The next morning, Haruki woke to a message on his phone.
>**"Good morning ( ˶˘ ³˘)♡"**
He stared at the screen for a long while, almost convinced that what had happened yesterday was a dream. But the little heart at the end of Ayla's text was proof enough—this was real. A smile tugged at his lips, and for the first time in weeks, he felt light.
When he stepped out of his apartment, his uniform was neat, buttons done up to his neck, hair brushed to the side. His yesterday's gloomy but cool and sexy expression had been replaced with something brighter.
Waiting outside, leaning against the wall, was Kenta.
"Good morning, Mr. Lover Boy," Kenta teased with a grin.
Haruki immediately reddened. "S–stop it. Don't ruin my day."
"Oh? So it's true. I thought you only had feelings for me."
"Don't make it weird! Don't make it gay!"
Kenta burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you're too easy to tease."
When they arrived at school, Haruki noticed something odd. People were… watching him. Whispering. Even peeking into his classroom.
"Which Haruki is it today?" a girl asked another girl who was peering out the door.
She sighed and answered flatly, "It's just the default one."
"Ah, boring."
A collective groan of disappointment filled the hall.
Haruki froze, blinking. "...What?"
Confused, he walked into the classroom only to find dozens of eyes staring at him.
"What? Did I do something?"
"Shoo! Shoo!" Kenta jumped in front of the crowd, waving his arms dramatically. "It's just the default Haruki. Nothing to see here, get out!"
As the commotion settled, a familiar figure stepped forward—Kira, the girl who had confessed to Haruki yesterday.
"Haruki," she said loudly enough for the whole class to hear, "why did you reject me?"
Haruki stiffened. "Kira, I—"
She cut him off, voice trembling with fake emotion. "Do you think just because someone confessed to you, you're special now? That makes you famous? You're so cruel."
The classroom stirred with murmurs. Haruki opened his mouth, but again, Kira pressed on, her voice rising.
"And now you think you can make a move on Ayla? Do you even think she cares about you? There are way better guys who like her. You're nothing. She's probably just toying with you—adding you to her collection!"
Something inside Haruki snapped.
"Take that back!" His voice rang louder than he intended. "She's not like that! Ayla is kind, gentle, and she's never even dated anyone before. Why do you keep spreading lies about her?"
The class went silent. Even Kenta's jaw dropped.
"Woah," Kenta muttered under his breath. "He's like… a protagonist in some romance manga right now."
But Kira wasn't done. Her lip trembled, then she sneered. "Delusional. You think saying nice things will make her notice you? Wake up, Haruki. You're nowhere near her level!"
The murmurs began again, this time agreeing with her. Kenta clenched his fist, ready to jump in, when suddenly someone brushed past him.
A girl walked straight into the room, her long hair swaying as she approached Haruki. Without a word, she took his hand.
"A–Ayla?!" Haruki's eyes widened at her calm but determined gaze.
Kira's face twisted. "What makes you think you can just walk into another classroom and act like this?"
Ayla ignored her and tugged Haruki toward the door.
"Where are you taking him?!" Kira demanded.
"None of your business," Ayla replied coolly.
"Haruki!" Kira snapped, reaching out to grab his arm. "We're not done talking—"
Smack.
Ayla slapped her hand away.
"He's mine."
The room froze. Haruki's heart nearly stopped.
Before Kira could protest, Kenta stepped in front of her, arms crossed, glaring as if to say *stop now.*
Out in the courtyard, Haruki and Ayla sat together on a quiet bench. Neither spoke at first, awkwardness thick in the air.
Finally, Ayla broke the silence. "...Thank you."
Haruki blinked. "Eh?"
"For stepping up for me," she said softly.
His face heated. "Y–you heard that?"
She giggled. "All of it."
Haruki covered his face with his hands. "Ugh…"
"Don't be embarrassed. I liked it."
He peeked at her, his voice low. "Well… thanks for saving me too. I don't even know why she's acting like that."
Ayla shrugged gently. "Probably because you rejected her. Some girls can't handle it. They'd rather make others hate you than accept the truth."
"But… I didn't even do anything wrong."
"That's just how it is sometimes. You'll have to be careful from now on."
Haruki looked at her with a small, helpless smile. "Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without you."
Her lips curled into a teasing but warm smile. "Of course I'll protect you. You're my boyfriend."
