I was walking home from school when I suddenly froze in my tracks.
Up ahead, I saw my classmates. Kaito was on the ground, and towering over him were Haruto and Daichi. They were strong—everyone at school said those two were unbeatable in a fight. My heart pounded in my chest.
"They're… bullying him?"
Fear gripped me, but I clenched my fists. No… I can't just stand here!
Gathering all the courage I had, I rushed forward, yanked Kaito towards me, and—without thinking—slapped Haruto across the face.
SMACK!
The sound echoed.
Haruto's eyes widened, but he said nothing. He just stared at me, silent and unreadable, his expression completely blank.
Daichi's brows furrowed, his voice sharp. "Why did you do that?"
My knees trembled, my voice shaking as I stammered, "Y-you were bullying Kaito… so stop it! Or else… I'll tell the teacher!"
Both of them looked stunned.
But when I turned to Kaito for support—he was already gone. Vanished.
Daichi crossed his arms, exhaling sharply. "You've got it wrong. Kaito was the one bullying his juniors. We were protecting them."
I froze. My eyes darted to Haruto. He was still just… staring at me. No words. No emotion. Just that quiet, piercing gaze.
Heat exploded in my face. W-wait… I slapped him…? For no reason?!
My whole body shook with embarrassment as I bowed frantically, blurting out, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'M SORRY!!!" again and again.
And then I ran.
My face was crimson, my heart wouldn't stop pounding.
"I really slapped that freaking monster… just to protect a bully?!" I groaned into my hands as I walked home. "I'm gonna dieeeeee…"
The next morning, my stomach was in knots. The memory of yesterday's incident haunted me, and the thought of facing them again made me want to crawl under my blanket forever. But… as a top student, skipping school wasn't an option. So, with shaky breaths, I forced myself to go.
The corridor was quiet when I saw them. Haruto and Daichi. Walking straight toward me.
My body froze. My face burned hot. I couldn't move—I couldn't even breathe.
When they reached me, Haruto's calm voice broke the silence.
"You… were the girl who slapped me, right?"
In that instant, I wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole. But of course, it didn't. My throat went dry as I nodded, bowing slightly.
"I-I'm sorry… again…"
Haruto stepped closer, so close that I could feel his presence. My heart skipped. He leaned down, his voice low, only for me to hear.
"Don't do something this reckless in front of others. Not everyone would forgive you for slapping them without a reason."
His words weren't angry—they were… gentle. A warning, but also kind.
I bowed again, stammering apologies, before fleeing into the safety of my classroom. My heart was pounding so loud I could barely hear myself think.
He's… not a monster after all. He's… actually kind.
I sat at my desk during lunch, still shaken from this morning's encounter… but also a little relieved. The classroom was empty—everyone else had gone to the cafeteria.
That's when the door slid open.
Haruto and Daichi walked in.
My heart jumped.
Haruto's eyes flicked toward me, calm and unreadable. Daichi, on the other hand, chuckled as he leaned against a desk.
"So tell me… why did you think we were bullying him ?"
I stiffened. My fingers gripped my skirt tightly. "I-I heard from our classmates… that you two are really strong fighters, so I thought…"
Before I could finish, Haruto stepped closer, his gaze sharp.
"So… you thought we were bullies?"
I couldn't answer. I just sat there, frozen.
Daichi smirked. "You're braver than you look. Standing up against Haruto… even knowing he's kind of a monster."
Something in me relaxed at his teasing, and before I knew it, the words slipped out.
"Right? I was like, oh God, I just slapped a monster! I thought he'd eat me alive! But thank God, he didn't!"
A nervous laugh escaped me—until my brain caught up with my mouth.
Wait… did I just call him a monster? Out loud?!
I froze.
Haruto's black eyes were locked onto me, scanning my face. Silent. Emotionless.
The tension was unbearable—until Daichi suddenly burst out laughing.
"Pfft—HAHAHA! Did you hear that, Haruto? She really called you a monster!"
To my shock, Haruto let out a small laugh too. His lips curled just slightly.
"You really are… something else."
My cheeks turned crimson as my heart skipped a beat.
I smiled faintly as Haruto walked away. My chest still felt tight, but lighter somehow.
After lunch, I strolled into the garden to clear my head… but the whispers began.
"Isn't she the one who slapped Haruto yesterday?"
"No way… seriously?"
"How could she—he's Haruto!"
I froze. W-what?! How did they find out already?!
