( just prank arc )
When morning came and Haruki's eyes fluttered open he rubbed them lazily—only to realize that he was curled up tightly against Hina. The two of them were locked in a warm hug, sleeping as if the world didn't exist. Haruki's heart skipped a beat.
Wait I was sleeping down there on the floor. How the hell did I end up here? he panicked silently.
Carefully he tried to slip away from her embrace so she wouldn't notice but Hina only pulled him closer in her sleep. His pulse quickened, panic rising like fire in his chest. I'm dead… If she wakes up and sees me like this, she'll beat me to a pulp! His face twisted as though he was about to cry.
After struggling for a while he finally managed to wriggle free and tiptoe toward his bed. Just then Hina stirred awake. Haruki froze then immediately dropped to the floor and started doing frantic push-ups, pretending he'd been exercising all along.
Through sleepy eyes, Hina blinked at him. "Good morning… you're already up?"
"Y-Yeah, good morning!" Haruki said with an awkward grin, trying to act casual.
Yawning, Hina frowned "That's strange. I could've sworn I was hugging someone and that person was struggling to get away. That's why I woke up.
Haruki nearly choked "M-Must've been a dream! I mean, look—I'm way over here, and you were over there. Who else could it possibly be, right? Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Hina narrowed her eyes at him"Why are you sweating so much? I was only saying what I felt.
"Uh… exercise! Yeah, I was doing push-ups. That's why, Haruki blurted out.
Hina stepped closer, and the sweat on Haruki's face only worsened"Why is she coming near me? Did she figure it out?
But instead of suspicion, Hina smiled softly and reached up to wipe his sweat "You look so cute when you're all flustered like this.
Haruki turned bright red. In a hurry to change the subject, he said "Y-You should go change your clothes. I'll make breakfast.
Hina nodded with a smile and left the room. The moment she was gone, Haruki collapsed on the bed with a heavy sigh" Phew… saved. If she had caught me, I'd have been finished for sure.
In the kitchen Haruki cracked some eggs, chopped vegetables, and whipped up an omelette. Soon, a steaming breakfast was laid out on the table. They sat together, eating quietly.
The first bite lit up Hina's face"This is so good! How do you cook so well?
A bashful smile spread across Haruki's lips. Hearing her praise sent a little thrill through him "It's nothing special I just… make it the way you'd like.
Hina gazed at his earnest expression, her own lips curving into a smile"Haruki, the food you make is the tastiest in the world. Every dish you cook instantly becomes my favorite.
Haruki flushed red again"T-Thanks…
Watching him squirm shyly, Hina chuckled under her breath, and the two of them continued eating in silence. Their eyes kept meeting, as if carrying on a secret conversation without words.
When breakfast was over, Hina stood up"Alright, I should get going, or I'll be late for class.
"Okay, Haruki said with a smile.
She waved goodbye and left, and a little later Haruki also got ready and headed off to the café.
At the café, Haruki greeted his manager Jin Yun"I'm here, sir.
Jin Yun raised an eyebrow "You've been slacking off lately, Haruki.
"Sorry, sir. I overslept today,Haruki muttered, slipping into the changing room.
When he came back wearing his apron, the manager pointed to his cheek and hand "And what about that bruise?"
Haruki hesitated "Uh… I slipped on my way home yesterday.
"Be more careful, Jin Yun said with a sigh.
"Yes, sir. Thanks. Haruki gave a weak smile and threw himself into work brewing coffee, serving food, handling orders. But whenever he had a moment to breathe, his thoughts wandered back to Hina. I wonder what she's doing right now…
Meanwhile, in class, Hina sat quietly with her books. Her friend Miko leaned over, eyes wide "Wait… Haruki fought off those thugs for you? Seriously?
No one wanted to believe it. To them, Haruki was just the timid boy who always got scolded—or beaten up—by Hina herself. The idea of him fighting for her was unthinkable.
Still reading, Hina nodded calmly"Yes. You heard right.
Miko wrinkled her nose"I can't buy it. That coward? He's scared of you. How could he possibly fight a bunch of thugs?"
The word coward stung Hina, but she knew Miko had a blunt mouth. She let it pass and replied gently"He's not a coward. He's just… innocent.
But their classmate Isame immediately cut in, grinning "See? I told you, my buddy's a good guy.
Miko rolled her eyes "You never shut up about him. Sometimes I wonder—are you his friend, or his boyfriend?"