Haruki's breath caught. He turned red instantly.
Ayla froze, realizing what she had just said. Her face flushed as well, and both turned away in shy silence, unable to meet each other's eyes.
The awkward silence between them stretched while sitting together. Finally, Ayla broke it.
"Ah… it's about time for my first subject. I'll be going now," she said, her voice light but careful.
Haruki instinctively checked his phone. His eyes widened. "Oh no, I'm late too!"
Ayla giggled, pressing her lips together to stifle it. "Can't you manage your time properly?" she teased.
Haruki shot her a look but couldn't stop the faint smile tugging his lips. "Well, it's you who dragged me out of my room in the first place."
They both laughed at that.
As Haruki started running toward his classroom, Ayla called out behind him, "Haruki!"
He glanced back, breathless, and froze. Ayla was smiling brightly, waving slightly.
"See you later!" she said. And though her voice didn't carry the last words, Haruki clearly saw her lips mouth something unspoken.
His face heated instantly. D-did she just…?
"Y-yeah… see you later!" he stammered before bolting toward his class.
---
Haruki burst into the room, chest heaving. "S-sorry, I'm late!" he gasped.
The professor didn't even look annoyed. "Take your seat now, Mr. Saito," he said flatly before continuing the lecture.
Still catching his breath, Haruki moved to his desk. As his eyes scanned the room, however, he felt it. Dozens of hostile glares drilling into him. Cold, sharp, judging. His stomach twisted with confusion. What… why are they looking at me like that?
He sat down, trying to focus on the lecture, when a crumpled paper landed on his desk. He glanced back—no one looked suspicious. Another came minutes later, then an eraser, then whispers. The entire hour dragged on as objects were thrown at him, each small impact heavier than the last.
Why? Haruki clenched his fists under the desk. I didn't do anything… so why are they mad at me?
---
During break time, his question was answered.
"So," a boy sneered, standing over Haruki's desk, glaring down at him, "what was that with Ayla earlier?"
Another leaned in, smirking. "Trying to play the victim now, huh? Get her sympathy?"
"Be ashamed, Haruki!" the first spat.
Then another voice cut in. "Oh, I get it—you're trying to hit on Ayla now? Think you're famous all of a sudden?"
The circle of hostility tightened around him. His heart pounded in his ears. *I… I really didn't do anything…*
Before he could answer, a familiar voice spoke up.
"What about you guys?"
Everyone turned. Kenta stepped forward, hands in his pockets, looking annoyed. "Aren't you ashamed, ganging up on someone who hasn't done a damn thing to you?"
"Kenta, butt out! you're not even our classmate why you're always here?! "
"Ohhh," Kenta drawled with mock realization. "I get it. You're trying to show off, huh? Scaring Ayla's boyfriend to look tough?"
The room fell into stunned silence.
"…Ayla's boyfriend??" someone repeated.
Murmurs exploded instantly.
Kenta smirked, repeating himself louder. "Yeah, you heard me. Ayla and Haruki are dating. Got a problem with that?"
"That's nonsense!" someone shouted. "She wouldn't date a loser like him! She's just pitying him because she's too nice!"
"Yeah!" another chimed in, jabbing a finger at Haruki. "What makes you think Ayla would like you? You're delusional, Saito!"
"Exactly," a third voice said, seizing the moment. Kira stepped up, eyes sharp. "Well, Kenta? Still lying for your buddy's delusions? You gonna cover for him forever?"
The classroom waited.
Kenta sighed like he was tired of the stupidity. "You idiots…" he muttered, pulling out his phone. With a few taps, he flashed the screen.
Gasps rippled across the room. A picture—undeniable—Haruki and Ayla, holding hands.
The murmurs turned bitter. Whispers full of envy and disbelief.
Kenta pocketed his phone, glaring at them. "Now, keep talking, you assholes. Mock all you want." Then he walked over to Haruki, clapping him on the shoulder. His expression softened. "Sorry, man. I know I shouldn't have done that. Didn't mean to force your relationship out in the open like that."
Haruki blinked, still overwhelmed by the whiplash of the scene. Then he managed a small smile. "No… it's fine. Thank you, bro."
Kenta grinned. "Anytime."
---
Meanwhile, in another building, Ayla sat by the window in her own classroom, chin resting on her palm. Her thoughts kept drifting.
