His gaze fell downward.
A lightness like drifting feathers brushed against his nerves. The girl's flushed cheeks betrayed a faint crimson, and no matter how hard she tried to restrain it, the joy in her heart spilled through. For most couples, this might have been the simplest kind of confession, but to her it carried an extraordinary weight.
Misumi Uika could not help but recall the past.
Back then, she had been timid and insecure. Faced with rejection, she only sank into self-pity and grief, never daring to confess her feelings to him directly. Her veiled confessions had been turned down, leaving her to spiral into exhaustion and despair.
Yet even then, she had longed for the most ordinary relationship.
Before meeting him, Uika had grown accustomed to weathering storms alone. But once she experienced warmth and kindness for herself, she could no longer return to that old independence. She simply wanted to touch warmth, to reach for the safe harbor that shielded her from wind and rain.
"…"
Blushing, the girl raised her head, her gaze fixed earnestly on the boy before her.
From this moment onward, she was no longer the girl she used to be. She would never again think of everything as her own fault, nor belittle herself as unworthy of standing against Sakiko, or unqualified to pursue the one she loved.
This time, she took the initiative, rising on tiptoe.
She felt the powerful rhythm of his heartbeat, and the broken fragments within her were slowly pieced together again. A gentle, beautiful smile spread across her face as she reached for the warmth she had always been denied. Now, no one could hold her back.
Haru's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected such determination beneath Uika's usually composed exterior.
Yet he did not push her away. He only stroked her silky golden hair with tenderness.
Moments later...
"…"
Haru lightly patted her back, bringing the intoxicated Uika back to her senses.
"S-sorry, I might have gone a little too far!"
Flustered, she covered her face with both hands. The idol who had always stood on stage with such charm and confidence was now just an ordinary high school girl, lost in the sweetness of her first love.
Haru could understand. He too was not immune to losing himself in such moments.
"It's not that I disliked it. But if someone saw us, it would be troublesome."
"After all, you're still a well-known idol, and tonight your face isn't even hidden."
Uika nodded softly, but at the memory of that deep kiss, her bare cheeks flushed a tender pink. Her smooth skin glowed under the warm neon lights, shimmering like crystal.
She clenched her tiny fists and spoke with excitement.
"Now I'm not afraid of being seen by anyone. Because I'm already an idol in love!"
"And besides, this plaza is so secluded, almost no one ever comes here—"
But as she spoke, her eyes drifted toward the fountain beyond Haru's shoulder. In that instant, a flash of blue reflected in her gaze.
Uika's smile vanished.
Not far away, Togawa Sakiko stood staring at her blankly. The joyful triumph of Uika's successful confession collapsed into fear and dread, her wide eyes frozen on the figure in the distance.
"S-Saki-chan?"
"Sakiko?"
Haru turned sharply at her words, and his eyes immediately locked with the small blue-haired girl standing by the fountain.
Though she stood more than ten meters away, his sharp vision caught every detail of her pale and stunned face, so fragile it seemed like porcelain, her expression heavy with fatigue and disbelief.
Damn, it was her.
Why was Sakiko here?
"…"
By the fountain, the girl stared in a daze. Her hands, once clenched into fists, had slackened, hanging limply at her sides like the strings of a broken puppet. Even her proud posture could no longer hold itself straight.
How could it be… Uika?
In her dreams, Sakiko had endured countless cycles of time, countless defeats. She had believed her heart was strong enough to withstand anything, that she could face every hardship with calm acceptance.
But now, she could not endure this.
"What… what is this…?"
The girl's wide amber eyes trembled violently.
Even when she first learned that her soul's other half, Wakaba Mutsumi, had become Haru's fiancée, and that her former close friend Takamatsu Tomori was also one of his girlfriends, Sakiko had never felt such a fierce surge of emotion as she did now.
"Uika… why, why does it have to be Uika?"
She knew very well that Uika was her rival in love.
But Uika was also one of her dearest friends. Even though, in reality, Sakiko had once said some hurtful things to her, whether in reality or in the dream world, Uika had always remained gentle as a friend.
Through all of Sakiko's countless cycles within the dream, Uika alone had never once betrayed her.
Yahata Umiri, who showed no interest in anything, Takamatsu Tomori, who seemed not to understand love, Shiina Taki, stubborn and cold, and even Mutsumi, her very soul's other half... each of them had crushed her courage in their own way.
Sakiko had believed that only Uika, perhaps, was truly worthy of her trust.
"Why… why did it have to end up like this?"
She had given everything, struggling with all her might to chase her goal.
For that, Sakiko had forced herself to break ties with the band she had built with her own hands, severing bonds with her dearest friends. Even though her love for Haru was nearly overflowing, she pushed it down, pouring everything into her vision for the future.
She only wanted the simple happiness of love, like any other girl. So why had things turned out this way?
"…"
The moment her eyes fell on the boy she loved, the determination that had carried her until now shattered. Scalding tears burst forth like a broken dam, streaming down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away again and again, but only ended up soaking her hand and sleeves.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop the tears.
