2 days later—
The room is quiet except for the faint scratching of Toru's pencil as he spins it lazily between his fingers, slouched in his chair. His desk is a mess of open notebooks, half-done homework, and an untouched basketball resting on top of a closed textbook.
Knock, knock.
Toru freezes, sighing through his nose. He doesn't move right away, debating if whoever it is will just go away.
The door slams open with a bang.
Toru jolts upright.
Toru: "Yah—! Do you know how to knock like a normal person?!"
Kaedi steps inside like she owns the place, her arms crossed, eyes sharp.
Toru (grumbling):
Why are you in my room? You're Akari's friend, not mine."
Kaedi doesn't bother answering. Instead, she walks straight to his desk and crouches in front of his computer screen like she's inspecting his life.
Kaedi (calmly, but with bite):
"Why do you keep pretending there's nothing between us?"
Toru blinks, then lets out a scoff, spinning his chair so his back is to her.
Toru:
"Because there isn't. You aren't my type. Now leave."
Kaedi frowns, opening her—
Kaedi:
"You say this to every girl, you know th-"
But before she can finish, a sharp violin note pierces the air.
Akari storms in, bow in hand, dragging her violin across the strings dramatically like she's announcing her entrance.
Toru (covering his ears):
"NOT AGAIN—"
He grabs the basketball off his desk and lobs it across the room. Akari dodges, laughing as the ball bounces off the wall.
Toru:
"Both of you. Out. Now."
Akari (tilting her head, curious):
"What were you two talking about?"
Kaedi stiffens, looking away. Toru stands, trying to herd both of them toward the door, But Kaedi resists, digging her heels into the carpet.
Kaedi:
"HEY, stop pushing me!"
Toru (mocking, dramatic pity):
"You're too young anyway. Sorry."
Akari (squinting at Kaedi, voice dripping with disgust):
"Do you... like my brother?"
Kaedi's face turns red as she waves her hands wildly.
Kaedi:
"No! Of course not!"
Toru groans, shoving past them both.
Toru:
"Where's Mom? I'd rather deal with her than this."
The faint sizzle of oil and the sharp smell of onions hang in the air. Sunlight leaks in through the blinds, painting warm stripes across the counter.
Hitomi stands at the counter, focused, chopping onions with precise motions. A small white puppy dozes right beside the cutting board, tiny paws twitching as if it's dreaming.
Toru trudges in, dragging his feet like the floor itself is exhausting. He plops onto a stool at the island, arms folded across the counter. His messy hair and half-buttoned uniform scream I don't care.
He glances at the dog, then at his mother.
Toru (flat, unimpressed):
"Hope you know thats unhygienic. Cooking next to a dog"
Hitomi doesn't even look at him.
Hitomi (deadpan):
"Hope you know that sighing your way through life isn't attractive."
Toru rolls his eyes dramatically, leaning his cheek into his hand.
Toru (mocking her tone):
"Hope you know...sarcasm won't cook the onions."
Hitomi tosses the onion into a sizzling pan, ignoring him.
Hitomi (casually, like it's nothing):
"So. Are you planning to study abroad?"
The question makes Toru blink. He huffs a short laugh, leaning back in his chair.
Toru (mocking, dramatic):
"Sure. Whatever makes you happy, Mom."
Hitomi:
"It's not about making me happy. It's about your future."
Toru tilts his head back, staring at the ceiling like the conversation is physically painful.
Toru (groaning): "Future, future, future. That's all you ever talk about."
Hitomi smirks faintly, still chopping. She knows his whining is just habit.
There's a moment of silence except for the knife against the cutting board. Then Toru speaks again, softer this time.
Toru:
"Hey, Mom...?"
Hitomi (without looking):
"Mm?"
Toru (hesitant, almost nervous):
"Remember the day Hana came over? I was playing piano. Did she cuss me out?.. or was she nice?"
The knife stops mid-slice. Hitomi blinks, her brows furrowing slightly. She sets the knife down and taps her chin, thinking.
Hitomi (confused):
"Actually... that day was odd. I remember her being shy when she came in. But... at the same time, I remember her snapping at you. Feisty."
