[Third person POV]
Lala and Haruna continued strolling through the various open fields that surrounded the school's sports club area, their footsteps echoing lightly over the gravel paths. The sun was warm, the breeze gentle, and laughter from other students echoed in the distance. It was a peaceful afternoon, the kind that made conversation come easily.
Lala glanced over at Haruna with a thoughtful expression and suddenly asked, "Haruna, have you ever been in love before?"
"Eh? What?" Haruna stiffened, clearly caught off guard by the question. She turned her head toward Lala, who was walking ahead with her hands clasped behind her back, practically skipping in step.
"Where did that come from?" Haruna asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Lala simply smiled, her eyes full of curiosity. "No reason in particular. I'm just curious, that's all."
Haruna let out a small, awkward laugh and looked away. "Well... I suppose you could say I used to," she admitted quietly, her tone subdued as if the topic stirred up emotions she wished didn't rear its head.
"Used to?" Lala asked, tilting her head in that signature, animated way of hers. "What happened? Did you fall out of love or something?"
Scratching her cheek and avoiding Lala's gaze, Haruna gave a strained smile. "Not exactly. It's a little complicated to explain… I guess the easiest way to put it is that things didn't work out the way I hoped. Sometimes, no matter how strong your feelings are, life just... decides a different path for you."
She looked down at the grass beneath their feet, the smile on her face filled with quiet resignation. "He ended up with someone else, so I guess you could say the love I have for him is now... unrequited."
Lala's eyes widened with curiosity, her interest clearly piqued. "Aww, that sounds so bittersweet. Who is he? And how did you fall in love with him? I mean, only if you're comfortable talking about it."
Haruna paused, considering the question. She stared at Lala for a long moment before finally exhaling and saying, "I'm not going to say who he is. But he was someone I met back in middle school. At first, I didn't like him at all. My initial impression of him was honestly terrible. He came off as a rude jerk with zero manners or decency. He always looked angry—scowling at everyone, brushing people off when they tried to talk to him, and just generally acting like he couldn't care less about anyone, not even the teachers."
Lala blinked in disbelief, a pout forming on her lips. "Wait, what? You fell for someone like that? He sounds awful!" She gave Haruna a strange look and said bluntly, "I'm starting to seriously question your taste in men."
Haruna stared at her for a second, stunned, then burst out laughing. She quickly covered her mouth as she giggled, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yeah, he does sound horrible, doesn't he? I thought the exact same thing at first."
"But," she continued, her tone softening, "as I got to know him—or rather, as I started noticing him more—I realized that there was another side to him. It turns out, he wasn't really as heartless as he appeared to be. He was just really good at hiding it."
---
[Flashback: A Few Years Ago]
It had been a quiet spring day when Haruna was walking along the sidewalk near the school courtyard. Opposite her, a sudden motion caught her attention—a boy was sprinting at full speed across the grass.
To her surprise, he leapt into the air with surprising grace and caught a small object just before it hit the ground. It was a bird's nest, filled with baby birds, had fallen from the branches above.
Haruna stopped, stunned, and whispered under her breath, "Clark...?" recognizing the brooding boy from her class—the same one who always sat alone, arms crossed, eyes narrowed like he hated the world.
She watched in astonishment as he glanced in her direction, let out a huff when he noticed her, then calmly got to his feet. He pushed up his decorative glasses, dusted off his knees, and carefully cradled the nest over his head as he began to climb the tree.
With quiet precision, he placed the nest back where it belonged and climbed back down. The moment his feet touched the ground, a cheerful girl with short brown hair ran up to him, grinning brightly. She patted his back in admiration, while he rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath.
Haruna just stood there, frozen in place. That was the first time she saw a different side of him—a glimpse into who he really was.
---
[Flashback End]
"Mind you," Haruna said, coming back to the present, "I didn't fall for him right away after that. It was gradual. After that day, I began to notice him more—little things. My eyes would drift toward him without me even realizing it. And the more I looked, the more I saw the real him."
She pressed her index fingers together, a soft and wistful smile forming on her lips. "Even though he acted cold and distant, it wasn't because he hated people. It was more like... he had trouble really connecting with them. He preferred quiet places, solitude, and especially the company of animals. I think they made him feel at peace. And when he thought no one was watching, he would do these small acts of kindness that he never wanted credit for. That's what really drew me to him."