By the time I stepped into the hallway, the stares burned into me from all sides. Girls, especially, looked at me with narrowed eyes—jealousy, curiosity, disbelief. My stomach churned.
Just then, a familiar voice called out behind me.
"Aria!"
I spun around. It was my friend, Kaji. Relief washed over me, but then he asked the question I dreaded.
"Is it true? Did you… slap Haruto?"
I stammered, words tumbling out as I explained everything from yesterday, my face hot with embarrassment.
Kaji sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Listen, Aria. Don't get involved with them again. They're bad news, trust me."
I nodded weakly, trying to convince myself he was right. Together we walked back toward the classroom.
But when I stepped inside, my breath caught.
Haruto was already there. He had one hand propped against his cheek, his chin resting on it casually as his dark black eyes locked onto me.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop.
And then… he smiled.
It wasn't mocking or cold. It was warm. Soft.
My whole body melted at the sight, and without thinking, I smiled back before hurrying to my desk, my heart beating so fast it was almost painful.
Even at my desk, I could hear the whole class whispering about yesterday's incident. Their voices blended into a dull roar in my head.
"She really slapped Haruto."
"No way… she's crazy."
"Unbelievable…"
I felt numb. My hands stayed clenched on the desk, my eyes fixed on nothing. What could I even do?
After school, I walked home, but my mind was still restless. Haruto's face… his warm smile kept replaying in my head.
Ahh… he looked so cute… I muttered in my thoughts, cheeks warming just at the memory.
Then—bam!
I collided with something hard, like a wall. My books almost slipped from my hands. When I looked up, my breath caught.
Haruto.
He stood stiff, tall, his dark eyes locked on me.
I froze, staring at him, waiting. Finally, his low voice broke the silence.
"Did you hear about the rumors spreading around the school?"
I nodded quickly. "Y-yeah… practically everyone was staring at me like they wanted to eat me alive."
To my surprise, he chuckled softly. "Daichi will handle them. You don't have to worry."
My eyes widened. Wait… what? He's… protecting me? My brain was still trying to process his words when suddenly—
"Want to go out for something to eat with me?"
I blinked. My body stiffened. My heart skipped so hard it hurt.
Wait… did he just ask me out? Is this… a date?!
Just as my lips parted to answer Haruto, a voice called out behind me.
"Aria…"
I froze. My heart sank as I turned around.
Kaji.
He stood there, his brows furrowed, his tone filled with suspicion. My childhood friend—the one who'd always been protective of me—was staring hard at the scene in front of him.
"I was looking for you all over the school," he said firmly. "I thought you'd be tense with everything going on… but wait—what is he doing here?"
His eyes darted to Haruto, sharp and accusing.
Haruto didn't flinch. His expression stayed cold, unreadable, as he replied in a flat tone, "I was just telling her not to worry. Daichi will handle the rumors. And… I wanted to take her out to eat."
The tension in the air thickened.
Kaji's jaw tightened. He stepped closer, glaring. "Back off. You're the one who caused all this trouble in the first place."
For the first time, Haruto's face shifted. His expression hardened, his shoulders tense, his fist twitching slightly—like he was one step away from striking Kaji.
Before anything could happen, I darted between them, my hands raised.
"Haruto, thank you, but… I have to go."
His black eyes met mine for a brief, unreadable moment.
Then I turned and walked away with Kaji, my chest heavy, my mind spinning.
As we walked side by side, the silence between us felt heavy, pressing down on my chest. Finally, Kaji stopped and turned to me, his voice low but firm.
"Aria… what were you doing with Haruto? Didn't I tell you not to get involved with him?"
I blinked at him, trying to ease the tension with a small laugh. "Kaji, you're misunderstanding. He's actually really sweet. He even tried to help me—even when I was the one who slapped him without a reason."
But Kaji's eyes didn't soften. He stared at me for a long moment, then turned sharply toward a nearby food stall, where the warm smell of taiyaki drifted through the air.
"Why can't you listen to me, just once?" he muttered, his voice tight. "…Just stay away from them."
There was a pause. The vendor called out cheerfully, handing a steaming taiyaki to a waiting customer. Kaji glanced back at me with forced nonchalance. "…Let's eat taiyaki."
My chest tightened with frustration. I turned away, refusing to meet his gaze.
"You're really… pissing me off, Kaji."
Before he could reply, I walked off, my steps quick and sharp against the pavement.
"Bye."
Behind me, I could almost feel his sigh—the sound of someone both frustrated and worried.