Toru slams his hands on the counter, nearly making the puppy fall over.
Toru (panicked):
"SEE?! You remember it both ways too?!"
Hitomi looks at him, half concerned, half amused.
Hitomi:
"Are you seriously yelling at me over a girl you didn't even like, a year ago?"
Toru (pointing at her, frantic):
"IT'S NOT JUST THAT MOM, ITS MY MEMORY. IT'S BROKEN OR SOMETHING."
The puppy yawns, stretching like nothing's wrong.
Hitomi shakes her, turning back to her soup pot.
Hitomi (shrugging):
"Or maybe you just misremember because you were nervous. Boys your age think one glance is a love story."
Toru:
"First off I didn't like her in that way.. second.."
Toru (gritting his teeth):
"This isn't misremembering. I STILL HAVE THE NECKLACE SHE TOOK... except I also remember her rejecting it. Which one is it?!"
Hitomi sighs, clearly done with the conversation.
Hitomi:
"Enough about Hana. There's a new transfer girl at your school today, right?"
Toru collapses dramatically onto the counter.
Toru (muffled, sarcastic):
"Yeah, so what? Maybe she'll 'fall in love with me at first sight.' You know how that goes."
Hitomi (snorting):
"More like you'll ignore her until she gives up."
Toru (lifting his head, grinning smugly):
"Maybe this year I should just go ahead and get a rich girlfriend. Don't you think that'd solve everything?"
Hitomi turns to face him, raising an eyebrow.
Hitomi (firm):
"Or maybe you should finally focus on your grades instead of women."
Toru smirks, walking to the counter. He flicks a freshly cut onion piece off the board onto the floor just to annoy her.
Hitomi (snapping):
"GROUNDED."
Toru (laughing in disbelief):
"WHAT? All I did was flick an onion!"
Hitomi (pointing toward the door):
"Get out of my kitchen. Out of my sight."
The puppy barks once, almost like it's backing her up.
Toru throws his hands up, rolling his eyes again.
Toru (grumbling):
"This house is a dictatorship."
He grabs his bag off the counter and walks toward his room.
Akari peeks around the doorframe, smirking at him.
Akari:
"You walking me to school or what?"
Toru:
"No. Ask Kaedi. I'm walking with Tokami."
Akari (excited, teasing):
"I heard the new girl is super pretty. She's already in class."
Toru (gritting teeth):
"What does that have to do with me? GET OUT.
Akari (sing-song):
"For someone who's had only two girlfriends his whole life, you're kinda pathetic for a guy everyone thinks is handsome."
Toru grabs a shoe like he's about to throw it.
Toru:
"I SAID GET OUT BEFORE I—"
Akai bolts out of the house laughing before he can finish.
Toru stomps back into his room, pulling his blazer on halfway, grumbling under his breath. He throws his bag over his shoulder and ruffles his hair like that somehow fixes it.
The sound of his ringtone blasts— Tokami's name flashing across his phone.
Tokami (on the phone, yelling):
"I'm outside with Maki! Hurry up before I ditch you!"
Toru (flat):
"Wow. Friendship."
(hangs up before Tokami can respond)
He slings his bag fully and pushes out the front door.
The morning sun hits him hard, making him squint. At the curb, a sleek black car waits, windows down, music blasting. Tokami leans out the passenger side with his sunglasses halfway down his nose.
Tokami (yelling):
"Finally! What were you doing, writing love letters to yourself?"
Toru shoots him a dead stare but says nothing.
Meanwhile, Akari is struggling to pedal her bike down the driveway.
Tokami (mocking):
"HEY, leave that piece of junk here and ride with us!"
Akari gasps in offense, stopping her bike.
Akari (snapping):
"Don't call it junk! My dad gave it to me!"
She glares—but then abandons it instantly, tossing the bike on the grass and sprinting toward the car like she couldn't care less. She dives into the backseat.
Akari (grinning smug):
"Shotgun!"
Tokami (turning):
"Nope. Backseat. I called it since yesterday."
They squabble as Toru climbs into the car on the other side, shutting the door with a sigh. Maki, in the driver's seat, adjusts her rearview mirror, smirking.
