Haruta stood in front of Rei and Sera, eye to eye.
Rei's eyes widened. Sera's lips parted in surprise.
"What do you want?" Rei said, voice sharp, stepping protectively in front of Sera.
"I want... I want to apologize," Chris said, voice low, eyes fixed on the ground like it hurt to even look up.
Rei blinked, stunned. "Huh?"
Still furious. Still burning.
"I left my old gang…" Chris said quietly, every word heavy, real.
"I thought I was leading an army of lions… then I realized I was a sheep all along."
The silence was sharp.
"Like we believe you," Sera said, arms crossed, heart still guarded.
"I… I know you won't believe me. And you shouldn't. But still... let me tell you all about it."
Chris's voice cracked just a little. "I know, Sera. I was wrong... Please forgive me... I was dumb to do all that…"
Sera stared, expression unreadable.
"But why the drastic change?" she finally asked, cautious.
Chris looked up slightly, eyes softer than they'd ever seen.
"I… I kinda fell for a girl..." His voice dropped, nervous and warm all at once.
"WHAT THE REAL FUCK?"
Rei and Sera said it together, loud and completely caught off guard.
"Her name is Airi... from Class 2-A."
Chris's voice was so quiet now it almost got lost in the breeze.
"Airi? Oh, that girl with brown hair?" Rei blinked, raising a brow.
"Yes, you know her?" Chris tilted his head.
"WHY DO YOU EVEN KNOW HER?!" Sera snapped, dramatic.
"Uh… because she's my sister's friend," Rei replied with a shrug.
"Oh, makes sense," Sera muttered.
"GUYS—?" Chris cut in, a little exasperated but smiling now.
"So why did you fall for her?" Rei asked, this time… curious.
Chris scratched the back of his neck, cheeks a bit red.
"I don't really know… One day, after you beat me, I was standing at the window looking down, thinking about how stupid I'd been… and she came up and said…"
> 'Here, I made a bento box for… you. I don't know if it's good or not, but I thought you needed something warm.'
Chris laughed, a little nervous, a little tender.
"And then my brain said: yup… you fell."
Even Rei cracked a small grin.
"So why do you want forgiveness from us?" Rei asked — not unkind, just honest.
Chris looked at them both. Not as a threat. Not as a rebel. But as a boy who wanted to try again.
"Because I wanna start new…"
Rei's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, firm.
"No. Sorry. We don't trust ya."
He grabbed Sera's hand, turning to walk away.
Chris froze.
"But… please!" he called out, voice raw.
They kept walking.
The snow began to fall gently, slow like feathers from the sky.
Chris looked up, his breath hitching in the cold.
"I am sorry… for real..."
He whispered to no one. Just the snow and the silence.
---
Chris walked to the vending machine, shoulders heavy.
"I need a hot coffee…" he murmured, sliding the coin in.
A soft voice broke the stillness.
"Did you like the bento box?"
He turned — and there she was. Airi. Wrapped in her scarf, cheeks pink from the cold.
Chris blinked, then smiled.
"It was great… like really tasty…"
Airi smiled back, shy and warm.
"Thanks!"
Chris looked at her — this girl who had no idea what she'd done to him just by being kind.
"Y'know what? You deserve something."
Airi tilted her head.
"Deserve what?"
"Anything you ask." His voice was soft, but full of something real.
She paused. Then her smile bloomed again.
"Just a promise… that you won't fight again. That's all I want."
Chris's eyes widened. His heart skipped.
"Sure… if you want that."
He hesitated.
"But… what if it's to protect someone precious?"
Airi didn't even blink.
"Then save them with life."
Chris stood there, staring at her — like she was the answer to a question he didn't know he had.
He nodded slowly.
"You're right."
And with that, he turned and walked away.
His footsteps left faint trails in the snow.
Airi stood still, heart fluttering weirdly in her chest.
She didn't realize it yet, but the ache she felt wasn't from over-eating…
And Chris?
He didn't realize yet that he had truly changed.
Not for anyone else.
But for himself.
---
— to be continued
— ~Rei