( misunderstanding arc)
A faint smile appeared on Hina's face, and Haruki couldn't help but smile back Their eyes locked and something strange stirred in Haruki's chest, He felt himself drawn to her as if he had completely lost control of where he was or what he was doing It was like he had drowned in the beauty of her eyes, Slowly almost unconsciously he leaned closer, so close that his lips were about to brush against hers Hina realized what he was about to do She quickly murmured, hesitating
"Haruki… you?
The sound of her voice snapped him back to his senses, He froze suddenly aware of how dangerously close his lips were to hers barely a centimeter apart Panic shot through him, He jerked back too quickly, smacking his head against the door and collapsing to the floor with a loud thud"Haruki, are you okay?" Hina rushed to him, worry filling her voice.
Later that afternoon, Hina sat him down at home carefully wrapping a bandage around his head while scolding him at the same time,Haruki sat silently taking in her scolding like a child"Idiot! You knew there was a door behind you, so why'd you suddenly turn like that?Haruki gave an awkward embarrassed smile"I… got scared.
"Scared? Of what?Hina asked, genuinely confused"Just… no reason,he muttered trying to brush it off,Hina sighed in relief
"Well, at least it wasn't a bad injury.
Meanwhile, Haruki's thoughts were racing,
If I tell her I was trying to kiss her, she'll throw me out of the house without hesitation.
After a pause, Hina spoke again, her tone a little uncertain.
"Haruki… do you have a girlfriend?
The question startled him In that instant he remembered Kazuki jokingly telling Hina that he had gone to meet his girlfriend.
Haruki hurried to defend himself.
"No, I don't! If I did why would I even be asking you this?"
But Hina wasn't convinced "When I came to see you, that girl said you'd gone to meet your girlfriend.Haruki kept trying to explain"She was just teasing! I really went to see you at your college but you weren't there I wasn't meeting anyone else.
Even so, sadness flickered in Hina's eyes as she muttered,
"Don't lie… I saw it with my own eyes You hugged a girl at the bus stop,Haruki tried again, desperate.
"That girl looked so much like you that I mistook her for you. That's why I hugged her"
Hina blinked, confused.
"I don't get it."
So Haruki explained in detail "When I got to the café Kazuki told me you had come there I went outside to check and at the bus stop there was a girl with the same hair as you I thought it was you and I hugged her by mistake,At that, Hina's face suddenly lit up The sadness in her voice was gone, replaced with pure excitement She leaned in so close their faces were almost touching "So you really don't have a girlfriend?
Haruki flinched slightly uncomfortable with the closeness, but answered honestly "Yeah… I don't.
Silence fell between them The house grew quiet, until Hina unable to bear it fiddled nervously with her hair and asked softly "Haruki…did you ever think of me these past days? Or was it just me missing you?
Haruki's lips curved into a gentle smile
"Honestly, I missed you a lot Not a single day went by without me thinking about you.
Hina's face flushed red. She pouted, the way she always did when embarrassed
"Then why didn't you come see me?
The sight made Haruki chuckle under his breath He quickly stifled it and explained
"You'd already recovered You didn't need my help anymore, I thought if I kept showing up without reason I'd only bother you Maybe even annoy you,Hina's tone turned sharp her expression darkening"So you think I'm selfish?"No, that's not what I meant at all" Haruki insisted But Hina's anger flared and she started hitting him with her fists
"What else could it mean then? That I used you and threw you away? How dare you think that about me!
Haruki flinched at the blows, muttering in his head,Great, now she's mad again She takes everything so seriously,He raised his hands in defense"No! It's just Kazuki said that people often forget those who helped them once they don't need it anymore,Hina froze, then turned her back to him, crossing her arms"So you thought I was like that too?
Haruki leaned forward, trying to catch her gaze"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would hurt you like this.
Her voice wavered, softer now but laced with hurt"Why should it matter to you? You always do this say something careless, then just apologize like it's nothing,Haruki pressed his palms together, almost pleading.
"You know I'm an idiot, so please forgive me.
"Not this time," Hina said firmly
His voice dropped to a whisper
"So you really won't forgive me?
"No.
At that, she suddenly remembered the time Haruki had slammed his head against the ground in frustration Fear flashed across her face. She lunged forward, hugging him tightly,
"No! Don't you dare do that again!
Haruki blinked in confusion
"Do what again?
"You won't hit your head on the floor like last time, she said clutching him tighter,Understanding dawned on him and he smiled softly "Alright, I promise I won't ever do that again,Her voice trembled as she replied
"Good,otherwise you'll only hurt yourself again
,Haruki finally hugged her back, his arms wrapping around her shoulders
"So… does this mean you've forgiven me?
Hina said with a threat"Yeah. But if you ever think of me like that again… you know what'll happen."
Haruki chuckled, hiding his smile
"Yeah, yeah, I know You'll break all my bones
That earned him another smile from Hina Just then, his stomach growled loudly "You're hungry aren't you?" Hina teased "Starving,Haruki admitted with a sheepish grin "I'm sorry I was so caught up arguing that I didn't even think about it "It's fine Come on let's eat, he said.
They sat down together for dinner Hina took a bite and sighed happily
"It's been so long since I've eaten something this delicious,Haruki blushed
"Thanks, After lunch the two of them settled in front of the TV Hina trying to sound casual asked "That girl who works with you what's she like?,Haruki blinked, a little startled
"You mean Kazuki?
"Yeah.
Haruki nodded leaning back as he thought aloud "She's my senior Pretty cute honestly More mature and smarter than me When I was confused about whether I should come here or not she's the one who encouraged me to go and meet you Thanks to her, I had the courage to come,As he spoke praising Kazuki Hina's face visibly darkened with jealousy "At first I didn't like her much either,Haruki continued oblivious "but later we became good friends.
He was still rambling when he realized Hina had fallen asleep She had slumped against him her head resting in his lap "Hey you fell asleep? Hina, Hina, wake up I wasn't even finished talking,But when he saw her sleeping peacefully his expression softened "Alright then I'll let you rest You must be tired,Gently he lifted her and laid her down on the bed Sitting beside her he cleared a few strands of hair from her face his fingertips lingering on her cheek He gave her cheeks a playful pinch and whispered with a smile "You won't believe it but you look unbelievably cute when you sleep I never noticed it before
In that quiet moment, the distance between them seemed to melt away just a little more.