A ripple spreads through the classroom. Whispers break out immediately.
"Wait, did he just say her name?"
"Does he know the new girl?"
"Who is she?"
Ishi's crimson eyes snap toward Haruto, a flicker of recognition flashing through them. For the briefest of moments, her mask of indifference falters—just a fraction of a second, but enough for Haruto to see it.
Sakura glances at Haruto, confused. She's never heard that name before, and yet, judging by the intensity in Haruto's voice, it clearly means something to him.
Then, just as quickly as the shock appeared, Ishi suppresses it. Her expression smooths over into something unreadable.
"Uh, do you and Aoki know each other?" Mr. Takagi asked.
"I have no idea who he is.", she said coolly.
Her voice is calm, level, as if the name Haruto just spoke means nothing to her. She turns back to Mr. Takagi, ignoring Haruto completely.
Mr. Takagi Looking between them curiously but continuing, "Alright, Ishi-chan, why don't you introduce yourself to the class?"
Ishi Folding her arms ,"I'm Kazehaya Ishi. That's all."
She doesn't say more, nor does she bow. She simply stands there, as if daring anyone to question her further. The tension in the room is palpable.
Haruto is still staring at her, disbelief and confusion written all over his face. Ten years. It had been ten years since he last saw her. Since they were separated without a word. Since she—
Sakura looks between the two of them. She may not know what's going on, but she can tell one thing for sure—Haruto knows this girl. And judging by his reaction, she's important.
Mr. Takagi clears his throat "Well then, welcome, Ishi-chan. You can take the empty seat in front of Aoki."
Ishi finally moves, stepping past the rows of desks. She walks right by Haruto—so close that he could reach out to her. But she doesn't even glance at him. Not once.
She sits down, crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand as if nothing just happened.
Haruto clenches his fists under his desk. He wants to say something, to ask her what's going on, but... now isn't the time.
+++
The cafeteria hums with the usual lunchtime chatter. Haruto, still processing everything from earlier, finally finds Ishi sitting alone at a table near the window, absentmindedly stirring her food.
Taking a deep breath, he walks over and stands across from her.
"Ishi."
She doesn't react. Just keeps stirring. The food on her tray remains untouched.
"I know you remember me", he said firmly.
This time, Ishi looks up, crimson eyes sharp and unreadable.
"I told you. You have me mistaken for someone else."
Haruto frowned, "Cut the crap. I know it's you. It's been ten years, but—"
"And yet, you still don't get it. I'm not the same person you knew back then.", she interrupted with a cold demeanour.
Haruto clenches his jaw. This isn't the reunion he imagined. He expected shock, maybe even anger—but this indifference? It pisses him off.
"You're seriously going to act like—"
Ishi suddenly standing up "I don't have time for this."
She picks up her tray and walks away without another word, leaving Haruto standing there, fists clenched, frustration boiling inside him.
Sakura, who had been watching from a distance, frowns. She didn't know the full story, but whatever history Haruto had with this girl—it clearly wasn't simple.
+++
The afternoon class drags on. Haruto tries to focus, but his eyes keep drifting toward Ishi, who sits stiffly at her desk, eyes locked on the board. He's had enough of this silence.
As soon as the teacher steps out for a moment, he seizes the chance.
Haruto Leans forward, "Ishi. Why are you doing this?"
She ignores him.
"You were my friend." he persisted.
At that, Ishi's fingers tighten around her pen. For a brief second, she almost looks… conflicted. But then, just as quickly, she composes herself.
"How many times do I have to say it? Stop talking to me!" she shouted.
The entire class turns to stare. Murmurs ripple across the room.
"Wait, what's going on?"
"Why's she so mad at him?"
"Is there some kind of drama?"
Sakura watches nervously…
Haruto frustrated, "Ishi, just listen to me—"
Ishi slamming her hand on the desk, voice sharp "I don't want anything to do with you!"
A heavy silence falls over the classroom. The tension is unbearable. Haruto just stares at her, hurt flashing in his eyes.
And then, without another word, Ishi grabs her bag, storms out of the classroom, and slams the door shut behind her.
+++
The classroom is unusually quiet the next morning. Haruto walks in, still shaken from yesterday. He half-expects Ishi to ignore him again, but when he looks at her seat—it's empty.
Whispers circulate around the room. Even Sakura looks puzzled.
Then, Mr. Takagi walks in, setting down his materials with a sigh.
"Alright, settle down, everyone. Before we begin, I have an announcement."
The class falls silent, sensing something serious.
"Kazehaya Ishi has transferred to another class. She's been moved to Class 2-B.", Mr. Takagi said.
A murmur spreads across the room.
"She left? Just like that?"
"Man, she was only here for a day…"
Haruto's stomach sinks.
Moved? Is it because of me?
Haruto tightens his grip on his desk, staring at the empty seat where Ishi once sat.
Ishi… what the hell happened to you?
+++
The cafeteria is as lively as ever, filled with students chatting, eating, and exchanging gossip. At their usual table, Haruto, Sakura, and Akari sit together, each with their trays of food. The atmosphere feels lighthearted, but there's an underlying tension in Haruto's demeanor.
