( misunderstanding arc )
The morning street was wrapped in a faint mist, and the sunlight was just beginning to slip out from between the tall buildings. Walking toward her college, Hina clutched the strap of her bag lightly—her steps looked normal, but her mind was somewhere else. In the corner of her eyes, a small picture kept surfacing again and again.
From across the street, Hina saw two people: a boy pushing a girl's wheelchair, both laughing in a playful way. Seeing that scene, Hina smiled for a moment—small joys bloomed on her face like flowers. "In those two, I can see Haruki and myself," she thought, and she started walking a little faster toward the college.
Inside the café, there was a faint aroma of coffee and the soft clinking of glass. Haruki was coming out of the changing room when Jin Yun called his name,
"Haruki, you came quite early today."
Haruki, with a rag hanging from his hand, smiled and said,
"Yeah, I had nothing else to do, so I came to the café early."
Jin Yun didn't understand, "What do you mean?"
Haruki's tone softened, "Hina can take care of herself now. That's why I can come to the café early, like before."
Jin Yun looked at him with an experienced expression, "Oh, I see. Alright then." And Haruki got back to work.
But there was a faint sadness on his face, as if a thought inside him was still lingering. His eyes often drifted toward the door—like he was waiting for someone.
Meanwhile, in the locker room, Hina was taking off her shoes. The light shuffle of clothes, the chatter of other students, and the faint test of a perfume—everything felt ordinary. Then Tsubaki, looking a little cheerful, turned toward her and said,
"You came alone today?"
Closing her locker casually, Hina replied, "Yeah. From now on, I'll be coming to college on my own."
Tsubaki laughed and teased, "So where's your bodyguard?"
Hina's tone turned a bit sharp, "Why do you care?"
Tsubaki, trying to flatter, said, "I just want to be friends with him."
Hina's tone softened but stayed serious, "Look, Tsubaki—he's already endured a lot because of me. Please don't trouble him anymore."
A trace of anger crossed Tsubaki's face, "I don't want to trouble anyone, but you never understand me."
Hina said it straight, "I know you like me, but I don't like you."
Tsubaki, furious, muttered, "Fine, then I'll trouble everyone."
With a long sigh, he stormed out—like he had come to a harsh decision.
Hina exhaled a little and walked toward her class.
In class, Hina and Miko were studying together. Miko directly asked, "Haruki didn't come with you today?"
Hina twirled her pen in the notebook and said, "No. From now on, I'll come on my own."
Miko smiled slightly, "That's good." Then, with honesty, she added, "But Haruki has helped you so much—nobody else would've done that."
Hina's pen stopped. Her eyes filled with a gentle warmth. "Yes, you're right. And I never even thanked him properly."
Miko teased, "Then maybe someday, give him a nice gift. But for now, let's study."
Hina smiled faintly and nodded, and the two got lost in their books again.
A few days later, in the afternoon, Haruki stood at the counter making coffee, but his mind was elsewhere.
"I wonder if Hina is really able to take care of herself," he whispered to himself. "She's still not fully recovered."
Jin Yun called out, "Haruki!"
"Yes?" Haruki quickly turned toward a customer with a smile.
"Where's your focus?" Jin Yun asked with a firm tone.
Haruki apologized, "Sorry, sir."
"Just stay focused," Jin Yun said curtly.
Handing the coffee to the customer, Haruki wondered again whether he should call Hina. He took his phone out of his pocket, but put it back immediately—maybe calling her would annoy her.
Work absorbed him again, but his thoughts kept circling back to Hina.
---
A week passed—an inner loneliness for both.
They were in their own homes, but their hearts revolved around the same thought. Haruki looked at his phone—there had been no message from Hina for a week.
"It's been one whole week since we talked," he murmured. "If she wanted to talk, she would've called or messaged once at least."
Then, after thinking for a while, he sighed, "Maybe Kazuki was right. Why am I thinking so much? Would she even think this much about me?"
