Shion ripped her wrist from Toru's grip, stumbling back but catching herself. Her shoes clicked hard against the pavement as she lifted herself on tiptoe, her face inches from his, her eyes serious and cold.
Shion (furious, voice low but sharp like glass):
"Stay away from me... if you don't want to get hurt."
Her words lingered in the humid night air before she dropped back onto her flats. For a split second, her gaze softened— just enough to betray whatever sadness she had behind her anger and rage—before she turned away, her hair whipping around her shoulder.
Toru squinted after her, jaw tightening. He looked back at the car where Maki and Tokami sat watching, headlights casting long shadows, the sum was starting to come down. His voice came out sharper than he meant.
Toru (snapping, confused, frustrated):
"Hey... why are you so weird? and I don't appreciate the way you were looking at me in class either!"
The words sliced into her like a knife. Shion froze, her back stiff, her jaw trembling. Slowly, she turned.
Without warning-
SMACK
Her palm cracked across his cheek, he put his hand up to his face in shock, the sting lingering. The sound echoed against the walls of the empty street.
From the car—
Tokami (yelling, furious):
"WHAT THE HELL? WHAT WAS THAT?"
He flung the door open and sprinted toward them. His hands slammed into Shion's shoulder, shoving her back. Maki sighing in the car then sinking down in the seat, hiding the weed in his pockets before rolling his eyes.
Tokami (defensive, voice shaking with anger):
"Who do you think you are, huh?! Slapping him like that?! He came to help you because he was worried that you were crying and this is how you repay my friend?! You're probably just some spoiled brat—yeah, I said! You aren't that pretty for nothing! Just some rich girl whose parents paid for your fake face, or maybe it's all that caked up makeup getting to your head!"
The world spun. Shion staggered, her whole body trembling as the words sank in. Her eyes widened, filling with tears so quickly it blurred her vision. Coming from Tokami— the funny but chill boy who claimed to love her smile—his voice was a betrayal sharper than any knife.
Tokami (furious, snapping again, turning to Toru):
"SLAP HER BACK! JUST BECAUSE SHE'S A GIRL-"
Toru sighs annoyed through his nose about to walk off, her lips quivered as she cut him off.
Shion (whispering, breaking):
"Tokami... how could you?"
Her voice cracked mid-sentence, fragile, almost childlike.
Toru blinked in confusion before turning around, glancing between them. His brows drew together as his finger toward her, his voice stumbling.
Toru (confused, urgent):
"Wait—do you know—"
Tokami (snapping back, equally confused):
"How the hell do you know my name?!"
The moment stretched—anger, recognition, disbelief colliding as it starts to rain.
Maki bolted out of the car, grabbing Tokami by the jacket, dragging him back with surprising strength.
Maki (serious, voice cutting through):
"Enough! We don't have time for this—get in the car!"
Tokami fought against him, eyes locked on Shion, but Maki shoved him hard into the seat.
Tokami (angry, defeated):
"Did you have to pull me away in front of a girl like that? Just because you went to the military-"
Maki (snapping, voice sharp):
"SHUT THE HELL UP AND PUT YOUR SEAT BELT ON."
"TORU BRING YOUR ASS IN THE CAR!"
Tory lingered. His eyes met Shion's one last time. The streetlamp carved shadows over her face, her eyes unreadable, trembling as if she wanted to apologize but couldn't. For five seconds, their gazes locked— a silent war, a silent plea. The car honking startled both of them, Toru nose scrunched, his brows furrowed as if she were a book in a language he couldn't read.
And then— he turned and ran. The door slammed shut, the car screeched away, tires splashing through puddles. Even as the car pulled off, Toru twisted in the back seat, his eyes glued to her until the distance swallowed her.
Toru (confused, turning back around):
"That girl is.. confusing.. I want to stay away from that weirdo."
Maki (casually, lighting up a cigarette, one hand on steering wheel):
"Probably has nothing to do with you, just something going on at home."
Tokami (pouting, looking out the window, slumped in front seat):
"Weird bitch."
Maki hits Tokami on the head before chuckling through his cigarette, Toru laughing as well making Tokami look confused on whats funny.
Tokami (still angry, serious):
"What's funny? She slapped him for literally no reason!"
Toru (chucking in a low deep tone):
"You're like a wild animal, what will we do with you?"
Maki (laughing, cigarette in hand):
"You're like our brother, can't just sit back as some girl slaps you like that."
Toru (casual, reaching for the cigarette):
"We won't talk about Tokami telling me to slap her back, over there."
Tokami (snapping):
"She hit you first!"
Maki (flicking Tokami on the forehead):
"All you do is bark like a damn dog!"
Shion stood alone. Rain began to fall in scattered drops. Her hand brushed her cheek, her voice trembling.
Shion (muttering to herself, broken):
"How.. how did he know I had plastic surgery?"
Her chest tightened.
Shion thoughts:
(Am I supposed to recreate Hana's life all over again as Shion? Is this what this is? The day.. I was walking on this exact street when I met Toru.. and this happens so suddenly.. I don't.. I don't get it.)
