Should he call it a strange feeling?
When Haru heard from that slightly odd silver-haired doctor that his injuries were not serious, he immediately realized it was his skill, [Endurance Lv.5], that had worked wonders during the impact.
At the very moment of the collision, the waves of pain shooting through his body and the haze clouding his mind had nearly convinced him he was done for. But after drifting into sleep for a while, he awoke with his thoughts perfectly clear.
Even if the simulator often struck him as an unreliable half-finished tool, when it came to the practicality of skills, it never lied.
Back when his endurance had only been Lv.2, the description had merely been "able to last longer if hit by a car." But after countless simulations and raising it to Lv.5, the skill's effect had undergone a complete transformation. Compared to before, it was now an entirely different ability.
"I was wrong to speak ill of you before. I truly apologize."
Haru pressed his palms together, muttering under his breath.
This was his confession.
It was thanks to that skill that he had survived by sheer luck, coming out almost unscathed. Even knowing how powerful it was, he had no intention of ever trying out what it felt like to be sent flying again.
After all, it had hurt quite a lot.
"Speaking of which, I wonder how Sakiko is doing?"
"I should hurry and let the others know I'm alright, otherwise they'll be worried."
After a moment's hesitation, Haru moved his left hand slightly. Half of it was already wrapped tightly in bandages.
His chest and legs too were covered in them. Haru knew they were only there to stop bleeding, yet they had wrapped him up so much that it looked as if he were on the brink of death.
Click
The door to his hospital room opened softly, and a small pale-green head peeked in.
Haru narrowed his eyes with a faint smile, looking at the girl at the door.
Having rushed straight from home, Wakaba Mutsumi was still wearing loose loungewear. Her pale green, waist-length hair shimmered like crystal, and though her face was usually delicately pretty, now it was clouded with unease. Even her gaze was only tentative as she looked his way.
"Sorry, did I make you worry?"
"..."
Mutsumi pressed her lips tight, her pale golden eyes filling with tears.
Under Haru's surprised gaze, she slowly lowered her head. Warm tears spilled down her trembling cheeks, her brows drawn tight as if trying desperately to hold back, but no matter how hard she tried, her emotions overflowed.
All this time she had been suppressing herself. In truth, her fear had been no less than anyone else's, but for the sake of the others she had forced herself to remain calm. Now that she saw Haru again, she could no longer contain it.
Drop by drop, her tears fell like broken pearls onto the floor. Her shoulders trembled as she bit her lips hard.
This is bad. She's crying.
Haru drew in a sharp breath. Of all things, the sight of a girl in tears was what he could never handle.
"Muuko, come here."
The obedient little wooden doll could only nod softly, stepping toward his bed.
But seeing Haru's pitiful state as he sat bandaged and weak, her emotions surged uncontrollably. She wanted to throw herself into his arms, yet her hands only clutched at her skirt, too afraid to get closer.
He was still an injured patient, and she feared that touching him recklessly might tear his wounds open.
Seeing her hesitation, Haru couldn't help but chuckle. Without waiting, he reached out and drew her into his arms.
"I was reckless… I'm so sorry. I won't make you worry like this again."
He gently stroked her pale green hair that spilled down like fabric, patting her back in soft rhythm to calm her. He let her cry quietly against him, wiping the tears from her eyes whenever they fell.
Mutsumi's tears made no sound, as if she were a silent doll who couldn't vent her sorrow.
Her small figure, clinging to him so pitifully, tugged at Haru's heart until he could hardly breathe. He stroked her head and whispered words of comfort, and only when she had steadied herself did he finally breathe in relief.
"The doctor must have told you already, right? My injuries are light, I could even just go home and res—"
"No."
Her soft, gentle tone immediately turned firm. She shook her head like a little rattle-drum, her rejection clear. The sudden change left Haru blinking in surprise.
"Haru, you have to stay in the hospital."
"…The doctor said staying a few days for observation is safer."
Her eyes fell on the bandages around his chest and abdomen. Her face clouded visibly with sadness, and Haru's expression stiffened at her resistance. He coughed lightly, trying to explain.
"Mutsumi, don't be fooled by how dramatic this looks. My wounds are already healing just fine with a bit of medicine. If I stay here, though… the draft I owe from the lady with the paint business will get delayed, and there's the work with Ave Mujica, not to mention composing—"
"No."
