The school festival ended in noise and color.
The air was thick with laughter, fading music, and the lingering scent of fried food and sugar. Stalls were being dismantled one by one, decorations peeled off walls, and yet the excitement refused to die down.
It had been a success.
Members of the club crowded around their table, voices overlapping as congratulations were thrown back and forth. Tanaka joined in, offering quiet smiles and nods, accepting pats on the shoulder he wasn't used to receiving.
"How much is it?" a random student asked, holding up the final copy.
Tanaka glanced at the stack, then at the empty space beside it.
"Three hundred yin," he replied.
The student paid, tucked the book under their arm, and left.
Ishigami stared at the table for a second.
Then he let out a long, exaggerated sigh of relief.
"That was our last book," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I can't believe we actually pulled it off."
Despite starting late, scrambling through sleepless nights and rushed preparations, their anthology had sold out. Completely.
Yuki crossed her arms with a satisfied grin."Now the student council can finally stop breathing down our necks."
Since the beginning of the year, inspections had been constant, checking schedules, budgets, activities. It felt like they'd been under a microscope.
Well, that was a given since it was the most prestigious high school in Japan.
Hana clapped her hands together, eyes bright."Then this deserves a celebration. How about karaoke?"
Yuki immediately nodded."That's perfect. Exams are over, the festival was a success—this is the moment we run wild."
Everyone turned to Tanaka.
Their gazes met.
He raised a hand almost apologetically."Sorry. I'll have to pass."
Ishigami didn't even hesitate. He looped an arm around Tanaka's neck and pulled him in."Come on. We're comrades now. We've been through life and death together."
"I really want to, but… I've got a situation. It might take the whole week."
Hana tilted her head. "A situation?"
"Yeah," Tanaka said. "I need to find a way out of it. If I get some free time, I'll contact you."
She smiled softly. "Alright then. I'll keep checking on you."
Considering the distance he'd kept at the start, this was more than enough for her. She was content with that.
Soon after, the group split off, laughter fading as the boys went their own way.
Then Hana felt it.
A stare.
She turned.
Yuki was looking at her intently, eyes sharp with suspicion.
"…Say," Yuki said slowly, "Tanaka told us he doesn't have a phone, right?"
Hana stiffened.
"Then what exactly did you mean by 'checking on him'?"
At that moment...
Hana realized she'd messed up.
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"YOU GO TO HIS HOUSE?!"
"Keep it down!" Hana hissed, clamping a hand over Yuki's mouth and shoving her back onto the bed. "Do you want my mom to hear you?!"
Yuki peeled her hand away, eyes wide with disbelief. "Wait, your parents don't know?"
"They do!" Hana groaned. "He came over, properly greeted them, even introduced himself. And unlike at school, he made an amazing impression."
"…He came to your house too?" Yuki leaned forward slowly, as if witnessing a historical revelation.
"I knew you were going to make a big deal out of this."
"Of course I am," Yuki shot back without hesitation. "I'm your best friend."
She paused for half a second before narrowing her eyes."So? What now? Are you two going out?"
"Huh?!" Hana nearly jumped off the bed. "No! Absolutely not!"
"You expect me to believe nothing happened?"
"Yes," Hana said firmly. "Nothing happened. It was all coincidences. And besides, his sister is really an angel. Your heart would melt."
Yuki burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "You're telling me that ice-cold guy is a Siscon? That's hilarious. I can never picture it."
Hana sighed, rubbing her temples. She didn't bother denying it.
—
A sudden knock echoed through the room.
Hana froze.
"…Mom?" she muttered instinctively.
"Come in," she called after a brief pause.
The door creaked open.
"Good evening, Onee-chan."
Hana blinked. "…Mio-chan?"
Standing at the doorway was a petite girl with warm brown eyes and long chestnut hair tied into loose twin tails. She clutched her hands politely in front of her, posture straight and composed.
"Auntie let me in," Mio said cheerfully. "Benson is talking with her."
She stepped inside, her gaze drifting around the room, until it landed on the unfamiliar girl sitting on Hana's bed.
Mio tilted her head slightly, curiosity written all over her face.
Yuki leaned in and whispered urgently, "Don't tell me..."
