"Where the hell have you been, Haru?"
My mom's voice snaps across the kitchen, sharp and stern.
She's sitting with her legs crossed under the table, arms folded, eyes narrowed.
A small fire sparks in my chest.
Don't act like you care.
"I was out with a friend," I say, staring at the table leg instead of her face.
Silence spreads between us.
"Haru," she says again—softer this time, almost like she's testing the word,
"what's wrong…? You've been acting different ever since your injury."
My heart thumps.
Heat crawls up my ribs.
I wish I could tell you.
Tell you how much—
…how much you disgust me.
But…
I can't say that.
Not yet.
I turn away.
"I'm fine," I say, walking toward the stairs.
That's all you get from me.
In my room, I pull off my uniform and change into my white T-shirt and shorts.
The second my body hits the mattress, I sink into the pillow like it's swallowing me.
…
My mind drifts—to earlier.
To Kurozawa.
To her home.
The peeling wood.
The roof sagging.
The rusted gate.
The silence.
She lives in that?
And I… I live in a warm house.
Soft bed.
Electricity that actually works.
She deserves better.
My eyes close on that last thought.
ONE WEEK LATER
"Can I have your attention!"
The teacher slams her hand on the podium.
The class falls silent instantly.
I stop talking mid-sentence.
Kurozawa stops too, hand frozen halfway to hitting my shoulder for whispering.
"As you all know, this class's grades are low."
Her eyes scan the room—
Then lock onto me.
And stay.
…Way longer than necessary.
Kurozawa covers her mouth, suppressing a laugh.
My face warms.
You really didn't need to stare at me that long…
"Well, that being said," the teacher continues, "the principal is creating a new work-study group."
Groans fill the room.
"You will all be paired with first years."
First years…?
More groans. A loud "What the hell?!" from the back.
"Tch…" Kurozawa mutters. "I gotta work with a damn first year?"
"Relax, relax," the teacher says. "It's only for a few days."
But why though?
Learn what?
How to breathe better?
"As you're probably wondering… the first years have the highest grades in the school. So you will be learning from them."
…Highest grades?
What are those kids eating?
"Alright, I'll hand out your pairing slips later. For now—history books. Page 97."
AFTER CLASS
The bell rings.
Finally.
I stretch my arms, letting out a tiny sigh.
"You got work today?" I ask Kurozawa.
She smiles—too happily.
"Noooo~ Today is my day off."
…That sucks.
I wanted to hang out with her, like we did the whole week after she got off work.
I look away, pretending I'm not disappointed.
"Hey, um… weirdo…" she mumbles.
I immediately look back.
"If you… want… we can go to karaoke."
Karaoke?
My heart jumps into my throat.
Karaoke.
With Kurozawa.
Wait—Isn't karaoke something girls do with their friends?
"I… uh… yes," I stutter.
She nods quickly, then rushes to the teacher's desk.
I grab my bag and walk up to get my slip.
The teacher hands it to me like she's handing me a report card of failure.
I smile awkwardly, take the slip, and walk outside the classroom where I stop.
I unfold it.
My eyes dart to the bold text—big, like it's asking me to see it first.
And my stomach drops.
Mi—Mina
No.
No, no, no—
"Haru."
A soft voice behind me.
A scent.
Sweet.
Candy-sweet.
My whole body freezes.
I turn slowly.
Mina.
Purple hair.
Soft smile.
Red eyes.
She looks… alive. Brighter than before. Too bright.
"It's…" I say, stuck, heart racing out of my chest, "...been a minute."
I mumble the rest into the floor.
She steps closer.
"Yes, Haru," she says gently, "it has."
My mind replays that night.
The yelling.
The fear.
The knife.
The blood.
Her tears.
My chest tightens.
"Mina… I… just want to say sorry. For how I treated you… that day."
I bow my head gently.
Silence.
Then—
Steps.
Soft.
Slow.
Approaching.
Her hand lands on my shoulder.
Soft. Warm.
But also stern—like she's having trouble controlling herself.
She lifts my head up—forcing me to look into her eyes.
She's too close.
Way too close.
My heart bumps.
"Haru… I forgive you."
She whispers it so softly it hurts.
My hand drops the slip.
It falls like a dead leaf.
Before I can breathe—
She steps back.
Smiling.
A faint tremble in her legs.
A blush on her cheeks.
"I thought you hated me, so I left you alone…" she says softly, looking away, visibly upset.
My eyes drift down—
A red ribbon.
Student council.
"I didn't know you were in the council…" I mutter.
Her eyes widen. She beams.
"Well, YEAH!" she blurts, then calms. "I joined last week… The student council president, Sayo, asked me to join."
Sayo?
My stomach twists sharply.
Is it that… boy…?
A weird feeling hits—like a knife dragging across my heart.
I step back.
Her face shifts instantly.
"Haru…?" she asks gently.
I force a smile.
"That's… nice. W-Well, I gotta go."
I bow—too fast—and walk away.
Past students.
Past lockers.
Straight to my own.
My heart feels sick as I change into my outdoor shoes.
Kurozawa… karaoke…
I head toward the front gate.
She's waiting.
But—
She's not alone.
She stands with her friends.
Her delinquent friends.
Piercings.
Bleached hair.
Dark tans.
Sharp eyes.
They look like a girl version of prison gang leaders.
My legs shake.
I should…
walk up?
Or wait?
Before I can decide—
Her eyes land on me.
Her face lights up instantly.
"Weirdo!! Over here!" she waves excitedly.
Every single one of her friends turns.
Their eyes hit me at the same time.
Like wolves spotting a baby deer.
My body locks.
My throat tightens.
I walk toward her slowly—
Head down—
Gripping my bag like a shield.