Her voice was firm and absolute.
Usually she would obey Haru without question, never showing resistance. This was the first time she had pushed back so strongly against him, and he could only twitch his lips helplessly.
So she really wasn't going to let him out of here.
Seeing her serious expression, he realized there was no way to win against her. With a sigh, he nodded.
"Alright, I'll stay here a few more days."
"…I'll take care of you."
Her words carried a determination like a player accepting a quest from an NPC. Her expression was both serious and adorably resolute, which made Haru's lips curl into an affectionate smile. He gazed at her with warmth.
"Then I'll be counting on you."
But then a thought struck him, and his eyes shifted toward the door.
"The others are here too, aren't they? Why don't we let them in."
Mutsumi furrowed her delicate brows, her carved-like features shadowed with worry. She lifted her head and spoke cautiously. "Haru, are you sure? If too many people come in, it might disturb your rest."
"It's fine, these injuries don't amount to much. Besides, it's more important that everyone sees I'm alright. If they only hear it from you, someone's bound to imagine the worst. It's better to put their minds at ease while we can."
Mutsumi nodded softly, seeming to accept his reasoning.
For many of them, Haru was already a pillar of support. Right now, both Soyo and Tomori's states of mind were dangerously fragile. Letting them see him safe was the best thing to do.
"I understand. I'll bring them in."
Barely two minutes after Mutsumi left, the door opened again and a crowd of girls poured into the room. Some were crying, others trembling with anxiety, which only confirmed to Haru that his decision was right.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was at death's door.
"Waaah, Haru, are you okay?!"
Eyes swollen from crying, Anon lunged toward the bed. But before she could throw herself on him, Nijika and Taki, who had just arrived, caught her together, terrified that her leap might crush him.
"Are you stupid?! He's still injured! What if you hurt him worse?!"
"Anon, maybe we should keep a little distance from Haru for now, okay?"
The mix of sharp scolding and gentle soothing seemed to snap Anon back to herself. She realized at once how reckless she had been, especially since that kind of behavior was the worst possible thing for a patient.
"S-sorry…"
Seeing his little girlfriend not far away lower her head in guilt and apologize, Haru simply waved his hand lightly and replied,
"You don't all need to be so tense. The doctor said I'm actually not hurt, at most I'll stay in the hospital for observation a few days before going home."
"Thank goodness..."
The gray-haired little penguin pressed her tiny fists against her chest and let out a long sigh of relief. Seeing Haru still well enough to chat and laugh with everyone, the crushing unease and fear in her heart ebbed away like the tide.
Ryo, who usually cracked jokes and never sat still, was surprisingly quiet today. She stood expressionlessly beside Nijika, studying Haru with her eyes. Only after confirming that he truly was fine did she slowly close them.
Relief.
That was the shared thought of everyone present.
Each of them had felt that sharp pang of loss. His presence had always been so natural, such an ordinary part of daily life. That warm figure, always by their side, had suddenly become blurry.
None of them ever wanted to feel that knife-to-the-heart pain again.
Because they had truly experienced what it meant to lose, they now cherished even more what they once thought was ordinary.
"...Hm? What about Umiri and Kita?"
Lifting his head, Haru noticed something strange.
The elusive cat-girl who was always impossible to contact could be excused.
As for Yahata Umiri, the mercenary, being held up by work was nothing surprising. Haru knew her personality well. But excluding Bocchi, who lived in Yokohama and couldn't make it, Kita lived right near Haneoka. She should not have been absent.
Looking around carefully, Haru realized even Hitori-chan wasn't there.
"...I actually thought Kita would be the first to come."
"When I messaged her earlier, it showed 'read' but she didn't reply. Just now I got a call from her family saying that the moment she learned the news... Kita fainted on the spot."
What... seriously?
Haru froze at Nijika's explanation. Thankfully, he had quickly told Mutsumi to call everyone in once he woke up. Otherwise, he couldn't imagine what direction things would have spiraled if they had all been left uncertain about his safety.
His temples throbbed slightly as he rubbed them, then he suddenly asked,
"By the way... how's Sakiko doing now?"
Sakiko?
Everyone who didn't know the details froze.
None of them had expected Haru's accident to somehow involve Togawa Sakiko.
