It was morning.
But today… Haruta's bag stayed untouched.
His uniform? Still folded on the chair.
The room sat in silence, dim and cold.
The maid knocked gently.
"Master, it's time for school."
"I'll stay home today," he muttered.
"But why—?"
"I'm sick."
A pause.
"…All right. I'll make you some soup," she replied softly, concern woven into her voice.
"Sick of how filthy I am…" he whispered under his breath, voice barely a thread.
"I don't even know how to look at her anymore…"
He glanced at his tortoise—his only companion in this storm.
"Ome… have you ever fallen in love?"
He leaned in, eyes dull.
"…If not, that's great. Love is so twisted. So broken."
At school, Alya kept peeking at other classes, trying to catch even a glimpse of her handsome, nerdy emo boy.
But he never came.
Rei and Sera texted him:
"Yo, where you at?"
"You good?"
"You sick or something?"
No replies. Just silence.
The next day—still no Haruta.
Day after that? Nothing.
By the fourth day, even Ome looked at him like, "Bro, really?"
Finally… a week passed.
He knew he couldn't hide forever.
That morning, he woke up too early.
Got dressed in silence.
Shoulders heavy, bag on his back…
He walked to school before the sun even finished rising.
The halls were empty.
Almost peaceful.
Then Alya passed by him, sunlight hitting her hair just right.
"Hi, Haru," she said, smiling gently.
He didn't answer.
Didn't even look at her.
But his hands? Trembling. Badly.
Rei and Sera spotted him.
"Yo! You alive, man? Why didn't you come to school?"
"I was sick," he replied, eyes still fixed to the floor.
"…Must've been rough," Rei muttered. They both walked away, sensing something was off.
Then Alya came up again, a little more hesitant this time.
"Hey, Haru… why didn't you—"
"Get lost."
"Huh…?"
"I said get lost. You're annoying."
Alya's eyes shimmered.
Not crying—just that sharp ache building up inside.
His words? They didn't stab…
They shattered. Quietly. Cleanly.
But Haruta?
He didn't walk away proud.
He stormed into the washroom, slammed the door behind him, stared at his reflection like it owed him answers.
"You had to do it…" he said through gritted teeth.
"…But that doesn't mean I'll let myself off the hook."
His hand reached for a pen—
And without hesitation, he stabbed it into his palm, clenching his jaw.
"That's your punishment, you moron."
Silence.
Then a small breath.
He looked down at the mark on his skin…
Then up again.
"…She smiled at me."
His voice broke just a little.
"…Even after all that, she smiled."
The bell rang in the distance, echoing like a reminder.
But Haruta stayed there.
Broken. Quiet. Still trying to figure out how someone so warm could love someone like him.
Outside, the snow hadn't stopped.
Still falling.
Still soft.
Still stubborn.
---
To be continued...
— Rei