Maki (calm, cool):
"Before you ask, yes. I'm driving you guys from now on."
Akari (leaning forward, ecstatic):
"YESSS. Do this every day, please."
Toru (dry, without looking up):
"Not every day. Some of us don't mind walking."
Tokami (groaning, rolling his eyes):
"Bro, you and your depressing attitude. Can't you be grateful for once?"
Maki just laughs and throws the gear into drive, the car pulling out smoothly. Loud rock music fills the silence. Akari's bouncing in the backseat to the beat, Tokami's already drumming the dashboard, and Toru just leans his head against the window, pretending not to be enjoying it.
Cut to—
Shion sits in her seat, nerves eating her alive. The chatter of her classmates fills the air, buzzing like bees circling prey. She's trying to keep her hands folded neatly. But her fingers keep twitching.
Rikaru (leaning over, grinning):
"Wow, you're really pretty. Like... prettier than anyone in this class."
Shion (awkward smile, voice small):
"O-oh. thanks..."
Her throat is tight. She wanted to come back bold, confident—new. Instead, the old her is slipping out the awkward girl who never knew how to defend herself.
Arata (snickering):
"How did you get out of wearing the uniform?"
Shion:
"I...um... I just haven't had mine tailed yet."
Naoto tilts his head, staring at her.
Naoto:
"Doesn't she remind you guys of someone? Like... she acts like someone we know."
Rikaru:
"Nah. Honestly? She looks like she could be Masaki's girlfriend."
The class erupts with laughter and ooo's. Shion's face turns red. She waves her hands frantically.
Shion (quick, panicked):
"What? No! Definitely not!"
Naoto (eyes narrowing, curious):
"Why not? Do you know him?"
Shion freezes, heart racing. Her mind stutters between past and present.
Shion (blurting out):
"No! I just—"
Arata (leaning for, whispering loudly):
"Wait. Are you gay?"
The class goes silent, eyes widening. Shion's mouth opens, but before she can speak—
SLAM!
The classroom door bursts open. Their teacher,
Ms. Endo, storms in, dropping her book on the wooden podium with a thud that makes the chalk dust jump.
Ms. Endo (sharp, commanding):
"Everyone quiet down!"
Desks scrape as students scatter back to their seats. Shion sinks lower in hers, biting her lip.
Ms. Endo (writing on the chalkboard):
"Now then, does anyone know where Toru Kanzaki is?"
At the mention of his name, Shion gasps softly. Her chest tightens. She remembers Daiki's words echoing in her head:
"Sometimes if you hang onto the past... you're only hurting yourself. He sent a break-up text, so what? Every girl's been broken up with."
But her hands still grip her skirt under the desk.
Suddenly—
BANG!
The door slams open again. Toru stumbles inside, hair tousled, blazer half on, breathless.
Toru (panting):
"I'm not late! I swear! That damn traffic—"
Ms. Endo (snapping):
"LANGUAGE."
The classroom door bursts chuckles. Toru groans, dragging his feet toward his usual desk—until Ms. Endo stops him.
Ms. Endo:
"Aht! Not your seat anymore. You'll be sitting next to.. Shion Asagiri."
The name drops like a stone.
Toru (blinking, muttering):
"Who the hell is that—"
Shion slowly raises her hand, eyes flicking up just enough to meet his. Her voice is calm, but her heart is in her throat.
Shion:
"That would be me."
Toru stares at her, frozen for just a moment. His expression flickers— confusion, disbelief. Then he exhales sharply, dragging his bag across the floor.
Toru (grumbling, to Ms. Endo):
"Great. Fantastic. Sit next to the pretty girl, huh?"
Shion lungs forget how to work. Her body feels like its collapsing on itself, crumbling under the weight of his words. Pretty. He called her pretty. The same boy who shattered her heart, who once knew her laugh, her tears, her secrets— now sits beside her like a stranger.
Her hands tremble under the desk. She lowers her gaze, lashes shielding her from the storm of emotions clawing up her throat. The hate she tried to nurture, the anger that once kept her alive, suddenly flickers against something softer, something dangerous.
And Toru? He doesn't even recognize her.
_____________________________________
End of chapter 5