( just prank arc end)
At night when Hina finished her shift she quietly left for home without telling Haruki. But he noticed her slipping away. Without thinking twice he took off his apron, grabbed his bag and rushed after her, calling out,
"Wait,I'll come too!.
She kept walking. When Haruki hurried outside, he saw her standing by a streetlamp waiting. A wave of happiness hit his chest, but before he could savor it, she turned with her usual attitude and started walking again. He quickly followed, almost jogging to keep up.
After a short distance, Hina suddenly stopped, turned sharply, and snapped,
"Why are you following me?.
Haruki froze, looking around as if she might've been talking to someone else. But there was no one.
"Who? Me?. he asked nervously.
Her eyes narrowed, anger flashing.
"Yes—you!"
Already tense Haruki grew even more nervous under her glare. His bag slipped from his hands. He fumbled to pick it up, forcing a smile.
"Why would I follow you? I was just… trying to walk you home.
But her anger didn't cool If anything, she grew more annoyed.
"I'm not some little kid who needs to be walked home.
"I never said you were a child, he answered quietly, his voice heavy with hurt."It's just… it's dark, that's all.
Her reply came sharp.
"I'm not afraid of the dark Before you came into my life, I've always gone home alone. So what's the problem now?.
Haruki's chest tightened. He understood it wasn't about the dark. It was about him. She was still upset. His voice trembled as he asked,
"Hina… you still haven't forgiven me, have you?.
The pain in his tone caught her off guard, but she didn't soften. Instead, her voice broke as she said,"Why would I be angry at you? People only get angry with those who are special to them.
Her words hit him like a thunderbolt. His steps faltered.
"What… what are you saying, Hina?"
She met his eyes, her voice cold and sharp.
"You're nothing to me. We just work at the same café. That's it.
Haruki's body shook, his face pale. Sweat ran down his temples as his heart pounded slower, heavier. His lips trembled.
"You're joking… right? Tell me you're joking.
But she only gave him a small smile.
"Why would I joke about this? We're coworkers, Haruki. Nothing more.
Her casual words crushed him. His throat tightened, and suddenly he couldn't hold back anymore. His breath hitched, ragged, and before he realized it, he ran forward and wrapped his arms around her in a desperate embrace.
"Haruki! What are you doing? Let me go!" Hina gasped, struggling against his grip.
But he only clung tighter, his voice breaking.
"No… I won't let you go.
She tried to push him away, hitting weakly against his chest, but Haruki's grip was too strong. Exhausted, she finally cried,
"I said let me go!.
Her words pierced him like arrows. He choked back tears, whispering,
"Then… then hit me more if you want. Tear me apart if you have to. Just don't say we mean nothing, Please.
Hina froze. His voice was raw with pain, unlike anything she'd ever heard from him.
"I never even wanted friends, he continued, sobbing quietly against her shoulder."It was you. You're the one who said we were friends. I never thought someone like me could even have that. And now… you want to take it away?"
His tears spilled, soaking her shoulder. She was stunned. Haruki—crying for her?
His tears fell onto Hina's shoulder, leaving her stunned. He continued in a broken voice,
"You gave me hope, and now you want to leave me too. I know I hurt you, if you don't want to forgive me that's fine But please… don't say there's no bond between us at all.
Hina's chest tightened. She had never seen him this broken. Slowly she raised her hands, pried his face up, and wiped his tears gently."You don't look good when you cry, So stop crying already.
Haruki sniffed, calming a little His tear streaked face looked like that of a child. Hina stared at him, her anger softening."Do you understand now Why I was so angry?"
But Haruki only looked confused, lost in her eyes. She sighed in frustration."Of course you don't. You're the biggest idiot alive.
Her voice cracked with suppressed pain."When you said you weren't good enough for me, I thought you wanted to push me away. When you said the only reason I talk to you is because you sometimes helped me, do you know how much that hurt?"
She kept wiping his tears again and again. He sobbed, "But I'm really a loser I don't even have a life of my own. I thought you'd be better off if you stayed with people like me.
Tears welled in her eyes now as she wiped his again."But I don't care about any of that, Stop comparing yourself to others. You're the only one who's special to me.
Haruki's mind spun with memories—Isame's words echoing: "If Hina really likes you, none of that will matter. What matters is you.
The two of them were lost in each other's eyes, as if nothing else in the world mattered anymore. He rested his forehead against hers, just like Haruki used to do, and she whispered,"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to leave you, okay?"
In that moment, Hina was the one calming him, just like he had once done for her. To make him smile, she teased,
"So stop crying like a little kid. I don't like this crybaby Haruki. I want my foolish Haruki back.
And truly, hearing her words, Haruki burst out laughing. It wasn't a forced laugh—it was real, filled with relief, with love, with the lightness of a heart finally set free. Seeing him laugh like that, Hina laughed too. They gazed at each other, wrapped their arms around one another, and in that embrace, all the pain inside them seemed to vanish.
Hina whispered softly, "That's better—the Haruki who always smiles like this.
But not far away, two figures were watching them. It was Isame and Souta. Souta was perched on Isame's shoulders, his chin resting on his head."They're so dramatic,Isame muttered irritably.
But Souta, struggling to hold back a grin, replied, "Yeah… but your plan worked.
Which could only mean one thing—everything that happened between Haruki and Hina that night was part of Isame's plan.
Why did Isame do it? To find out, read Melodic Love.