Lying in bed, I realized I might have been a bit harsh on Kaji. He was only looking out for me. I'll apologize to him tomorrow… for sure. I promised myself.
The next morning, I walked into school, expecting to see the familiar faces of Haruto and Kaji—but neither was in their usual seats.
Curious, I scanned the schoolyard. Faint voices came from the back of the school. Following the sound, I saw Kaji and Haruto standing together. Kaji was scolding Haruto, gesturing wildly, while Haruto simply stood there, silent and calm, as if nothing fazed him.
I walked closer. "Kaji… what's going on?" I asked.
Kaji didn't answer. His eyes narrowed, and without a word, he stormed off.
Haruto turned to me, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "Do you… like Kaji?"
I froze. Wait, what?! No—why would you even say that?!
Haruto's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Nah, it's just… he's overprotective for a friend."
I exhaled, my shoulders relaxing a bit. "We're actually childhood friends. When I was little, I used to protect him… and one day he promised that when we grew up, he'd be the one protecting me. So… that's it." I laughed lightly at the memory.
Haruto's smirk widened. He stepped closer, teasing, "Maybe… I could protect you. I am stronger than him, after all."
My heart skipped a beat. Wait… what? He's… soo cute.
I glanced at him, hoping he'd say it was just a joke. But he didn't. He only smirked, that mysterious, unreadable expression lingering on his face, before walking away.
I was left frozen in the middle of the school backyard, cheeks burning, heart racing, and completely… shocked.
After taking a few deep breaths and trying to calm my racing heart, I walked back into the classroom.
Kaji appeared beside my desk almost immediately, concern written all over his face.
"Did… Haruto say something to you?" he asked softly.
I shook my head, forcing a small smile.
"Don't worry, Kaji. I'm fine… better than fine," I said, though my heart was still fluttering uncontrollably.
Then… my eyes met Haruto's.
For a moment, my breath caught. His expression was unreadable, dark and calm—but he wasn't looking at me. He was staring directly at Kaji, who still lingered by my desk, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
Haruto took a step closer, his voice low but firm.
"Back off, Kaji. From now on… I'll be the one protecting her."
I froze, staring at him with a blank, stunned expression. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.
Kaji's face darkened in anger, and he looked at me, silently demanding a reply.
I… couldn't say a word.
Without another glance, Kaji huffed in frustration and left the classroom, leaving me alone with Haruto.
My chest felt tight. My thoughts were a mess. And Haruto… he just stood there, smirking faintly, like he knew exactly what he'd done to me.
Finally, Haruto's eyes met mine. His gaze was soft, warm… the kind that could make your heart flutter uncontrollably.
"Want to walk home together?" His voice was gentle, almost teasing, and it sent a shiver down my spine.
I froze. My heart skipped a beat. Did he… really just ask me?
He stepped a little closer, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "As I promised Kaji… I'll be the one protecting you."
My cheeks heated instantly. I wanted to say something, but words failed me. He simply turned and walked ahead, leaving me standing there in stunned silence.
Wait… what just happened? Did he… mean that?
A strange warmth bubbled up in my chest. I couldn't help smiling, a silly, soft smile that made me feel like I was floating. Suddenly, school didn't feel so scary anymore.
The bell rang, and I quickly gathered my things. As I looked up, Haruto was already by my desk, that same teasing, cute smile on his face.
"Let's go," he said, and I felt my stomach flip. I smiled back, trying to hide my racing heart, and stepped out with him.
We walked in silence for a while, the soft sound of our footsteps filling the space. I stole glances at him, feeling my cheeks warm. Then he spoke again, quiet but steady.
"You know, I think you were pretty cool back there , Aria." His eyes met mine, and I felt my heart stutter. "Even though you were scared, you tried to protect Kaito. That's brave… even if you misunderstood me ."
He chuckled softly, and the sound made my chest tighten.
Wait… he thinks I'm cool… for slapping him?! My lips parted slightly in disbelief.
He smirked, just a little, leaning forward as if sharing a secret. "Don't worry, I like that about you."
My heart skipped, and I couldn't stop the small laugh that escaped me. My face felt hot, my hands trembling slightly as I kept walking beside him.
Haruto glanced at me, his eyes glinting with something teasing yet warm, and I felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of us.
Lying on my bed, I couldn't stop replaying everything about Haruto—the way he had smirked, the warmth in his voice, even the way he had devoured that pastry like a little kid.
I… I think I'm...falling for him.…
My heart thumped in my chest. This was my first love. A mysterious, invincible, cute, adorable boy who somehow made my cheeks burn just by existing.