"This is Tanaka's sister," Hana whispered back.
Yuki's jaw dropped. "You're kidding me."
As she took another look at the girl, who was still staring at her in confusion. After taking a good look, she could sense some resemblance.
As Yuki realized that the silence stretched for too long, she decided to introduce herself.
"I—I'm Ayasaki Yuki," she managed, barely holding herself upright. "I'm friends with your brother."
The instant she mentioned Tanaka, Mio's eyes sparkled. She beamed and nodded enthusiastically.
She then took a small step forward, smoothing her skirt before bowing politely with a radiant smile.
"My name is Kazuki Mio. Pleasure to meet you, Onee-chan."
Yuki's soul nearly left her body.
Her heart skipped, then tripped, then collapsed entirely.
That princess-like bow... that timing...She'd been watching too many anime lately, and this was a direct hit.
Even Hana's mother had fallen victim to her charm. Mio was unfailingly polite, well-mannered, and impossibly sweet.
"Mio-chan," Hana asked gently, "is your brother here?"
"Huh? Ah! No," Mio replied. "Oni-Chan doesn't know I'm here."
She reached into her small bag and pulled out an envelope, holding it up proudly.
"It's an invitation."
"…An invitation?"
"Tomorrow is Oni-Chan's birthday," Mio said brightly. "He's turning sixteen."
Hana's breath caught.
A situation he needs to get out of…? Was he seriously talking about his own birthday?
So that was it.
"He doesn't know," Mio added. "We're throwing him a surprise party."
Hana looked away.
No. He knows.
"Yuki Onee-chan," Mio interrupted happily, "even if you don't have an invitation, you can come too!"
Yuki froze.
Foam practically formed at the corner of her mouth.
"I—I'm busy," she said weakly, waving her hands. "Very busy. Extremely busy. Also it might be a bit abrupt for me to show up at his house without him knowing..."
"I see…" Mio's shoulders drooped slightly.
Then she turned.
Puppy eyes deployed.
"Onee-chan," she said softly to Hana, "you'll come, right?"
Hana crumbled instantly.
"…I'm free tomorrow."
At that moment, she finally understood.
This was why Tanaka could never refuse her.
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The car hummed quietly as it moved through the dimming streets,
Hana sat in the back seat beside Mio, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her thoughts anything but calm.
Benson broke the silence, his tone gentle and apologetic."Sorry for asking you so abruptly to come along."
Mio immediately puffed out her cheeks, turning toward him with a frown."Stop saying it like that, Benson," she protested. "Onee-chan wants to come surprise Oni-chan."
Hana let out a small, awkward laugh."It's fine, really. I don't mind," she said, then hesitated. "I just… didn't have enough time to get him a proper gift."
Benson smiled through the rearview mirror."Whatever you give him, I'm certain the young master will be happy."
Mio nodded enthusiastically, as if this were an undeniable fact.
Still, a worry tugged at Hana."Won't he notice?" she asked. "I mean… if he's already home, won't the surprise be ruined?"
Mio tilted her head, thinking for a moment."Oni-chan usually stays in the library in the evenings," she replied. "He probably won't notice at all."
"…But it's his birthday," Hana pressed. "Shouldn't he expect something?"
Benson answered instead, his voice calm."We usually celebrate the young master's birthday a few days later."
Hana blinked. "Why?"
Mio's voice softened."Daddy and Mommy aren't in the country right now."
The words lingered heavier than Hana expected.
'His parents, huh...'
She had never once met them but couldn't help herself from wondering what Tanaka's parents were like
She didn't like the idea of him celebrating his birthday late. It felt lonely.
As if sensing her thoughts, Benson continued, "It wasn't always like this. The young master was homeschooled before. He traveled with them often."
Ah…Since he started high school, he stopped.
Hana leaned back against the seat, the realization settling quietly in her chest. His childhood must have been nothing like hers.
"Mio-chan," she began, but—
"We're here!" Mio announced brightly.
The car slowed to a stop.
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The house was already decorated when they slipped inside. Soft lights, streamers carefully placed—nothing extravagant, but warm. Mio immediately ushered them into the living room.
"Hide! Both of you!" she whispered urgently.
Hana crouched behind the couch with Benson just as the front door opened.