Many of the girls here had some connection with her, but all they knew was that Haru had been in a traffic accident. They had rushed here and then been consumed by fear. No one had even thought to look into what had actually happened.
Only Nijika, Ryo, and Soyo had been at the scene.
Soyo had been standing silently in the corner with her arms folded. The despair she had felt earlier had only eased when she saw Haru safe. But even now, she didn't dare speak up.
"She wasn't hurt at all," Ryo answered flatly, her tone calm as still water.
The others immediately exchanged uneasy glances.
The first to react was Shiina Taki, who had never had much fondness for Sakiko to begin with. She frowned sharply, suspicion rising in her chest, and turned toward Ryo.
"What do you mean? Why bring up Sakiko? Does this have something to do with her? Tell us... why was Haru even hit by that truck in the first place? What happened?"
Ryo remained expressionless, her gaze fixed on Haru.
Realizing the hot potato had been thrown into his lap, Haru sighed quietly. Everyone here deserved to know the truth. He had no reason to hide it.
In just a few moments, he explained the rough sequence of events.
The expressions around the room immediately darkened. Taki's brows furrowed deeply, and midway through she had already guessed. Her fists clenched tight, her face filled with disbelief, emotions she could no longer suppress surging to the surface.
Something like this had really happened?
"That damn girl Sakiko—"
"This was my mistake," Haru cut in, catching her words before they burst out. "I didn't handle things properly."
Afraid that this incident would damage their already fragile ties with Sakiko, Haru swept his gaze across the room, his eyes soft and calming.
"This isn't her fault. Don't blame Sakiko. It was because of my mistake, not hers. So please, don't let this weigh on you."
He forced the words out one after another, his lips twitching slightly.
Wait—why did that sound so... suspicious?
Grumbling inwardly, he looked around. The girls' expressions weren't great, but at least his words had taken some effect. Even Taki, who had been the angriest, had managed to rein herself in.
That let Haru finally breathe out in relief.
No matter what, he truly didn't want anyone to hate Sakiko.
She had already left scars in their hearts by disbanding CRYCHIC. Now with this accident tangled up with her as well, he knew that from their perspective, resentment toward her would be natural.
But their relationships had only just started to ease. The last thing Haru wanted was for everything to return to how it had been.
"Haru, it's about time you rested."
Mutsumi's gentle voice broke the heavy air.
Everyone suddenly remembered, Haru was still a patient. With so many of them crowding into the ward, he couldn't possibly rest.
So after offering him words of comfort, they reluctantly began filing out one by one, until only Soyo remained, arms still folded as she stood there, looking lost.
Compared to all the other "girlfriends," she looked like a complete outsider.
"..."
Mutsumi raised her head to Haru, as if silently asking for his opinion.
What else could he say?
Seeing Soyo's face, filled with sadness and apology, no one could stay indifferent. Haru sighed inwardly, then spoke as gently as he could:
"Soyo... could you come here for a moment?"
The girl's delicate lashes trembled faintly like cicada wings. Her thin lips pressed together, her expression full of surprise. Meeting her husband again had already left her restless and uneasy, and today's events had only dealt her another heavy blow.
She felt fear, worry, and panic, but all those emotions that had plagued her for days suddenly seemed trivial. Compared to almost being separated from Haru forever, none of that mattered.
"..."
Soyo slowly stepped forward, stopping at his bedside with guilt clouding her eyes.
Haru couldn't help but feel a little amused. He had only wanted to talk with her for a bit, but the moment she approached she lowered her head like she was ready to confess her sins. He didn't quite know what to do with that.
"Soyo, I'm not here to blame you."
"...But I did such terrible things to you before. Even the start of our 'relationship' was built entirely on lies. I'm nothing but a scheming, manipulative woman. You must have hated me for a long time already."
Her eyes shimmered with tears as she lifted her head, looking at him with deep apology.
"I lied about so many things... but there's one thing I never lied about."
"I love you, Haru. That alone has never been a lie!"
Mutsumi stood quietly nearby, watching the tearful girl. Her trembling voice carried the weight of everything inside her, a desperate outpouring of her heart. Cucumber-san, who should have said something, remained silent instead, simply watching the girl before her slowly change.
"I'm sorry. I won't lie to you again."
"...So please, don't leave me."