I turned red just thinking about him, curling up under my blanket, smiling foolishly to myself.
But then doubt crept in. What does he think of me? Maybe I'm just… a girl who slaps anyone in her way home? Oh God… why did our first encounter have to be like that?
I sighed and buried my face in my pillow. Eventually, exhaustion won over my overthinking, and I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, it was Sunday. No school, no Haruto—just me and a quiet, boring house.
Ah… no seeing Haruto today. This is so boring…
My thoughts were still tangled in him when I heard my mom calling from downstairs.
"Aria! Go buy groceries!"
I groaned, sitting up. I hated going out, but I couldn't exactly refuse. With a small huff, I got dressed and went out anyway, my mind secretly wandering back to him…
I wonder what he's doing right now…
I was walking, my mind completely lost in thoughts of Haruto, when suddenly…
A loud commotion caught my attention. I froze.
Haruto was fighting someone—tall, broad, and apparently stronger than him… or so I thought.
H-Haruto… fighting?! My heart jumped. Wait, he always picks fights with stronger people! I forgot!
The fight was intense but quick. In a blink, Haruto had beaten the guy and stood tall, his dark eyes scanning the area… and then, his gaze landed on mine.
I froze completely, my cheeks heating up. I was taken a back , trying to walk the other way…
"Akari! Wait up!"
His voice stopped me in my tracks. I turned slowly to look at him. His face was a little tense, serious… and for a moment, he said nothing.
I swallowed, smiling nervously. "You're… really strong."
Even when he fights, he looks so… cute, I thought, feeling my cheeks burn.
Haruto scratched the back of his head, a small, awkward smile forming. "Th-thanks."
Then, as if nothing had happened, he asked, casual yet attentive, "Are you going somewhere?"
"Yep… my mom sent me to buy groceries," I replied, fidgeting slightly.
Haruto's eyes lit up. "Oh… let me accompany you then. Let's go."
Wait… he's walking with me? Just now I was thinking about him, and now he's right here, walking beside me… My heart pounded as a wave of happiness and embarrassment washed over me.
"Mom, thank you…" I whispered under my breath, unable to hide my grin.
As we walked through the sunny streets, I casually asked, "Haruto… do you usually fight with others?"
He glanced at me, a little hesitant, as if he didn't want to answer. After a moment, he said softly, "Not usually… sometimes....Just sometimes."
"Oh… that's nice," I murmured.
Then, without thinking, I added, "Haruto… you're pretty cool when you fight."
My heart immediately skipped a beat. Oh no… I said that out loud…
His eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" he asked, a small grin tugging at his lips. "I like fighting… and showing off a little," he chuckled.
He really did act like a kid sometimes—proudly showing off his skills just to impress others. I laughed, and soon he joined in, his own laugh echoing like sunlight through the street.
As we continued shopping, he asked softly, "Do you come here every Sunday?"
"No… my mom does . Not me. I don't like going out that often," I replied, shrugging lightly.
His face fell slightly, and he murmured, "Then… why don't you come every Sunday? I'll...accompany you."
My heart… it's going to leap out of my chest… I felt my cheeks flush uncontrollably.
"Hmm… yeah, sure," I said, trying to sound casual, though my voice was shaky. "I'd be happy to come with you."
After shopping, we started walking down the quiet street. Haruto suddenly stopped and looked straight into my eyes.
"Do you… like—"
My cheeks instantly burned bright red. Oh no… did he find out I like him?! No way… not like this!
He paused, seemingly noticing my reaction, and then added softly, "Taiyaki."
Huh? What…?
I followed his gaze and realized there was a taiyaki shop around the corner. My face stayed red as I nodded.
A small, playful smirk appeared on his lips. He walked inside and came back moments later with two freshly baked taiyaki, handing one to me.
"Thank you," I murmured, my hands brushing his as I took it.
We walked slowly, quietly eating our taiyaki, the warmth of the pastries matching the warmth spreading in my chest. Even in this simple moment, my heart felt like it was about to burst.
After finishing our taiyaki, Haruto insisted on walking me home, and I reluctantly agreed.
As we strolled down the quiet streets, he glanced at me, his dark eyes calm but curious.
"You're really good at studies, right?" he asked. "I heard from Daichi that you scored the highest on the last test."
I blinked, shocked. "N-not really… I just… don't do anything else at home, so I study instead. That's it."
Haruto tilted his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "Really? So… you're free?"
I nodded, heart racing.
He smiled faintly. "Then… are you free for the summer festival?"