"Mio?" Tanaka's voice echoed faintly through the house.
The lights were still off.
"The car's here…" he muttered to himself. "But no one's around?"
Hana bit her lip to keep from smiling.He definitely knows, she thought.But he was still playing along, for Mio's sake. The thought made her chest feel strangely warm.
The lights flicked on.
"SURPRISE!"
Mio leapt up from behind the couch, arms thrown into the air. Benson followed smoothly.
Hana stood a beat too late."Surprise?" she said weakly.
Tanaka froze.
His eyes passed over Mio, then Benson, and then landed on her.
"Hana?"
That surprise was real.
She scratched her cheek, awkwardly responding, "Surprise?"
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It didn't take him long to piece everything together. He sighed softly, rubbing the back of his neck before offering her a small, resigned smile.
"…Sorry you got dragged into this."
"No, it's okay," Hana said quickly. "Really. I brought you something."
She handed him a neatly wrapped square package.
"It's… an album," she added. "Music I like."
Something she'd read in a manga.
Tanaka raised an eyebrow."So you brought me your music taste so I can play it for you."
"You didn't have to say it like that!" Hana shot back. "I didn't have much time to think, okay?"
He chuckled softly."I know. I'm joking."
Then, quietly, almost shyly, he smiled. Just a little."I love it. Thank you."
Her breath caught for half a second.
"…Why didn't you tell me your birthday was today?"
"I don't like celebrating it," he replied calmly. "And even when we do, it's usually a few days later. Right, Mio?"
Mio crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Huh? What's wrong with having two parties?" she said firmly. "And today is your actual birthday. That's when wishes count."
"…That wouldn't be necessary," he said gently. "Not anymore."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, a new voice cut through the room.
"That wouldn't be necessary from now on."
It was a man's voice, calm, composed, carrying quiet authority. The kind that didn't need to be raised to command attention.
The door behind them stood open.
A woman stepped in first.
She was breathtaking.
Her pale cream-blonde hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, catching the light like silk. Her skin was flawless, porcelain-white, and her sky-blue eyes held a softness that made them seem almost unreal.
Beside her stood a man in his mid-thirties, tall and dignified. His posture was straight, his presence steady. A well-trimmed beard framed his handsome features, and his eyes, sharp yet kind, mirrored the same calm authority as his voice.
The moment Tanaka saw them, he froze.
Hana felt her breath catch.
Mio, however, reacted instantly.
"Daddy! Mommy!"
She leapt off the couch and ran toward them, throwing herself into their arms. The woman laughed softly as she hugged her back, while the man rested a hand on Mio's head.
Still clinging to them, Mio suddenly twisted around and shot Benson an accusing glare."Benson, you liar! You told me they were arriving next week!"
Benson smiled apologetically."I wanted to surprise you too, young miss."
Hana stood rooted in place, staring at the couple, her thoughts scrambling to catch up.
Wait a minute… Mommy?
She looked again at the woman.
No matter how she tried to rationalize it, she couldn't see her as a mother. At best, she looked like an older sister, mid-twenties, maybe. The idea that she had a teenage son felt insane.
Tanaka's voice broke the silence.
"Mom…? Dad…?"
The tone was completely different from his usual composed calm, hesitant, almost fragile.
The woman stepped forward, her smile overflowing with affection.
"Happy birthday, Tanaka-chan."
"And happy birthday, son," his father added warmly.
Before Tanaka could react, his mother pulled him into a hug. Then his father reached out and began patting his head.
His cheeks flushed red, and Hana had to bite back a smile.
Tanaka glanced toward Hana in visible panic, then quickly at Benson. Benson simply nodded reassuringly.
"It's alright," his look seemed to say.
Noticing Hana at last, the man turned his gaze toward her."This miss is the young master's friend I told you about," Benson explained.
The man smiled warmly."Nice to meet you. My name is Kazuki Yosuke, and this is my wife, Kazuki Luna."
"G-Good evening," Hana replied automatically. "My name is Takehana Ito—wait."
Her words faltered.
Kazuki… Yosuke?
The realization hit her like lightning.
He wasn't just familiar, he was famous. A billionaire. The owner of multiple companies dominating industries across Japan and abroad.