Sakura stirring her miso soup absentmindedly, "Hey, did you hear? A new girl transferred in yesterday."
Akari casually eating, "Yeah, Kazehaya, right? She's in my class now, she sits right next to me."
Haruto, who had been silent, immediately perks up at Akari's words.
"Wait… you sit next to her?"
Akari nods. "Yep. She got moved right next to me. She didn't say much, though. Just sat there, looking like she wanted to kill someone."
Sakura and Akari exchange glances, both sensing the shift in Haruto's mood.
"Do you… know her, Haruto?", Sakura asked…
Haruto hesitates. His fingers tighten around his chopsticks.
"Yeah. A long time ago."
Akari raises an eyebrow, sensing something deeper behind his words. She leans forward slightly, intrigued.
"And? What's the deal? You two got history or something?"
Haruto exhales, glancing away.
"Look, I don't know what happened to her, but she's not the same person I knew. She's avoiding me, brushing me off… I'm worried about her."
Akari tilts her head, tapping her chopsticks against her tray thoughtfully.
"You want me to talk to her for you?"
Haruto shakes his head "Just… keep an eye on her. Let me know if anything seems off."
Sakura watches Haruto closely, seeing the genuine concern in his eyes. She rests her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful.
"You really care about her, don't you?"
"She was my friend. I don't want to just stand by if something's wrong.", he said quietly.
Akari lets out a small sigh before leaning back with a smirk.
"Fine, fine. I'll do you this solid. But you owe me."
Haruto offers her a small, grateful nod. "Thanks, Akari."
Akari shrugs, taking another bite of her food.
"Still, gotta say—first Sakura, now Ishi? Your turning out to be quiet the lady-killer, huh?"
Sakura shoots her a glare, and Haruto just sighs.
"It's not like that." he said.
"Uh-huh. Sure." Akari grinned.
Sakura rolls her eyes but looks at Haruto with a bit more understanding. This was important to him. "We'll figure this out together."
Haruto nods, appreciating the support. Meanwhile, Akari mentally notes to keep a close watch on Ishi from now on. Something about that girl didn't sit right with her either.
+++
Class 2-B was buzzing with activity as students prepared for the next lesson. Ishi Kazehaya sat quietly by the window, staring outside, completely uninterested in the chatter around her. That was, until Akari Mima slid into the seat beside her, flashing her a bright, disarming smile.
"Yo! You're the new girl, right? I'm Akari Mima. I realized I never introduced myself the other day, It'd be great for us to get along since we will be sitting next to each other!" she said cheerfully.
Ishi barely spared her a glance before returning her gaze to the window.
Akari blinked at the cold response but wasn't deterred. She leaned on her desk, watching Ishi with an amused expression.
"Man, you're really not much of a talker, huh? That's cool. I'll do the talking then!"
Ishi sighed, already regretting not ignoring her harder.
Akari grinned. "So, where are you from? What's your favorite food? Any hobbies? Are you a dog person or a cat person? Do you read manga?"
"...None of your business." Ishi said, annoyed.
Akari nodding to herself "Ah, so mysterious. I respect that. But just so you know, I'm a dog person. Golden retrievers? Absolute kings."
Ishi resisted the urge to groan. This girl was persistent.
+++
The next period was gym class. Students were paired up for sparring exercises, and to Ishi's irritation, Akari had latched onto her again.
"Ooooh, this is gonna be fun! I can tell you've got some serious skills. Come on, let's go all out!" Akari said excitedly.
Ishi rolled her eyes but didn't argue. The whistle blew, and the two squared up. Akari, despite her energetic personality, had surprisingly sharp reflexes and quick footwork. However, the moment she went in for a strike, Ishi effortlessly dodged and countered, pinning her in a single move.
Akari Struggled "What the—? You're crazy fast!"
"You're just slow." Ishi said with a deadpan.
Akari Laughing "Rude. But fair."
As the match ended, Akari dusted herself off, still grinning.
"You ever thought of joining a club? With skills like that, you'd dominate." Akari said.
"Not interested." Ishi firm.
"You wound me! Well, if not a club, how about… hanging out with me?" Akari asked.
"No." Ishi annoyed.
Akari still smiling "Damn. Third rejection today. I'm on a roll."
Despite Ishi's cold demeanor, Akari didn't seem discouraged in the slightest. If anything, she looked like she was having fun.
+++
Later that day, as students left the school, Ishi took her usual path home—alone. She moved through the quieter streets, wanting to avoid the busy roads. However, to her annoyance, a familiar voice called out behind her.
"Hey, wait up!" Akari cheerful.
Ishi groaned and kept walking. Akari, unbothered, caught up and walked beside her.
"You never told me where you live. Are we neighbors? Wouldn't that be a twist?" Akari grinned.
Ishi cold. "Why are you following me?"
"Not following. Just… conveniently heading the same way." Akari shrugged.
Ishi sighed and made a sharp turn into a narrow alley, hoping to lose her. But Akari, being Akari, followed without hesitation.
"Ooooh, this is how horror movies start. Are you leading me to my doom?" Akari joked.
"I wish." Ishi muttered.
