---
The corridor buzzed with the usual noise of students changing classes, laughter bouncing off lockers, and distant bells echoing down the hallways. But for Harukoo, every step felt heavy—like the weight of invisible eyes tracking his every move.
He adjusted his school jacket, shoulders squared. The transformation he'd promised himself wasn't just skin deep—it was a new way to carry himself. A way to finally demand the respect he never had.
Ahead, Kaito lounged against the lockers, surrounded by his clique, his usual smug grin plastered across his face. The instant Harukoo approached, the chatter died down. Kaito's eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and challenge.
"Well, well," Kaito said, voice loud enough to draw attention. "Look who's suddenly trying to play big shot."
Harukoo stopped a few feet away, meeting Kaito's gaze evenly. "I'm not playing. I'm just being myself."
Kaito's grin twisted. "You? Being yourself? You've been invisible your whole life. What makes you think you can change that now?"
Harukoo lifted his chin slightly, a calm fire burning behind his eyes. "Because I'm done hiding."
The group around Kaito chuckled, but a few eyes flickered with curiosity.
Kaito pushed off the lockers and stepped closer, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Stay away from Mika. She's mine."
Hearing Mika's name made Harukoo's breath catch. The bitterness of unspoken feelings surged through him.
"She's not your possession," Harukoo said quietly but firmly. "You don't get to own her."
Kaito's smirk widened. "We'll see how long you last."
---
In the Classroom
Mika sat frozen, watching from her seat as the two boys exchanged words. She could barely breathe. Harukoo's steady gaze and quiet confidence felt foreign but strangely magnetic.
She glanced at Kaito, who casually watched Harukoo like a predator assessing prey. It dawned on her with a painful clarity: maybe Harukoo was right. Maybe she had been blinded by Kaito's charm, missing what was real all along.
---
Festival Plans
Later, as Harukoo walked out of school, Rina, the cheerful third-year girl who had welcomed him before, caught up with him.
"Hey! You coming to the festival on Saturday?" she asked with a bright smile.
Harukoo hesitated but nodded. "Yeah, I'll try to."
Rina's eyes lit up. "Awesome! It's going to be fun. You should hang out with us."
Harukoo's lips curved into a genuine smile. For the first time, he felt like he belonged somewhere beyond the shadow of his past.
---
At Home
Yuki sat in her room, hands folded tightly in her lap. Watching Harukoo change stirred feelings she had buried deep—feelings she didn't fully understand. She touched the necklace around her neck, a gift from Maria, a reminder that she wasn't truly part of the family. But with Harukoo, it felt different.
She loved him, but not in the way sisters should. The secret she kept was a thorn in her heart.
"I wish I could tell you," she whispered to the empty room, "but I'm scared of losing you."
---
Maria's Silent Walls
Downstairs, Maria stood in the kitchen, her back rigid as she prepared dinner. The faint sounds of the TV filled the space, but her mind was elsewhere—wrapped in memories of her late husband and the promise to care for Yuki.
Harukoo was a constant reminder of loss and pain, a boy she kept at arm's length. She didn't want to admit it, but her coldness stung more than she let on.
---
Harukoo's Reflection
That night, Harukoo sat at his desk by the window, the city lights flickering beyond the glass. His notebook lay open, filled with lists, plans, and quiet promises.
I'm not just doing this for me anymore.
I'm going to make them see who I really am.
Closing the notebook, he felt a surge of resolve. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, he was ready.
---