Before she could process further, Luna leaned in with a playful smile."Is she perhaps your girlfriend?"
Hana nearly choked."G-Girlfriend?!"
Her face burned bright red.
"She's a friend," Tanaka replied immediately, without missing a beat. "Anyway, what are you doing here, Dad? I thought you were still out of Japan."
Despite the firm words, his eyes were lit up, brighter than Hana had ever seen them.
Yosuke chuckled."I had some meetings rearranged. There was no way we were going to miss your sixteenth birthday."
Tanaka fell silent.
He clearly hadn't expected this, not this. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond. Then, slowly, a genuine smile spread across his face.
As Yosuke pulled Tanaka aside to talk, Luna looped an arm around Hana's shoulders and gently guided her away.
"Sorry for teasing you earlier," Luna said cheerfully. "I just wanted to see Tanaka-Chan's reaction. But as I thought, he's far too much of a daddy's boy to notice."
Hana glanced back at them.
Tanaka stood close to his father, listening attentively, nodding now and then, his posture relaxed, his expression soft. He looked younger somehow. Smaller. Like an obedient, shy child basking in quiet happiness.
She stared silently.
How many other sides is he hiding…?
"You're surprised, aren't you?" Luna asked.
"H-Huh?"
"About Tanaka-chan," she said with a knowing smile. "Don't tell him I told you, but he's always been his daddy's boy. And his mama's boy too, actually, but I'll let that slide. It's just a phase. Teenage years and all."
"Cake time!"
Mio appeared beside Benson, proudly carrying a round cake topped with softly glowing candles. The sweet scent of sugar and cream filled the room instantly.
They gathered around, the lights dimmed just enough to let the candlelight dance across their faces.
Happy birthday to you…
The voices overlapped, some steady, some playful, some off-key, but warm all the same.
When the song ended, Tanaka leaned forward and blew out the candles in one breath.
The flames vanished.
For just a split second, so brief Hana almost thought she imagined it, his smile faltered. His eyes dimmed, as if something unseen had tugged at him from deep within.
Then it was gone.
"What did you wish for?" Hana asked before she could stop herself.
Tanaka blinked. "Huh?"
Mio answered for him without hesitation."Oni-chan wants to become an astronaut!"
Hana stared at him. "What? Is that true?"
Tanaka laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's just something I used to blabber about when I was a kid."
"I don't see why not," Yosuke said calmly. "Your grades are excellent. If you really wanted to, you could."
Luna immediately shook her head. "I'm against it. Space is terrifying. I wouldn't get to see my little Tanaka as often."
Tanaka chuckled awkwardly, caught between them.
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The evening passed gently after that—cake eaten, laughter lingering, the sky outside darkening into night.
"It's getting late," Hana said at last. "I should head home."
"I'll drive you," Benson offered.
Tanaka nodded. "Thank you for coming. I'll see you again."
Then, turning to his father, he added, "I'll go wash up. I'll be right back."
As Hana slipped on her shoes, she called out one last time.
"Tanaka."
"Yes?"
"…Happy birthday."
That unfamiliar warmth returned to his expression, softer now, directed only at her."Thank you."
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"Happy birthday, Tanaka-chan."
His mother's arms wrapped around him, pulling him close. Her familiar warmth pressed against him.
I feel sick.
"There was no way we were going to miss your sixteenth birthday."
His father's hand rested on his head, gentle and steady. Tanaka laughed shyly.
I feel sick.
Happy birthday to you…
The voices blurred together.
I feel sick.
The candles went out.
Silence.
"What did you wish for?"
"I want to die.*
The smile never left his face.
It wasn't fake, that wasn't the case.
He was happy, genuinely, deeply happy. The warmth in his chest was real, the laughter, the love, the celebration.
And yet...
The sickness crawled beneath it all.
A tightness in his chest. A pressure that wouldn't ease.
When he excused himself, he walked calmly at first.
Only when he was out of sight did his steps falter.
His breathing quickened.
He locked the bathroom door behind him and leaned forward, gripping the sink as the world tilted. His hands trembled violently, his heart pounding too fast, too loud.
His sleeve slid down.
Old marks, faded, half-healed, peeked through.