Isame smirked "If I were a girl, I'd spend my whole life enjoying his company. We'd always be in each other's arms, lips pressed together, never letting go—
"Enough!" Hina quickly interrupted, her cheeks pink"We get your point.
Talking sense into Isame was hopeless, so Miko muttered, "I swear, talking to you is worse than banging my head against a wall.
Just then, another classmate approached—a quiet boy named Souta, 19, who usually kept to himself "Um… mind if I sit with you all?he asked softly.
"Of course, Souta. Why not? Hina said warmly.
But Isame couldn't resist teasing"Wow, what's this? You usually sit alone like some tragic, heartbroken lover. What's gotten into you today?"
Souta ignored the jab and sat down, smiling faintly"I just… felt like it. If it bothers you, I can leave. His voice carried a quiet sadness"I thought you guys were different, but maybe I was wrong. Sorry if I disturbed you.
The mood shifted. Isame, too carefree to notice, just frowned. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Hina and Miko both smacked their books at him"Can't you talk nicely for once?
Isame rubbed his head"What? What did I even say?"
Hina shook her head and turned to Souta "Don't mind him. He's always like that. He didn't mean to hurt you. On his behalf… I'm sorry.
Souta's lips curved into a soft smile "No, it's fine. I overreacted. Sorry to trouble you.
Miko tilted her head "Souta, do you… not like talking to people?"
The question seemed to fluster him. After a pause, he admitted quietly"It's not that… I just get nervous around strangers. And I don't really have friends.
"Then how will you ever make friends if you never try to talk to anyone?" Hina said gently.
Souta lowered his gaze "Yeah you're right.
Isame grinned, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Then from today, you're our friend. Simple as that.
But Souta stiffened, removing his arm nervously. To him, Isame seemed more like a loud bully than a friend"R-Really?
"Of course, Hina assured with a smile"We're classmates. That makes us friends already.
Everyone was chatting casually now. For the first time Souta laughed openly with a group. There was a new kind of happiness bubbling inside him because today, he had finally made friends, and for the first time, he was actually talking to them.
But that laughter soon stirred old memories. He drifted back to the days when he was just another middle-class kid, quietly eavesdropping on the conversations of his so-called friends. He remembered one afternoon in particular he'd overheard a boy whisper to Arata, the person Souta thought was his best friend
"Hey Arata, don't you think you're being unfair to Souta? Poor guy really considers you his friend, but you you're just using him for money.
Arata, sitting lazily on a bench with his usual arrogance, had looked straight at the boy and scoffed "And what's so wrong with that? Who'd ever want to be friends with an idiot like him ugly, dumb, boring as hell. He can't even hold a proper conversation. Honestly, he should be grateful. A popular guy like me letting him hang around? That's a favor in itself. If I spend some of his money, what's the harm in that?"
The boy, Sozo, had tried to reason with him"But if he ever finds out you only hang out with him for his money, imagine how much that'll hurt him, man.
Souta clenched his fists at the memory. Back then, Arata had been the only person he thought of as a brother, but in reality, Arata was just a selfish jerk who cared only about himself. After that betrayal, Souta had sworn off friendship altogether. To him, friendship was just a game of self-interest people only stuck around when there was something to gain.
He glanced at Isame now, and his chest tightened"But that day… when I saw Isame fight for Haruki, I realized maybe I was wrong. He didn't gain anything from it. He just threw himself against the toughest guy in the college all for his friend. No hesitation, no thought of the consequences. That was real.
Souta's voice softened, his thoughts tumbling out"And then I heard about Hina's accident… Haruki stood by her even after getting beaten to a pulp by Tsubaki. He still walked her to college every day. That's when it hit me—real friends do exist. Seeing that, I started to envy both of them. Hina had Haruki, who would face any danger for her. Haruki had Isame, who could drag him out of any mess. And me? I… wanted that too. That's why I joined them. But a part of me still wonders… do they really see me as a friend? Or am I just going to end up as the punchline again—like always?"
Lost in his own storm of thoughts, Souta barely noticed when everyone else stood to leave"Oi, space-head! Isame's loud voice broke him out of it"Aren't you coming home?"
Souta blinked, snapping back to reality"Y-Yeah… just a minute.
Then he grabbed his things and walked with them, a small flicker of hope burning in his heart.
To be continued