A small shadow of tension fell across his face.
That afternoon, Hina was sitting with a few friends. Suddenly, Miko asked, "Kamo, I heard you're dating Amane?"
Kamo, blushing, admitted, "Yes, you heard right. Our engagement is in a few days too."
Suzy exclaimed, "But how? You two were always fighting!"
Kamo explained, "Our parents are good friends. They thought of extending their friendship—so they arranged our engagement. At first, both of us refused, but then they told us to live together for a month. If after a month we still didn't like each other, it would all end there. But in that month… we started liking each other."
Miko and Suzy looked shocked.
"How is that even possible?" Miko frowned.
"I don't know either," Kamo admitted. "At first, he irritated me too. But slowly, I started liking his habits."
Still confused, Miko and Suzy said, "This makes no sense."
Hina suddenly spoke up, "If we stay with someone, we start liking them. Even their small habits begin to feel good. Whether you want to or not—it just happens."
But as she said it, Haruki's face flashed in her mind.
Miko, catching her off guard, asked, "Then tell me—aren't you also starting to like Haruki? You two live together too."
A blush spread across Hina's face. She quickly denied, "No, nothing like that."
Miko smirked, "Come on. He's a fool, always messing things up—but yeah, he's handsome. Still, you two don't really match."
Hina nodded hesitantly, "Yeah… we don't match."
"Really?" Miko pressed. This time, Hina had no answer.
"That's the truth," Miko teased. "You like him."
Hina's face flushed again. "No! Absolutely not!"
"Then why do your cheeks turn red like a tomato every time his name is mentioned?" Miko teased.
Hina quickly covered her face, "I told you, there's nothing like that!"
"Forget it then," Miko said, grabbing her bag. "Let's go home." And the three girls left.
But after they left, Hina whispered to herself, "Maybe Miko was right… maybe I do like him. But does Haruki… like me too?"
Her voice trailed into silence—her confusion and fear kept her from admitting more.
---
That same day, Hina stood outside the café. A strange fear weighed in her chest. She stepped inside and looked around—Haruki wasn't there. A small cold breeze brushed her shoulder.
Kazuki, one of the staff, approached her and asked, "Do you need something?"
Hina replied nervously, "No, nothing really."
Kazuki smiled, "Alright, let me know if you need anything."
As she started to leave, Hina suddenly stopped her, "Wait."
Kazuki turned back. Hina hesitated before asking, "Does Haruki… not work here anymore?"
Kazuki replied, "He still does."
Hina looked around, confused, "Then where is he?"
"He went out for a while," Kazuki answered. "Said he was going to meet someone. He should be back soon."
Hina's heart skipped. "Meet someone? Who?"
Kazuki lowered her voice, "Maybe… his girlfriend."
"But he never mentioned a girlfriend," Hina said sadly.
Kazuki shrugged, "Things like that… people don't usually share. And I've noticed, he's often talking to someone on the phone."
Her voice turned a little sharp, "But honestly, I don't think any girl would want to be his girlfriend."
Hina's voice trembled, "Why not? He's handsome, honest, innocent, and he earns money too. Any girl would be lucky to have him. How could anyone not want him?"
Kazuki didn't realize her careless words had pierced Hina's fragile heart.
Tears welled in Hina's eyes—one small drop clung to her eyelashes. She quickly muttered, "I should go—it's getting late." Her voice quivered like she was on the verge of crying.
Kazuki stood there silently, watching her leave, whispering to herself, "Maybe I said something wrong…"
Stepping outside, Hina walked with the wind, but her heart grew heavier with every step. The thought that Haruki might belong to someone else crushed her. Tears streamed down her face, soaking her clothes as passersby glanced curiously at her.
---
What happens next? 👀
Will Hina ever get her love, or has someone else already captured Haruki's heart? Will her delicate heart be able to bear this pain?
To be continued…