"Saki-chan!"
Uika took a few steps forward, her face full of worry and regret, ready to explain. But her words seemed like a signal. Sakiko's eyes went wide with panic and shame, and in the next instant she turned and bolted.
Seeing Sakiko about to vanish into the distance, Uika, stricken with guilt, cried out:
"Haru, quickly… stop Sakiko! Please!"
"This is all my fault, I never should have… never in front of her… you must bring her back!"
Sakiko had never once cried in front of her. That sight struck Uika with a crushing force, leaving her trembling with fear, unable to remain calm, blaming herself for everything.
"This isn't your fault, Uika."
Haru furrowed his brow and pulled her into his arms.
From his perspective, this was his mistake.
He hadn't anticipated Sakiko appearing at this moment, nor had he acted quickly enough to explain things. If only he had told her the truth earlier, maybe it would not have come to this.
"Calm down first, Uika. You did nothing wrong."
In just two seconds of Haru's embrace, the frantic girl began to recover. Her trembling violet eyes slowly softened, though the guilt in her heart toward Sakiko refused to fade.
"Thank you. I'm calm now."
"You don't need to worry about me anymore. Please, go after Sakiko, bring her back!"
Seeing the girl in his arms return to herself, Haru let out a small sigh of relief, then turned his gaze toward the direction Sakiko had fled.
Her slender blue silhouette was already fading.
He truly had not expected things to unfold like this.
"She's right. I need to apologize to Sakiko first."
His thoughts were scattered, but he forced the chaos aside. Now was not the time to dwell on blame. What mattered most was action, he had to stop things from getting worse.
Once Uika was safe, he had to chase Sakiko down.
The heiress was far too stubborn. Haru worried about what she might do.
"Uika, wait here for me."
"I'll go after Sakiko now, and I'll bring her back to you."
With those words, Haru turned without hesitation and sprinted after the fleeing girl, leaving behind Uika, hands pressed to her chest, watching with anxious eyes as he grew smaller in the distance.
...
Only the sound of endless panting echoed in her ears.
Cold, damp air rushed through her mouth into her lungs, the sharp sting like needles piercing into her brain, yet even that pain was nothing compared to the knife-like agony tearing through her heart.
Her black leather shoes splashed into the mud, sending droplets flying. In an instant, her white lace-trimmed socks were soaked and stained, even the washed-out hem of her skirt was dirtied. Still, she did not stop running.
"Ah!"
Her pace too fast, the girl stumbled and fell forward onto the ground.
A sharp, burning pain shot through her palms. When she looked down, she saw that her hand had been scraped open.
Blood seeped out in thin red lines, the sting making her bite her lip. But this was nothing, not compared to the weight crushing her heart. Gritting her teeth, she braced herself to stand.
And then she noticed the puddle beside her.
It reflected the pitiful image of her face. The once clear, defiant eyes now red and swollen from crying, her lips raw with a trace of blood, her hair clinging in damp strands from sweat, two trails of tears still glistening on her cheeks.
Sakiko froze.
"Sakiko!"
The dazed girl snapped back to herself. At some point, Haru had already caught up. Her heart surged with panic. Forgetting the pain in her hands, she scrambled up and ran again.
No. She could not let him see her like this.
This shameful, ugly self... she would never let him see it.
"Togawa-san?"
From around the corner stepped a blonde girl in a Shimokitazawa High school uniform. Before she could even lift her hand, Sakiko had already brushed past her.
"Eh?"
Ijichi Nijika blinked in confusion as the girl dashed away without so much as a glance. She hadn't even spoken to her yet. For a moment Nijika wondered if she had done something wrong.
No, she couldn't have mistaken her.
"Ryo, did you see that? That was Togawa-san, right?"
Clutching a stick of candied hawthorn, Nijika turned and waved to the blue-haired girl standing behind her. The golden cones on her headband shook slightly with the motion.
Others might have been mistaken, but not her.
Yamada Ryo watched Sakiko's fleeing back with her usual flat expression. Her words came out calm and quiet.
"Yes, that was her."
"She looked troubled, almost like someone was chasing her."
"Someone chasing her?!"
Nijika stiffened at those words. She immediately glanced in the direction Sakiko had come from, searching for the pursuer. Then she spotted the familiar figure of a black-haired boy.
Her breath caught. She recognized him at once.
That was Haru.
"Nijika, Ryo?"
Haru slowed in surprise at the sight of the two girls standing there.
"Haru-san?! We were just on our way to your place today, but… why are you chasing -san?!"
"Pfft~ Did you confess and get rejected?"
Their sudden questions made Haru falter, but Sakiko was about to disappear. He had no time to waste on explanations. Without stopping his stride, he only threw back a quick reply:
"Sorry, I can't explain right now!"
"Wait, wait, hold on! What's going on?!"
Nijika's golden ponytail bounced as she called out in a fluster, but her voice could not stop him.