*Haruki's smile… his clumsy way of speaking… and that time he saved me…* Her cheeks grew hot. *He was actually… kind of cool back then.*
"Ayla," the professor's voice snapped her back. "Please pay attention."
"S-sorry," she murmured quickly, straightening her notes.
Her seatmate leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "And who's our princess thinking about, huh?"
"N-nothing," Ayla said, brushing it off, but her blush betrayed her.
"Ohhh, I see," her friend teased. "Nothing's making you blush this much, huh? I see, I see\~."
Before Ayla could protest, her friend suddenly leaned toward the window. "Well, well, look who's down there—it's Haruki! Wait… isn't that the girl who confessed to him before? What are they doing together?"
Ayla's heart skipped, panic flashing in her eyes as she looked outside.
Her friend smirked. "Gotchu\~! So it *is* Haruki, huh?"
"Wha—n-no, it's not like that—!" Ayla stammered, her face red.
The professor's voice cut through again. "Ladies. Focus."
They both snapped back to attention, but Ayla's heart kept racing.
---
The sun had just dipped low, and as Haruki and Kenta stepped out of campus, the streets were painted orange. Kenta's sharp eyes caught something strange.
"Oi, Haruki. You go on ahead. I, uh… forgot my wallet back at campus. Don't wait for me," he said casually.
Haruki tilted his head, confused. "Huh? Oh… alright, if you say so."
As Haruki walked off, the shadowy figure that had been tailing them broke into a run. Kenta grinned, dropped his bag, and gave chase.
It didn't take long before he caught up, cornering the student in a quiet alley. But suddenly, four bulky figures stepped out from the darkness, circling him.
"Is this the guy? Kenta, right?" one thug asked.
"Looks buff," another smirked. "We'll need extra payment after this."
"Sure," the student replied coldly. "Just make sure he can't walk afterward."
Kenta clicked his tongue in disgust. "So you even paid others to fight me? Why don't you come at me yourself, coward?"
The fight broke out immediately. A thug threw the first punch, but Kenta slipped past it with ease.
"Tch… so you're fast too," one muttered.
Kenta dropped his backpack to the ground. "Guess I'll show you my footwork."
What followed was a storm. Fists, kicks, swift dodges—within minutes, all four were groaning on the ground. Kenta dusted off his hands and grabbed the student by the collar as he tried to run.
"Why'd you do it? What do you even want from me?"
That's when Kenta finally recognized him. He squinted.
"Wait a sec… you're that rich kid who tried to intimidate Haruki before, right? Uh… Taganawa? Tagakawa? No… Tama-something?"
The boy's face turned red. "It's Tominaga, you idiot!"
Kenta smirked. "Who's the idiot now?"
But Tominaga only grinned slyly. "Free me, or Haruki's gonna end up as dead meat. Before I lured you here, I paid two more guys to tail him. They're probably toying with him right now. Release me, and I'll call them off. Do we have a deal?"
Kenta froze for a moment. "...You sent two guys?"
Tominaga smirked, thinking he had won. "That's right. Now hurry before your friend—"
Kenta suddenly burst into laughter, his booming voice echoing in the alley.
"W-what the hell are you laughing at?! Your friend's in danger!"
Kenta grinned wide. "Wait, you only sent *two* guys? That's your mistake. Separating us was smart… but sending only two after Haruki? You don't know him at all. He's clumsy, yeah—but when he's cornered, he's different. After all…" Kenta's eyes glinted, "…he's the first one who ever knocked me out."
Meanwhile, Haruki found himself face-to-face with two thugs in a deserted alley. His cheek was already bruised from a sudden punch.
"What did I do to you? Why'd you hit me?" Haruki asked, holding his face.
One thug snorted. "Dunno. Probably someone paid us."
The other cracked his knuckles. "Enough talk. Let's finish this up."
Haruki tried to run, but he quickly hit a dead end. Fear tightened his chest as the thugs closed in.
His mind flashed back—
A playground at sunset. A younger Kenta sat on the swing, bruised and scraped after another fight. Beside him, little Haruki frowned.
"…I envy you, Kenta."
"Why?" Kenta asked with a grin.
"Well, you're strong and brave. Unlike me—clumsy, weak…"
Kenta laughed. "You're right about the clumsy part."
