( when silence screams arc )
Hina's heart was beating fast.
Outside the window, the sky had turned pitch black, and the sound of heavy rain mixed with thunder echoed throughout the room.
Haruki, who had been acting completely normal just moments ago, suddenly pulled Hina into a tight hug.
"Ha… Haruki," Hina said in a slightly trembling voice.
But Haruki didn't respond. Hina pushed him away slightly.
"Get away from me…" her voice was shaking.
Hina's eyes were filled with confusion. "Haruki…?"
"So… so… so sorry…" Haruki mumbled, looking down. His voice was trembling as if he was terrified.
Hina wiped the sweat off her forehead. "It's okay…"
"I… I'm scared of thunder," Haruki admitted in a trembling, almost childlike voice.
Hina laughed. "Are you a kid or something? Scared of thunder?"
But before she could say more, another loud clap of thunder roared.
"Aaaaa… No!" Haruki screamed loudly.
Hina's laughter stopped instantly. She realized, This isn't a joke… he's actually scared.
The thunder kept roaring again and again, and Haruki's fear kept growing.
He fell to his knees on the floor, hiding his head, crying uncontrollably.
Hina couldn't believe her eyes—Haruki, the one who was always calm and collected, was trembling and crying like a frightened child.
She immediately rushed to him, holding his face in her hands. "Haruki! Haruki! What's wrong with you?"
Haruki kept crying, unable to say anything, while Hina tried to snap him out of it.
"Haruki! Snap out of it!" Hina's voice grew louder. But Haruki didn't respond. In frustration, she slapped him hard across the face.
"I said… SNAP OUT OF IT!"
The slap worked—Haruki's eyes opened wide.
Hina held his face and asked, "What happened to you? Why are you acting like this?"
"I… I need to leave," Haruki said, avoiding her gaze. "Sorry… for troubling you."
He grabbed his bag.
Hina stopped him. "It's not safe for you to go out in this condition."
"No… I don't want to trouble you anymore. I should just go," Haruki insisted, unsure of what else to do, so he thought leaving was best.
But as he took a step forward, another loud thunderclap shook the room. Haruki stumbled and fell again, breaking down in tears.
"I shouldn't have stayed here…" he muttered, hitting the floor with his hand. "I'm such an idiot."
Hina took his hand and pulled him up. "Stop being stubborn, Haruki."
"No… I'm just making things harder for you…"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Hina said sharply. "Do you think going out right now will make things better? What if your condition gets worse?"
Haruki looked at her in shock.
Tears welled up in Hina's eyes—seeing Haruki like this hurt her deeply. "That's why… stay with me. I don't want anything to happen to you."
They stared at each other, and for the first time, Haruki saw genuine care and warmth for him in Hina's eyes. But before he could say anything, another thunderclap roared.
This time, without thinking, Hina wrapped her arms tightly around Haruki.
"Don't be scared… nothing will happen to you. I'm here," she whispered, stroking his hair gently. "Calm down…"
Haruki slowly began to relax, resting his head on her shoulder like a child resting on their mother.
Hina's heart felt strange. Why does it hurt me so much to see him like this…?
She realized she was feeling something for Haruki that she had never felt before—something that wasn't just friendship.
After a while, Haruki seemed completely calm.
"Now go to sleep," Hina said, covering him with a blanket as he lay in her room.
Just as she turned to leave, Haruki held her hand. "Will you stay here… until I fall asleep?"
Hina was silent for a moment. Haruki's face fell, thinking he had said something wrong—but then she smiled. "Alright… go to sleep. I'll stay."
Haruki closed his eyes, and within moments, he was asleep.
In a soft voice, Hina whispered, "Haruki… what are you doing to me?"
Running her fingers through his hair, she thought, I've never seen him behave like this before. Anyone would be exhausted after being so scared…
Then she wondered, But what I felt today… I've never felt this for anyone before. This feeling… it's new.
She held his hand gently and whispered, "Taking care of each other in moments like this… staying together… maybe this is what love is?"
Leaning close to his face, she murmured, "I think… I'm falling in love with you."
She placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "Good night…"
Turning her wheelchair, she left the room.
The next morning, Haruki walked out of his room, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Hina was right in front of him… changing her clothes.
To be continued… 🌚🌚