Bell rang.
Students scattered like leaves in the wind, laughter echoing, footsteps loud.
Alya picked up her bag, walking down the hallway like a ghost in the chaos.
The once chaotic Gremlin?
Now… quiet.
A little too quiet.
Haruta noticed.
Of course he did.
But he said nothing. Just whispered to himself,
"It always ends like this…"
Rei and Sera caught it—his voice, his eyes, the weight he carried.
Rei nudged his shoulder.
"Hey Haruta… you good, man?"
Haruta looked up with that smile.
But not his smile.
Just a mask.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Sera raised an eyebrow.
"Then why are you ignoring Alya?"
He paused, eyes drifting to the floor.
"I just hate noisy people," he muttered.
Sera wasn't buying it.
"But… you said you liked—"
"Maybe I was wrong," he cut in. Voice flat.
And just like that, he walked off. Leaving behind more silence.
---
That evening…
Alya came home.
No smile.
No hug for her mom—just a locked door and quiet sobs buried in a pillow.
"Maybe… maybe my handsome nerdy emo boy actually hates me…"
Her voice cracked, followed by a bitter laugh that didn't sound like her.
---
Meanwhile…
Rei and Sera sat at a small café, snow tapping against the windows.
Rei sipped his drink.
"It's getting messy… like, way too messy."
Sera stared at her phone, unread messages sitting cold and untouched.
"I really thought… my little Gremlin sister could heal him."
She sighed.
"But he's pushing her away… all 'cause he doesn't think he deserves love."
---
Next day. Recess.
The sky was a blanket of white.
Snow fell like soft whispers.
Haruta stood alone on the terrace.
Hands in his pockets.
Eyes to the sky.
Silent. Still. Cold.
Alya slowly opened the door.
She spotted him.
Noticed his bandaged hand.
She didn't rush over. Just walked up beside him and leaned on the railing.
Snow fell between them.
"…How'd you get hurt, Haru?"
Her voice was soft. Afraid to break the moment.
"I fell," he muttered. Didn't even look at her.
She glanced down at the bandage.
"That looks too deep to be a fall, don't you think?"
Haruta turned away, steps slow.
"…Wait," Alya said, gently grabbing his hand.
He froze.
---
– To be continued
~Rei