"Haru," she says—hands under her chin, leaning forward, but not too close.
She's in the corner of my eye.
Sitting at the very edge of her seat, like she's trying not to tip toward me even though her whole body wants to.
…
"Haru."
The way she said it replays in my mind.
This is the first time.
She called me by name.
That shouldn't mean anything.
But for some reason, something weird moves in my chest.
I turn my head slightly.
Her whole body is angled toward me. A small frown sits on her face—half annoyance, half worry.
She looks down, flustered, avoiding my eyes.
Her work uniform—the same apron she wore when Mina and I were here before.
"What's… wrong?" she asks quietly, still looking down, the color on her cheeks warming.
Her voice shakes a little.
…
Should I say something?
I…
"I… I'm… just… tired."
The words stumble out like I kicked them down a staircase.
Her eyes snap up immediately. Her body tenses, shaking like it's about to explode.
And then—
SLAM.
The fist that was supporting her chin hits the counter so hard my bones jump.
My body jolts like I've been shot.
My head lowers instantly.
My heart slams hard.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?" she snaps—not loud enough for customers to notice, but loud enough for me.
I don't… know…
But.
It's the truth.
I am…
Tired.
Tired of everything.
A sudden pulse explodes behind my eyes. Sharp. Stabbing.
I clutch both sides of my head, elbows hitting the counter.
Fuck.
It hurts.
My head… it hurts again—
She gasps softly.
"Haru…?"
She leans closer, her breath brushing my hand.
"Are you… okay?"
An image hits me like a brick—
Mina and that boy.
The way she looked at me like I didn't exist.
The way she turned away.
This is…
what I wanted?
Right?
My chest tightens painfully.
"Then it's official. You're my boyfriend."
Her voice echoes inside my skull.
The first person to ever like me…
now feels like she's gone.
"Haru."
"Haru!"
I suck in air and jolt to the side.
Kurozawa.
She's close—way too close.
Her face inches from mine.
I spaced out again.
There's worry flooding her eyes. Real worry.
She lifts a hand like she's going to touch me—
Then freezes. Pulls it back. Looks down, cheeks red.
"You know… why the hell do you do that?" she mutters.
I ask myself the same thing.
"I… not… sure," I say quietly.
I don't know what else to say.
I turn forward, staring at the empty booth across from us.
"Hey… Kurozawa?"
My voice wavers.
"Have you ever felt stuck on something… where you feel what you did was right… but maybe it wasn't?"
A weird question.
Weird timing.
Weird everything.
But somehow…
Talking to her feels easy.
She's quiet for a while.
Then—
"Tch… that's such a weird question to dump on someone," she mutters.
I know.
"But…" she continues softly.
My heart thumps once.
"Sometimes… my mother can be hard to deal with."
She swallows.
"And sometimes she hurts me… but even if she does, I still try my best for her… because I love her."
Her voice is small.
Her shoulders trembling slightly.
My eyes snap to her.
She's looking at me.
Hands resting on her legs. Cheeks tinged red.
"Wh—What—who are you looking at like that!?" she yelps, jerking her head away, face burning.
…
Did I stare too much?
But what she said—
"You're a good person, Kurozawa."
The words leave before I can stop them.
My smile is small, tired… but real.
Her face flicks toward me again—just for a moment—
then she spins away, practically steaming.
"W-W-WELL—YOU—WEIRDO— I gotta get back to work!" she barks and storms off.
…
Did I say something wrong…?
I watch her return to the counter.
Kurozawa is actually…
pretty nice.
I think.
A bit scary.
But… she cares.
Ten minutes pass.
Cars outside.
Quiet murmurs inside.
My brain drifts, still trying to make sense of everything.
Everything that happened—
that boy…
He looked familiar but my mind can't pin-point it.
Like I can see him, but I can't grab him and pull him close.
It's far away.
And then Mina—
A small ache begins to start up again—
Fast footsteps.
I look up.
Kurozawa marches over, face still red, holding a silver tray and a white mug steaming with warmth.
She slams the tray down—
then gently sets the mug in front of me.
The smell hits instantly.
Peppermint.
Cinnamon.
Chocolate.
I stare at her.
She looks away immediately.
"Take it or leave it," she mutters.
My chest twitches—
Then I let out a small laugh—
Then a bigger one—
Until I'm laughing so hard my stomach hurts.
Why? I don't know.
But it's so stupidly funny.
"W–WHAT'S SO FUNNY, WEIRDO!?" she screams.
I keep laughing.
I can't stop.
The mob movie line hits my brain—
"I'll give you an offer you can't refuse"—
and I lose it again.
She grabs my collar and shakes me.
"STOP LAUGHING! I'LL CLICK YOUR ASS!"
"Okay—okay— I'm done," I gasp, wiping my eyes.
"I'm sorry."
She drops me and steps back, embarrassed and red.
"You don't laugh at someone giving you free hot chocolate, dumbass," she mutters.
I bow my head, smiling.
"I'm sorry. And… thank you, Kurozawa."
She spins on her heel.
"Tch… whatever," she says, stomping off.
I drink the hot chocolate.
It's really good.
Warm. Calming. Comforting.
Better than last time where it was watery.
When I finish, I stand and walk toward the counter.
"Kurozawa," I say.
She jumps.
Looks over her shoulder.
Then looks away fast.
I bow slightly.
"Thank you… for everything."
Her throat bobs.
She stares at the counter like it offended her—
"Hey… I get off in ten minutes. If you want…"
She pauses. Shifts nervously.
"No. Never mind. Don't worry about it."
My heart jumps.
Was she trying to—
Should I—
"When you get off… if you want…"
I scratch my head awkwardly, heat flooding my face.
"I can walk you… home?"
She jerks like she's been electrocuted.
"I—y-you—YEAH," she squeaks.
My heart pounds.
She… said yes.
"O-Okay. I'll wait outside," I say.
I step out the café door.
The night air cools my face.
My thoughts swirl.
…Mina.
Her face. Her smile.
And that boy telling her he would walk her home.
My chest tightens.
"Who does he think he is…"
I mutter to myself, the muscles on my face tensing—
But…
Isn't this…
what I wanted?
To be alone…?
She found someone…
Better.
Someone normal.
Is that…
for the best?
…
Did she ever even want me?
Or—
Was I just—
The café door opens.
Kurozawa exits in her school uniform.
Her hair flows gently in the night wind, cherry scent drifting past me.
She looks around.
Then her eyes land on me.
I smile awkwardly.
She blushes, looking down.
"So… weirdo… you ready?" she asks, smiling like an idiot.
My heart skips.
I nod.
We walk together.
Quiet. Calm. Surprisingly comfortable.
Until we reach—
…
Her house.
Small. Barely standing. Wood cracked. Walls collapsing inward.
My stomach tightens.
I had no idea she lived like this.
She pushes open the rusted gate—
screeech—
and steps inside.
Under the moonlight, I see it:
A small smile on her face.
"Thank you… weirdo," she says softly, slipping inside the crooked door.
The house is falling apart.
But she smiled.
I…
I feel bad.
I turn and start walking home.
Late. Cold. Quiet.
I reach the front door and open it—
The kitchen light is still on.
Someone's awake.
I check the time.
9:30 PM.
Shit.
I slip my shoes off silently and start up the stairs—
"Haru."
My body tenses.
Mom.
Her tone is iron.
"Come here," she calls.
I step into the kitchen.
She sits at the table.
Staring at me.
Angry.
Really angry.