Before Akari could respond, movement from the shadows caught her eye. A group of rough-looking men stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Well, what do we have here? Two pretty girls, wandering into the wrong place." the first thug said with a smirk.
Akari muttering to Ishi "Okay, yeah. This is actually how horror movies start."
The largest thug stepped closer, cracking his knuckles.
"Why don't you two stay a while?"
Akari sighed "Do these guys actually think this works?"
One of the thugs reached for Ishi—big mistake.
In a blur, Ishi caught his wrist and twisted it sharply, sending him to his knees with a pained grunt. Before the others could react, she stepped forward, delivering a lightning-fast kick to the next thug's stomach, sending him flying back.
Akari watched in awe "Okay, damn."
A third thug lunged at Ishi, but before she could react, Akari moved in, sweeping his legs and slamming him into the ground.
"Bet you didn't see that coming, huh?" Akari grinned.
The remaining thugs scrambled to their feet and ran, dragging their injured friends with them. Ishi adjusted her sleeve, unfazed.
"Scumbags." Ishi glared.
Akari still staring at Ishi "What the hell was that? You were amazing."
Ishi simply started walking again. Akari quickly followed, still in shock.
The two walked in silence for a bit. Akari, deep in thought, suddenly spoke.
"You don't talk much, but… I get it now. You're keeping people at a distance, huh?" Akari said softly.
Ishi didn't respond.
"Haruto's been trying to talk to you, y'know. He's really worried."
Ishi's steps slowed slightly.
Akari continued, "Maybe… it's time you talked to him, at least listen to what he has to say, I know for a fact that he really cares when speaks about you."
Ishi remained silent, her face unreadable. But something in her eyes flickered—hesitation, doubt… maybe even longing. Akari didn't push further. She had done her part. Now, it was up to Ishi.
+++
The streets were quiet, illuminated only by the dim glow of streetlights. Haruto walked with a plastic bag in hand, fresh from the grocery store. The night air was crisp, and he exhaled softly, his mind occupied with everything that had happened lately—Sakura's training, Akari's growing involvement, and of course… Ishi.
He was so lost in thought that he nearly missed the figure standing in the middle of the road ahead. His steps slowed as he recognized her.
Ishi.
She stood there, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. But the way she stood—tense, shoulders stiff—told Haruto she wasn't here for a casual chat.
"Ishi…" he said surprised.
Her crimson eyes burned as she snapped at him.
"Did you send that girl to persuade me?" she said sharply.
Haruto blinked, confused for a moment before realizing she meant Akari.
Haruto shook his head "No, I—"
"Don't lie to me!" she shouted at him, eyes narrowing.
She took a step forward, her fists clenched tightly. Haruto could see the slight tremble in her hands.
Ishi, voice shaking "She was spouting things about you being worried. Bullshit about you caring." She scoffed bitterly. "You hypocrite, dare you? You don't get to come back in my life after abandoning me"
Haruto didn't respond immediately, sensing the storm brewing inside her. He had never seen her like this before—not back then, not even in his memories of the facility.
Ishi's eyes gleamed with emotion "Do you know what it was like?"
Haruto's breath caught in his throat as Ishi's voice cracked. Her fingers curled into her palms so tightly her nails dug into her skin.
Ishi, almost growling "I waited. I waited for you, Haruto. I thought maybe you were sick, maybe they were keeping you from me. I thought—" Her voice wavered before she forced it steady again. "And then I realized… you weren't coming back."
Her eyes darkened, filled with something raw, something broken.
"You left me." she said bitterly.
Haruto took a cautious step forward.
"Ishi, I didn't—"
"I HATED YOU FOR IT!" she screamed.
Without warning, a powerful shockwave erupted from Ishi—a force field, sending Haruto flying backward. He barely managed to twist in midair, skidding across the pavement as his groceries scattered.
The shockwave sent dust into the air, but Haruto quickly stood up, coughing slightly.
"Ishi—"
Another blast came, and this time Haruto braced himself. The energy slammed into him, pushing him back, but he held his ground.
Ishi, tears forming in her eyes "You don't get to just come back into my life and act like nothing happened!"
She launched another wave of force, her emotions fueling her power. Haruto staggered but pushed forward, step by step, enduring the impact.
Ishi gritted her teeth and sent another blast. Haruto kept walking through it.
"WHY WON'T YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE?!"
Haruto didn't answer. He just kept walking, his expression unwavering. His arms stung, his legs ached, but he didn't stop.
Ishi's breath hitched as he reached her. Before she could react, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry." he said.
Ishi froze. For a moment, she didn't move. Then, the weight of everything came crashing down. Her fingers dug into his back as she trembled against him.
Ishi whispering, voice broken "I was so scared."
Her body shook, and finally, she let go. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she clung to him, sobbing into his shoulder. Haruto felt his own throat tighten, his vision blurring slightly, but he held her tighter, grounding her in the moment.
"I know… I know. I should have found you sooner."
They stood there, illuminated by the soft streetlights, two souls reconnecting after ten years of silence. And for the first time since she saw him again, Ishi allowed herself to believe—maybe, just maybe—she wasn't alone anymore.