He clenched his jaw, fighting the wave rising in his chest. The warmth, the happiness, the love, it all twisted into something unbearable.
But he didn't know how else to make it stop.
And so, alone in the quiet, he did the only thing he knew would ground him.
He pulled a needle from his pocket and started poking the untouched spots in his wrist.
Blood trails ran through his arm and the heaviness in his chest slowly lessened.
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The morning passed quietly.
Hana sat on the edge of her bed, scrolling through her desk, then her bag, then the pockets of the jacket she'd worn last night. Her brows slowly knit together.
"…Where did I put it?"
Her phone was nowhere to be found.
She replayed the night in her head, the surprise, the cake, the laughter, hiding behind the couch—
Ah.
She exhaled."I must've dropped it at Tanaka's house."
Grabbing her bag, she slipped on her shoes and headed out.
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When the door opened, Tanaka stood there, already holding something out to her.
"Oh," he said simply. "You forgot your phone."
Hana let out a relieved laugh. "Yeah. I figured I dropped it somewhere when we were hiding."
"In any case," he stepped aside, "come in."
She hesitated for a second, then entered.
"…Where's Mio?"
Tanaka's expression shifted, subtle, but noticeable."She's sulking in her room."
Hana blinked. "Sulking? Mio?"
"It's not a big deal," he said quickly. "Dad planned a trip for me and her. The Alps. Two weeks. But I'm not going."
"That sounds amazing," Hana said instinctively. "Why didn't you go?"
"It'd mean missing a whole week of school. Dad said he could get me excused, but…"He looked away. "I didn't want to."
Hana frowned slightly but didn't press.
"I'll grab my phone and call yours," Tanaka said. "Can you check on Mio? If she sees you, she might cheer up."
"…Sure."
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Mio's door was slightly ajar.
"Mio-chan?" Hana called softly.
No response.
She nudged the door open and stepped inside.
Sunlight spilled through the curtains, warm and gentle, dust motes drifting lazily in the air. The room smelled faintly of soap and clean sheets. Peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Mio lay curled on her bed, knees drawn to her chest, pale hair fanned across the pillow.
Sleeping?
Mio's brows were tightly knit, her expression pinched as if she were in pain. Her lips parted slightly, breath coming in shallow, uneven pulls.
"Mio…?" Hana whispered, unease creeping into her voice.
Mio's eyelashes fluttered.
Her eyes opened.
They didn't focus.
They stared past Hana, past the room, at something that wasn't there.
"Mio-chan?" Hana's heart lurched. "Hey, it's me. Hana."
Mio didn't respond.
Her lips trembled.
"…it's dark…" she whispered.
"I can't… see…" Mio's voice cracked, thin and distant. "It's dark again…"
The room was flooded with light. The curtains were open. The sun was high in the sky.
Yet Mio's hands began to claw at the bedsheets, fingers curling tight as if she were grasping for something solid.
Her breathing hitched.
"Oni-chan…?" she whispered, panic seeping into the word. "Where… where are you…?"
Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes, soaking into the pillow.
"Oni-chan… hic… where are you…? I'm scared…"
Mio shook her head violently.
"I can't see," she sobbed. "I can't see anything—! It's dark—!"
Her hands flew up, clutching at her own hair, nails digging into her scalp.
That was it.
Hana shot to her feet, heart pounding, and ran for the door.
"Tanaka!" she cried. "Benson! Please—!"
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Tanaka was there in seconds.
He crossed the room in two strides and pulled Mio into his arms, holding her tightly, grounding her without hesitation.
"I'm here," he said immediately, voice firm, even as it trembled beneath the certainty. "I'm right here."
Mio latched onto him like a lifeline, fists twisted in his shirt as sobs tore out of her.
"Oni-chan… don't leave… please…"
"I won't," he said, over and over. "I won't."
His hand found his phone.
"Dad," he said the moment the call connected. "It's me. Please come home. Now. Mio's having an episode."
His jaw clenched as he listened, eyes never leaving his sister.
"…Yes. I'll stay with her."
He ended the call and looked up.
"Benson," Tanaka said quietly, but there was steel beneath it, "take Hana back home."
Benson hesitated. "But..."
"I'm staying here."
No room to argue.