The night air was crisp.
Ren stood at the edge of the apartment rooftop, a can of lemon soda in one hand, jacket half-buttoned. Above him, the stars blinked like tiny confessions waiting to be heard.
The door behind him creaked.
He didn't need to turn.
"...Hey," he said softly.
"...It's cold," Haruka muttered, brushing past him with her usual blank expression. She wore a simple sweater over her uniform, sleeves pulled over her hands.
"You came," he said.
"I was already here."
Ren gave her a look.
Haruka took a sip of her soda, eyes on the sky.
"Yui told me you cried on the roof."
"I didn't cry."
"She said you looked like you wanted to."
"…Okay, maybe a little."
Silence.
Only the wind moved between them now.
Ren looked at her.
"You're not mad?"
"I was."
He blinked. "At me?"
Haruka nodded. "For being predictable. For choosing the safe way. For not understanding what it meant when none of us said anything, but still waited for you to notice."
Ren turned fully to face her now.
"Then why are you here?"
She finally met his gaze.
Because Haruka Aizawa didn't speak often—but when she did, she meant every word.
"…Because even when I'm mad, I still want to be near you."
His heart skipped.
"You could've kissed her," she continued, voice low. "And I would've called you an idiot behind your back. But I would've still come to class. Still shared my notes. Still passed you the curry packet when Yui tried to hide it."
Ren laughed softly. "You always act like you don't care."
"That's the only way I don't break."
He stepped closer.
Not touching her. Just… there.
"I don't know how to fix this yet," he whispered. "But I know I don't want to lose you."
She stared at him.
Then looked away.
"…I hate that you said that like a protagonist."
"I'm not trying to be one anymore."
"Then be a boy who means what he says," she murmured. "That's harder."
He smiled.
She didn't smile back. But her sleeve-covered hand reached out… and barely brushed his.
Just once.
And that was enough.
Downstairs, the other girls sat around the kotatsu in awkward silence.
Rika looked at the clock.
Yui poked at her tea.
Mei sipped from her cup, silent.
Emi stared at the stairs.
"He's with her now, huh?" Rika said.
No one answered.
But none of them left either.
Because whatever was changing… they were still in it together.