"…"
Ryo, who had been ready to quip another dry joke, faltered instead. A faint unease flickered in her pale golden eyes. She narrowed them slightly, like a half-awake cat watching prey.
Her usual expressionless face held an unfamiliar tension, a chill that Nijika had never seen before.
"What… what do we do now?"
"Today we were supposed to sneak over to Haru's new house, celebrate his move, and hold our regular band meeting… but this looks serious, doesn't it?!"
Completely lost, Nijika turned her gaze to her friend beside her.
Ryo might usually be the most irresponsible one, but in times like this, she was the one who could tell what mattered.
"Nijika, you go to Haru's place first."
Ryo's voice was flat as always, but her eyes stayed fixed on the street ahead. Before Nijika could react, Ryo had already ran after Haru.
Nijika stood frozen.
"…"
Her right hand gripped the strap of her bag, her trembling fingers betraying her unease.
Because she had never seen that look in Ryo's eyes before.
After a moment of hesitation, Nijika shook her head. Standing here and wavering would do nothing. At this point, she could only follow her instincts. She had to go after them.
…
The night streets were not noisy. Neon lights shimmered together with the pale, gauzy moonlight. The girl walked along the roadside as cars passed by, the headlights flashing across her skin like snow glowing faintly in the dark.
She did not know when she had stepped onto the bridge that spanned the road. Memories flickered in her eyes, the warmth she had once felt in those dreams mixing now with bitter regret.
She was lost on this path.
"…"
The girl let out a faint sigh, fingers tightening on the strap of her bag, her gaze drifting toward the distant street.
"Today, my mom isn't home either…"
Nagasaki Soyo idly twirled a strand of hair near her shoulder with her slender finger. For days she hadn't been able to speak with the person she liked, and every time she returned to an empty home, the loneliness inside her grew heavier.
A shadow of unease clouded her face.
"…"
Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. Standing on the overpass, she stopped walking toward her apartment, then turned instead toward the Ikebukuro residential district. Her steps were firm, filled with resolve.
She couldn't endure it any longer.
"Hm?"
Soyo suddenly noticed a familiar pale blue figure passing below. For a moment she froze, recognizing who it was. Then she saw another figure following close behind.
Sakiko didn't notice anything around her. Stumbling, she tried to cross the street. After running so far, even with her normally excellent stamina, her strength was gone. The sharp ache in her lungs made her vision blur.
Just as her pace faltered, she felt a tug at her hand.
Startled, she turned. A black-haired boy, barely out of breath, was looking straight at her, his dark eyes calm and steady. The moment he seized her wrist, all strength drained from her body.
"Finally caught you. If you kept running, I might've been the one out of breath."
Haru's lips curved into a faint smile, but to her eyes, it was blindingly harsh.
"Why… why are you chasing me?"
"Because I can't just leave you alone. No matter what, I had to stop you."
Haru reached out gently to wipe away the tears clinging to her eyes. That simple gesture shattered the fragile wall holding back her emotions, and her tears spilled in heavy drops.
Her sudden crying left him a little stunned.
"You say you can't leave me alone, but what right do you have to say that, Haru?"
"You shouldn't stop me. Just let me go on my own!"
Her shoulders trembled, and guilt flickered across his gaze.
Haru closed his eyes, then opened them again, resolve burning within.
"I like you, Sakiko."
"…?"
"These words may come far too late, but I still want to say it. I like you. No matter what, I can't leave you to suffer alone. I want to be someone you can lean on completely."
Sakiko stood frozen, staring blankly at the boy confessing before her.
He was like the Haru in her dreams, the same gentle, earnest eyes, the same gaze that made her want to collapse into his arms, to cry so hard her voice shattered his ears.
But then she remembered what she had seen today.
"…Haru, what do you take me for?"
Her voice was hoarse, spilling from lips tinged with blood. Tears streamed down her face as her brows knitted tight, her breathing ragged, her chest threatening to stop altogether. With all the bitterness in her heart, she answered:
"I won't say yes. Haru, you're only thinking about yourself!"
Haru froze, stunned by her rejection. As he stood there motionless, Sakiko suddenly tore free from his grasp. The act was so abrupt that he couldn't react in time.
Then he noticed it. His black eyes narrowed sharply.
Screeech!!
The shrill scream of brakes split the night. Blinding white headlights lit her entire body, the pillar of light crashing down on her like judgment. Her amber eyes widened, her limbs powerless.
Time stopped. Space froze.
Her legs felt heavy as lead, impossible to move no matter how she tried.
Not even a cry escaped her throat. She stood paralyzed, only half-aware of a voice calling her name, familiar and warm, a voice she longed to turn toward.
And then, someone seized her hand.
Weightlessness flooded her body. The world spun. By the time she regained awareness, she was already on the ground, collapsed heavily. Even her sharp mind couldn't process anything now. She could only stare ahead in a daze.
"Haru?"
The name slipped from her lips. Her widened eyes sensed something was wrong.
In the distance, etched into the asphalt, were deep, black skid marks.