"Idiot," Haruki muttered. Then, softer: "Kenta… have you ever felt fear?"
Kenta looked up at the sky. "Of course. Every time I fight, I'm afraid. But if I let fear decide for me… then I'm already dead. So I just let my fists do the talking."
Back to the present—
One thug swung a heavy punch. Haruki ducked, twisted his hips, and fired a counter right into his jaw. The crack echoed in the alley. The man dropped instantly.
The other froze. "…So you know boxing, huh?"
He pulled out a knife from behind his back and charged. Haruki's heart pounded, but his body moved. He hurled his school bag at the thug's face, blocking his vision, then slipped in close.
*BAM!*
A clean liver blow. The thug collapsed with a choked grunt, unconscious before hitting the ground.
Haruki panted, staring at his shaking fists. He pulled out his phone with trembling hands and dialed emergency.
"Uh—h-hello? T-there are two guys here… drunk, I think? They, uh, fought each other and… collapsed. Please send help quickly!"
Without waiting, he hung up, grabbed his bag, and ran.
---
When Haruki arrived at the bakery, Ayla was already waiting. The moment she saw his bruised cheek, her eyes widened in alarm.
"Haruki! What happened? Who did this to you?"
Haruki scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah, I just… tripped."
"Where?"
"Somewhere there. Hehe."
"Does it hurt?"
"Nope! Not at all," Haruki tried to act cool.
Ayla pressed her finger against the bruise.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
She pouted, then ordered coffee and bread. When they sat down, she pressed her iced coffee to his cheek.
"Aww that's cold!" Haruki flinched.
"Be honest, Haruki. Was it… because of me?" she asked softly.
"No, no. Just some weird guys, that's all."
"Where are they now?"
"Uh, well… Kenta took care of them."
Ayla gave him a knowing look. Before Haruki could explain further, his phone buzzed.
"You good, bro?" Kenta's voice came through.
"Yes! Thank you, Kenta!"
"…Sure? What do you mean?"
"See? It was Kenta who helped me. Hehe." Haruki quickly ended the call, not wanting to explain more.
Ayla still gazed at him with pity. "Does it still hurt?"
Haruki puffed out his chest. "Nope. Wasn't painful from the start."
She pressed the cold drink harder.
"Oww! That hurts!"
She smirked. "Oh, it hurts?"
Haruki groaned. "Just let me act cool this once. How can I call myself your boyfriend if I can't? I'm starting to think… maybe what they say about us is true."
Ayla's eyes widened. "What do they say about us?"
"Nah, nothing important." He avoided her gaze.
Ayla looked at him seriously. "…You already look cool to me. When you saved me yesterday. And when you stood up for me this morning." Her cheeks turned pink.
Haruki's face grew hot as well.
Before anything more could be said, the bakery owner popped out. "Oi, lovebirds! Store's closing. Take your romance outside."
Both of them jumped up, embarrassed, and hurried out.
Outside, Ayla's car pulled up.
"Take care, Haruki."
"You too," Haruki replied, turning to leave.
But then—
"Haruki!"
He turned back.
Ayla rushed forward and kissed his bruised cheek.
For Haruki, time slowed. Her warm, soft lips lingered for only a second, but it felt eternal. His whole body went numb, his face burning.
Ayla pulled back, smiling shyly. "Call me when you get home, my l-o-v-e."
"Su-sure…" Haruki stammered, completely red.
She slipped into the car, covering her face. Stupid stupid stupid! What did I just do? We just started dating and I already kissed him?* But then she hugged her knees. *Wait, he's my boyfriend. So it's not wrong! I can do whatever I want with him. Yes! He's mine!
Meanwhile, Haruki stood frozen, touching the spot where she kissed him. "…An angel."
Just then, Kenta appeared, raising a brow. "Haruki! I knew it. No way those nobodies could fold you. If they did, I'd bury you myself. My pride can't take it if the guy who once knocked me out got beaten by small fries."
But then he noticed Haruki's dazed expression. "Wait, you good, bro?"
Haruki whispered dreamily, "Angel…"
"…Huh?"
"I saw an angel…" Haruki muttered, still touching his cheek.
Kenta stared blankly. "Did they hit you that hard? Now you're seeing angels?"
But Haruki just smiled like an idiot, lost in his own world.