From the moment Rin started acting strangely during the live performance, Haruya had quietly been keeping an eye on them.
Haruya saw them give the thumbs-down gesture, clear as day.
“You even had mocking expressions on your faces. Don’t screw around…”
He couldn’t make out their expressions entirely, but he was sure they were sneering.
“H-…”
“S-…”
He narrowed his eyes in anger, glaring down at them.
Normally, he wasn’t the type to do this, but this time was different.
The dim surroundings only made the atmosphere more intimidating, probably amplifying their fear.
He could hear them gulp.
He couldn’t physically harm them, but scaring them was an option—just like they had done to Rin.
This was payback.
The very intimidation tools they used were now his to wield.
“Almost everyone at that live thought it was amazing.”
The roaring applause and excitement had proved that.
Even without saying it, the two girls knew it well enough.
But Haruya said it anyway, continuing.
“I’ve already figured out which school you go to from your uniforms. I could make sure the people who mocked that live performance get exposed. I could report you to your school.”
“W-What do you want from us?”
Haruya stepped closer to the trembling pair,
glaring even more intensely, planting the seeds of fear. He spoke in a low, menacing voice.
“Never go near Kohinatata again. Don’t show your faces around her, ever.”
He knew exactly who they were targeting.
The girls realized it too.
The fact that he knew their specific target backed them into a corner.
They might have even wondered if what they did to Rin in secret had been exposed.
Were they recorded? Filmed?
Various possibilities flashed through their minds as they froze in place. Haruya went on.
“Do you understand? “
“…(Nods)”
“(Nods)”
Unable to speak, they frantically nodded before quickly leaving.
Haruya let out a deep sigh internally, feeling a wave of exhaustion hit him.
(With this, I’m sure the issues surrounding Kohinatata-san will be resolved…)
Before heading back, he adjusted his glasses and pushed his hair forward.
As he started to rush back to the live venue, he spotted Rin standing near the school gate.
(Crap… Did she see me?)
The thought flashed through his mind, but he played it cool and called out to her.
“The live was amazing. Thanks for performing, Kohinatata-san.”
“…”
For some reason, Rin averted her eyes,
pouting slightly as she quietly said,
“…You drove those girls off, didn’t you? So they can’t mess with me anymore.”
“Well, I made sure they learned their lesson.”
“They were so terrified, I doubt they’ll try anything again…”
“I-I see.”
Then Haruya asked,
“Why are you avoiding looking at me?”
Since earlier, Rin hadn’t shown her usual teasing attitude or energy.
Normally, she’d ask something like, ‘Did my live get you all excited?’
But now, her face was faintly red, and she seemed distant.
Maybe it was just the heat and exhaustion from performing.
“…T-That’s not it! It’s not like that!”
“S-Sorry.”
“…I’m not mad. Actually… thank you.”
Still not making eye contact, Rin spoke softly.
(…Why’s her attitude so different now?)
After bringing Rin back, and after the live performance ended.
For some reason, Haruya couldn’t shake the feeling that the way She handled him felt different from before.
He was thanked, so for now, he decided to leave it at that, but this question didn’t seem like it would be easily resolved.
───Even after the Eika festival ended, Haruya’s doubts remained.
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Hot.
Just seeing his face makes my heart tighten and ache.
My face feels flushed, so I instinctively acted distant.
…He doesn’t hate me, right? Probably… I’m sure it’s fine.
Needless worries kept running through my head.
He got mad for me, tried to protect me, supported me…
And there’s this adorable side to him, hidden behind his seemingly perfect demeanor.
He’s both cool and cute. Wait, isn’t that the strongest combo?
Honestly, he’s not my type in terms of looks.
His bangs are long, and while the glasses are fine, his posture could be better.
But he’s got potential. He could totally transform.
And then it hit me—
why was I suddenly thinking of Akasaki-kun as my boyfriend?
The realization made my face burn.
I think I finally understood why Sara and Yuna think so highly of him.
Whether they see him as a romantic interest or not, they clearly respect him. And I get it now.
Without him, I would’ve crumbled during this festival.
It’s because of him that I found my own strength.
And maybe that’s why I felt ready to show my true self to Sara-chin and Yuna-rin.
After what happened, I realized pretending to be something I’m not isn’t always a good thing.
Later, when it was just the three of us, I decided to tell them.
I didn’t tell them everything about my past, or why I got close to them, but I admitted that I’d been trying too hard to appear better than I was.
Their reaction was unexpected.
“…Pfft. Rin, we’ve known that for a while.”
“Yeah. And we’re not disappointed in you at all.”
“Eh?” I couldn’t help but let out a surprised sound.
Even though I admitted I was putting on an act, the reactions of Sara-Chin and Yuna-Rin didn’t change even when I told them that I was acting as myself.
As my eyes started to well up with tears, Sara hugged me.
“Rin, you don’t have to hold it in around us. You can show your weak side, too.”
“But… I’ve lied to you two, trying to act like I was better. I even did terrible things to you. So, how can you not be mad? How can you forgive me?”
“[Because…]”
Sara and Yuna’s voices overlapped,
as if it was the most obvious thing in the
“[Because we’re friends.]”
My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.
A lump formed in my throat.
Yuna gently patted my head while Sara wrapped me in a comforting embrace.
On that day, I felt like I truly became their friend.
Even after the school festival, the days were busy.
Haruya hadn’t planned to attend the after-party, but since he was on the festival committee, Haruya was forced to go.
Same with the committee’s own after-party on a different day.
(Living alone makes this financially tough… I’ll need to start saving…)
At the class after-party, everyone was talking about Sara and Yuna’s performances in the play, and later, about Rin’s live concert.
Haruya stayed quiet the whole time, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that Rin was watching him.
Every time he looked over, she quickly turned away.
The same thing happened at the committee after-party. They bumped into each other at the drink bar.
“…Why do you keep looking at me? If you’ve got something to say, I’ll listen.”
“…”
Rin blushed before speaking.
At that time, she made an effort not to make eye contact with Haruya.
“It’s not like I was looking…”
Haruya clearly thought he was being watched, but if it was a misunderstanding, it would be embarrassing…
“Oh, is that so…?”
“Ah, but please don’t hate me. I don’t dislike you.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yeah… sorry.”
They should have been able to converse normally just a few days ago, but now there was an awkwardness between them.
Could this be… Kohinata-san’s true, unguarded self?
Haruya had no choice but to believe so, but he never imagined that this sense of discomfort would continue even when classes resumed in the classroom.
And then, on the day of their return to school.
Haruya was pretending to sleep as usual when Kazamiya, sitting behind him, tapped his shoulder, making him turn around.
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