I stood there at the gate, staring up at the still-open window… then at the door Kurozawa had slipped through.
Was that really… her mother?
The thought lingered, cold and heavy.
I couldn't shake the sound of that voice — too sharp, too sudden, cutting straight into me.
I waited, tense without realizing it.
Hoping the silence would just… stay silent.
Maybe her mom's just strict.
Maybe she takes curfew seriously.
Maybe that's all it was.
But minutes passed.
Still nothing.
The house stood there in complete stillness, like the whole outburst had been erased from the air.
Loose wooden planks swung slightly from the wind, creaking softly…
The only proof that anything had happened at all.
"I'm sorry, Kurozawa."
The thought hit me right after—
that she got in trouble because of me…
that her mom tore into her, all because I got her here late.
Its my fault.
one after another.
I picked my feet up slowly, dragging them behind me.
I dodged the cracks in the street, turned down a familiar route, and walked until I reached the front of my house.
I stopped.
Through the thin glass panel on the door, a light was on.
I'm late. Again.
I twisted the doorknob, testing it first…
the soft click sounding way louder than it should.
My heart thumped a little harder.
Somehow, the knob still felt louder than my own breathing.
The kitchen light is on.
A warning.
Yeah—Im definitely trouble.
I swallowed down the tightness in my chest and tiptoed toward the stairs—
"Haru."
I froze halfway up.
My mother's voice. Stern. Low. Precise.
The kind that made you feel like she already knew every truth hidden under your skin.
"Come down here,"
Okay…here we go.
I walked down to the table where she sat—legs crossed, posture perfect, unmoving.
Her green eyes cut straight through me.
"You wanna tell me why you came home late?"
I don't owe you anything.
Not for this. Not tonight.
"Tch…" The sound slipped out sharper than I meant, my gaze snapping away as heat crawled up my chest.
"I— I was just out with a friend," I said, forcing the words out, staring at the sink instead of her. My fingers twitched at my sides.
Silence.
She stood up so fast her chair almost toppled. She grabbed my shoulder hard—her fingers digging in, forcing me to face her—
Pain shot through my arm—
Her green eyes were wide. Her mouth twisted into an angry frown.
My heart hammered.
"Haru… I'm getting tired of the way you're treating me," she snapped.
My stomach twisted—
Shut up.
All you ever cared about was yourself.
My eyes drifted away from hers.
"I'm not treating you… like anything,"
Silence
The sound of the clock clicking by the second filled the room—
I swear I heard it click a hundred times in the span of a breath.
Little by little, her grip loosened.
"Haru," she said softly—her voice shaky.
"Why… why won't you even look at your mother?
What's—what's wrong with my son?"
A memory stabbed through me. Her cheating. So clear I could smell the room again.
…
This is all your fault—
My heart pounded faster. My chest tightened.
My mind screamed at me—telling me things I should say, things I should do right now in this moment…
but I couldn't move.
All I felt was fear.
The shakiness in my stomach controlling everything—
controlling me.
I gently pushed her hand off me. Her fingers remained hanging in the air, frozen in the shape of where my shoulder had been.
Somehow… I turned my back on her.
"Just leave me alone. Okay?"
I ran up the stairs.
She didn't call after me. Nothing at all..
No sound. No movement. Just… silence.
Each step twisted my stomach tighter and tighter until I reached my room.
I changed clothes, sat on my bed, and let out a long, shaky breath.
I hate this…
My hand pressed against my chest.
My heartbeat—weak, uneven.
My mind dragged me back to her expression.
I couldn't read her face when I walked away.
"What's wrong with my son?"
That line repeated. Over and over.
Hundreds of times.
So now you finally see me?
Now you're worried?
Why did it take years for you to look at me?
I crawled into bed and let sleep drag everything away.
NEXT MORNING
Bzzz.Bzzz.BZZ.
My eyes snapped open.
My alarm.
I grabbed my phone—7:30.
I didn't even shower last night.
…
Last night.
My mind replayed it.
No.
Not today.
I'll try to have a normal day.
I got up, grabbed fresh underwear and clothes, and headed to the shower.
Warm water hit my skin, but my thoughts stayed cold.
I stepped out, towel-drying my hair as I checked the time.
8:00.
School's soon.
I could get there early…
But I didn't want to go downstairs.
Not if she's there.
"How long can I keep this up…?"
I didn't know.
But avoiding them feels easier.
I put on my uniform and walked downstairs carefully.
The smell of bacon filled the house.
I headed straight for my shoes and slipped them on.
Just keep walking,
Just walk.
I opened the front door.
A soft breeze hit my face.
Freedom.
I stepped out and shut the door behind me.
I started down my usual route when—
My shoe snagged on a crack.
My ankle twisted.
Thud.
I hit the ground hard.
Pain shot up my leg.
"Shit…" I gritted out, wincing.
My ankle—
"HARU!"
A girl's voice.
Familiar.
My head snapped to the side.
Running.
Running toward me.
The smell—sweet. Too sweet.
She stopped behind me.
"Haru…" she said softly.
Mina.
My whole body froze in place.
Sweat slid down my neck.
Shit…
She moved around in front of me, crouching until we were face-to-face.
"Haru, are you okay?" she asked, looking down at my ankle.
Her hand rested gently on it—
Electricity shot up my leg, spine, chest.
I winced.
"Oh—sorry…" she whispered, touching it even more softly.
Her breath brushed my cheek.Her eyes flicked between my ankle and my face—watching… studying…
Too close.
TO BE CONTINUED…