My face immediately turned red. Summer festival… with him?! My chest felt like it would explode. "Y-yeah…" I managed to say, almost breathless.
A warm smile spread across his face. "Then… let's go together."
Even though he said it casually, the warmth in his eyes and gentle curve of his smile made my heart melt. I nodded, unable to stop the blush from spreading across my cheeks.
He's… so kind… so gentle… so… cute…
The night of the festival, I couldn't decide what to wear. After what felt like trying on a hundred dresses, I finally picked one and hurried out.
When I arrived, there he was—Haruto. My heart skipped a beat. He was wearing a black shirt, simple but somehow… impossibly handsome.
He spotted me immediately. For a moment, his expression froze as he stared at me. Then, like an electric shock, he looked away, and we began walking together toward the festival.
Curious, I kept glancing at the colorful stalls along the way, but suddenly… I bumped into someone.
Haruto noticed instantly. He took my hand in his, holding it gently but firmly. "You might get lost. We should stick together," he said.
My whole body burned. His hand… his hand is on mine…
Soon, we reached a goldfish scooping stall. I insisted on trying, my hands trembling with excitement… and failed miserably.
Haruto giggled softly, his laugh warm and light, and then leaned close. His hand brushed mine as he showed me how to hold the scooper properly.
Oh… my… Sparks shot up my arm. My heart raced uncontrollably, and I could feel my cheeks burning red.
"See? Not too hard," he murmured, a faint teasing smile on his lips.
I nodded, still flustered, trying not to look too obvious. His dark eyes flicked toward mine, warm and playful, and I felt like I could melt right there on the spot.
The festival lights reflected in his eyes, the air filled with the scent of fried food and sweets, and for the first time, I felt like… this night was ours alone.
After goldfish scooping, Haruto suddenly stopped in front of the candied apple stall. He just stood there, eyes wide, staring at the apples like a little boy who had discovered a treasure. My chest tightened. He looks… so cute… like a kid… but somehow… unbelievably handsome.
I bit my lip, trying to keep calm. "Do… do you want one?" I asked, my voice a little higher than usual.
His head tilted slightly, and then he nodded, his dark eyes sparkling like tiny stars.
I hurried and bought two candied apples, handing one to him. When his fingers brushed mine as he took it, a jolt ran through me—my whole body feels like it's on fire!
He took a bite, his small smile lighting up his face. He looked like he was enjoying the simple sweetness, and I couldn't help but stare. Why does something so ordinary… make him look so perfect?
We walked slowly, apples in hand. Each time our hands accidentally brushed, I felt sparks—my face heating up, my heartbeat thumping like a drum in my ears. I couldn't stop sneaking glances at him, his dark hair catching the festival lights, his lips curved in that rare, soft smile.
After a few moments of silence, he suddenly looked at me, hesitating. His brows were slightly furrowed, and his lips parted like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure.
I tilted my head, heart racing. "What's wrong? Do you… want to say something?"
He swallowed, fidgeted a little, and finally whispered, almost nervously, "You… you think I'm like a little kid, getting excited over small things… right? My behavior… it's childish, isn't it?"
I blinked, taken aback by the vulnerability in his voice. Without thinking, I blurted out, "It's cute."
For a moment, his eyes went wide, sparkling with shock. Really… you like… my childish side…?
I nodded quickly, feeling my cheeks burn hotter than a summer festival lantern. Oh no… I said it so confidently… what will he think now?!
Then, slowly, a soft smile spread across his face—warm, genuine, teasing just a little. My heart practically exploded.
"Cute…" he murmured, almost to himself, before his eyes flicked up to meet mine again. The way he looked at me, so intense yet gentle, made me feel like I was floating, like the world had melted away, leaving just the two of us under the festival lights.
I could feel my fingers twitch, wanting to reach out, to touch his hand again, and I noticed him glance down at our hands. He didn't move away—instead, his hand twitched slightly toward mine, like he was testing the waters.
My heart skipped a beat. He's… actually… going to hold my hand, isn't he?
I tried to steady my breathing, but it was impossible. Everything about him—his smile, his warmth, the way his eyes caught the lantern lights—made my chest feel like it could burst.
As we continued walking through the festival, my eyes occasionally met his, and each time, I felt a shiver of excitement. Even the ordinary sounds—the chatter of people, the sizzling of food stalls, the fireworks in the distance—felt magical because we were together.
For the first time, I realized something terrifying and wonderful at the same time: I've completely fallen for him.