor, knees touching down one at a time. She reached for a page and lifted it carefully, fingers trembling as she tried to line it up with another scrap nearby.
"No…" The sound broke as it left her, thin and strained. She swallowed, eyes blurring as she looked around. "Who… who would do this?"
Footsteps approached.
Voices followed, growing clearer.
She lifted her head.
Jirou stood near the entrance, posture loose, one hand tucked into his pocket as he spoke with a small group of classmates. Laughter drifted from them, casual and unbothered, as if the mess behind her didn't exist.
His attention shifted. He caught her stare and turned fully, eyes settling on her without hurry. The corner of his mouth curved upward.
The tension in her chest broke all at once.
Tomoe's fingers closed around one of the torn books. She pushed herself to her feet in a single motion and threw it with both hands, her breath leaving her as she did.
The book hit the side of his head with a dull thud.
Jirou stumbled a step, hand coming up as his expression faltered, eyes blinking in surprise.
Before anyone could move, she bent down and snatched up more of the ruined books. She hurled them one after another, her shoulders jerking with each throw as her breath came sharp and uneven.
"How could you do this to me?!" Her voice broke as she shouted, tears spilling as her face tightened. "I hate you! I hate you!" Her chest heaved as she tried to pull in air. "I should have listened to my brother!"
Several second-year boys rushed in, hands closing around her wrists and upper arms as they pulled her back from him. Her feet scraped against the floor as she struggled against their grip, the frame of her glasses slipping crooked across her face.
"Let me go!" The cry tore out of her as she twisted violently, hair falling loose around her face while she fought to break free.
The second-year girls rushed to Jirou's side, voices overlapping as they crowded around him. One reached for his sleeve, eyes flicking to the reddening spot near his temple. "Are you okay?"
He waved them off and brushed at his uniform, smoothing the fabric as he straightened. His expression settled back into something composed despite the mark forming on his head. "Yeah." His fingers paused briefly before dropping to his side. "This is nothing." His gaze lifted, steady and unbothered. "Not compared to what her brother did to me."
"…Wait." One of the girls drew in a sharp breath, eyes widening as she looked back toward Tomoe. "So she's that girl?"
Another folded her arms, lips tightening as she glanced between Jirou and the mess on the floor. "She's got some nerve." Her voice sharpened as she spoke. "He turned her down, so she made her brother hurt him…" She shook her head, a scoff slipping out. "And now she's attacking him herself?"
Her gaze lingered on the bruise at Jirou's temple before she added, tone edged with accusation, "Hasn't your brother already done enough to him?" A brief pause followed, heavy with judgment. "He was in the hospital for months."
"She probably did it herself," another voice murmured from behind the crowd, low but clear enough to carry. Someone leaned closer to a friend, eyes flicking toward the torn pages on the floor. "Just to blame him." A quiet scoff followed. "That's… kind of pitiful."
"No!" Tomoe strained forward as the word tore out of her, her voice cracking hard. Her glasses slipped further down her nose as she shook her head violently, tears streaking down her cheeks. "I didn't do this—he did!" Her breath came fast and uneven as she struggled against the hands holding her. "He's lying!" She swallowed, chest heaving as her gaze swept the faces around her. "You don't know what he's put me through!"
Jirou let out a long, deliberate breath, his shoulders rising before settling again. "Tomoe…" He spoke her name slowly, turning his body toward her as if to calm the room. "We've both been through a lot." His head tilted, expression easing into something practiced. "I know you're confused. Hurt." He paused, eyes narrowing just slightly. "Your brother's in jail."
A murmur passed through the crowd.
He continued without raising his voice. "But I already forgave him." One hand lifted in a small, open gesture. "If I could, I'd even do anything to get him out."
He stepped closer, closing the distance by a single pace. The smile that formed was gentle, almost reassuring. "I forgive you, too." His arm extended, palm open and waiting. "So let's leave this here." His tone softened further. "Let's start over." A brief pause. "Just like last year."
Tomoe's gaze locked onto his hand. Her breath caught, shoulders pulling inward as her eyes widened, fear freezing her in place.
Then she moved.
Her foot came down hard on one of the boys' toes. He cried out as his grip loosened. Tomoe twisted sharply, wrenching her arm free, and ran, shoes striking the floor in quick, uneven steps as she bolted out of the library.