Her heartbeat started to pound like drums in her ears. Vision spinning, legs collapsing beneath— Shion fell to the pavement. Darkness felt like it had swallowed her, her body feeling woozy and tingly.
Her eyes fluttered open. Pink walls. A frilly bedspread. Posters of teen idols. Shion gasped, stumbling to her feet. Her hands flew to her hair—it was short. Her reflection in the mirror showed not Shion.. But Hana.
Her knees buckled.
Shion (whispering in horror):
"Did I... time travel again? Or is this just a dream?"
Her hands shook as she rifled through drawers. She pulls out her phone with a pink case looking at the date with wide eyes.
2023.
The year she first met Toru.
Knock, Knock.
The door creaked. Reina stepped inside, her smile radiant, too radiant. She crouched down, ruffling Hana's hair as if nothing was wrong. Shion's eyes filled instantly, staring at her mother like she was seeing a ghost.
Reina (genuine, playful, dreamy):
"Guess what?"
She flopped onto the floor, patting the space beside her. Hesitant, Shion slid down, hugging her knees, remembering how this conversation was supposed to go.
Reina (soft laugh, eyes sparkling):
"You know.. sex with your dad was amazing at first but then it became boring.. met someone else, and it was amazing. I will never forget how obsessed he made me become, sex started to become a habit. Like brushing our teeth, he eventually went back to his ex wife though."
Reina sighs as she says the last part.
Shion's face twisted, disgust flashing across her features. She sighed through her nose, staring at the floor, pretending to listen just like she used to.
Reina (pattering her leg, serious suddenly):
"Thats why I found a new man tonight, one thats going to make feel alive tonight. Getting rid of old apples that don't taste good anymore and getting a brand new apple."
Shion let out a short laugh, bitter and sharp.
Shion (thinking to herself, scoffing):
"A new apple? Do you even think you're men's type?"
Reina nodded confidently, hair bouncing, her voice casual.
Reina (serious, blunt):
"Of course. Whenever I come to your school, people stare. Even this one boy your age— he couldn't take his eyes off me. He'd be perfect for someone like you."
Shion's face twisted.
Shion (annoyed, disgusted):
"Someone like me? Aren't you tired of trying to sell me off?"
Reina looks at Shion in shock before hitting her on the shoulder.
Reina (angrily, scolding):
"Selling you off!? Don't ever say I'm that type of mother again!"
Shion exhaled, exhausted.
Shion (sighing, serious):
"Go ahead. Tell me the reason you came in here."
Reina's mouth clamped shut. Then she dropped her pride, pleading.
Reina (pleading, desperate):
"Please.. go hang out with some friends. Go get a boyfriend. LIVE a teenage life! Something I never had."
Shion shoved her hand off.
Shion (serious, cold):
"I will leave, like you want. Either way you'll kick me out just for a man."
Reina's face lit up. She bowed on her knees, smiling wide.
Reina (excited):
"Thank you, thank you! I'll be in your debt. I'll give you a younger sibling, like you always wanted, yeah?"
She stood, hyper, helping Shion walk out the front door. Rain hammered the porch. The house groaned under the storm.
They stood there watching the rain as Reina sighs, she looks at Shion before reaching over and grabbing an umbrella.
She hands it to Shion, the rain falling against the roof.
Reina (soft, then snapping):
"Please... just be safe. I just want to have fun too. I had you so young— I couldn't live the rest of my life. I dont want that for you. Go kiss a cute boy in the rain, have innocent love."
Shion (cold, scoffing):
"I don't believe in love, plus.. am I supposed to have a kid early too? pathetic. You want me to be like you so bad."
She dropped the umbrella onto the wet porch a hollow thud, stepping into the rain without looking back.
Reina froze, clutching the umbrella like it was her daughter's heart. She pressed her back against the door after she closed it, eyes downcast as rain hammered the house.
Neon puddles ripple under streetlamps. Shion walks alone, hair slick to her cheeks, breath fogging.
She keeps glancing over her shoulder.
Shion (muttering to self, half-panicked):
"This how I met Toru.. should I.. avoid meeting him?"
She ducks behind a parked scooter, peeks out. A figure in all black stands down the block, unmoving. When she steps out, he does too. When she speeds up, he matches. The distance never fully closes—just enough to be seen. To be felt.
Shion's pace becomes a jog. Then a run.
Shion thoughts:
(I wasn't hyperaware in the other past.. was I being stalked the entire time??! Does that mean Toru saved me back then without me knowing!? and that voice that was in my head.. when I first came here telling me to kill him.. what was that? what's going on with me? Am I in a dream?!"
Her breath breaks. Knees wobble. She stumbles and falls, palms slapping water. Tears spill, mixing with the rain.
A pair of headlights slices the dark. An engine roars closer, brakes hissing as a sleek car angles to the curb. Windows slide down; rock music leaks out, bass low and lazy.
Tokami (from the car):
"Hey! Girl!"
Shion blinks through the rain, Toru jumping out leaning into the glow, cross earrings, curled glued to his forehead, black band tee dark with water. Eyes blown wide—terrified, but kind.
_____________________________________
End of chapter 7