Haruna's cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as she looked down with a bashful smile. "I think the moment I realized I had truly fallen for him was during the middle of our second year. It was lunchtime, and I was helping out with the gardening club. I had gone to water the plants like usual…"
…
[Flashback]
Haruna trudged along the back path behind the school building, her arms straining under the weight of the watering can she was carrying. The metal container was nearly full, and every step felt heavier as the water inside sloshed with her unsteady grip. Her fingers had begun to lose feeling, turning pale from the pressure.
As she rounded the corner near the school garden, she paused. Her breath caught in her throat.
Someone was already there.
From a distance, leaning with casual ease against the trunk of a tall tree, was Clark. His eyes were closed, his posture relaxed, as if he hadn't a care in the world. But what truly caught her attention wasn't just him—it was the group of animals that surrounded him.
Birds, squirrels, and a few small stray cats had gathered around the quiet boy, perching on his shoulders, resting near his feet, or waiting expectantly in front of him. Without even glancing down, Clark calmly tore pieces of his lunch into tiny bites and fed them to each one in turn.
Haruna stood there in stunned silence, the weight of the watering can momentarily forgotten. She had never seen this side of him before—not in class, not in the hallways, not even in fleeting glances. He always seemed closed off, gruff, and distant. But this moment was something entirely different.
Then, without opening his eyes, Clark spoke.
"What?"
Haruna startled, nearly spilling the watering can. "N-Nothing," she stammered, face heating up as she looked away. "I just… didn't expect to see you here. And, um… I see you're feeding the animals."
"Congrats," Clark said flatly, finally opening his eyes to meet hers. "Your eyes work just fine."
Despite the sarcasm, Haruna didn't get offended. She chuckled softly, used to the way he spoke. It was just his personality. Brash. Blunt. But beneath it…
Her gaze drifted back to the food in his hands. "You're giving them your lunch… aren't you going to be hungry later?"
Clark didn't even hesitate. "It's fine. They need it more than I do."
He continued breaking off pieces of his sandwich and gently handing them to the creatures around him. Haruna couldn't look away. There was a calmness to him now, a tenderness in the way he stroked a squirrel's head and offered crumbs to the birds. The faint, almost unnoticeable smile on his lips was genuine—and that made her heart skip a beat.
Her cheeks flushed without warning.
Clark looked up at her and raised a brow. "What is up with you?"
"I–ah…" Haruna's voice cracked, and she quickly cleared her throat. "I'm just realizing how kind you really are, Clark. I mean, you always act so… rough. But you're actually very gentle. I bet if people saw this side of you, they'd really like you more. Maybe then they'd stop talking badly behind your back."
Clark scoffed, clearly unimpressed by the idea. "I don't do things so people will like me. My actions aren't for their validation. I just do what I feel like doing. If people don't like that, well… too bad. It was never for them in the first place."
Haruna blinked, surprised by the conviction in his voice. There was no bitterness, no sadness—just quiet certainty.
After feeding the last squirrel, Clark straightened, brushing crumbs off his pants. The animals lingered around him as if reluctant to part from his presence. Then, to Haruna's surprise, he walked over and, without a word, took the watering can from her trembling hands.
"Eh? W-What are you doing?" she asked, whirling to face him.
Clark moved past her, tilting the can and carefully watering the row of tulips. "I don't like owing favors," he said casually, not looking back. "So I'm returning the gesture."
Haruna blinked in confusion. "Gesture? What gesture?"
Still facing the flowers, Clark replied, "I can hear it, you know—when people talk about me behind my back. You're always jumping in to defend me. It's annoying. A waste of time. But…"
He glanced back at her over his shoulder, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I'm not such a jerk that I don't know when to appreciate something."
Then his gaze sharpened. "That said—don't do it again. I didn't ask you to. And I'm not going to return the favor twice. Consider yourself warned."
Haruna stood frozen in place, eyes wide, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might echo in the silence.
She stared at his broad shoulders as he continued watering the garden, the gentle trickle of water the only sound between them now. Her hands were pressed against her chest, trying to calm the fluttering inside. Her lips trembled, a small smile trying to form despite her best efforts, and her entire face was glowing bright red.
In that moment, she knew.
She had truly, hopelessly, fallen for him.
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