The air was still, and the only sound in the dimly lit street was Ishi's quiet, shuddering breaths. Her crimson eyes, once fierce with anger, were now clouded with emotion. Haruto held her close, feeling the weight of her pain in his arms.
"…Haruto," Ishi finally whispered, her voice trembling. "When you left… I had no one."
Haruto remained silent, listening as Ishi clutched the fabric of his shirt. Then, the world around them faded—her memories washing over them like waves.
+++
In the stark, white halls of the facility, a young Ishi sat alone on her bed. The same bed she had once shared whispers and laughter with Haruto. But now, it was cold. Empty.
After Haruto was taken away, Ishi had no one to confide in. Other children were brought to the facility after Haruto but they were afraid of her. She had always been different—not just because of her abilities but because of what she represented. Raw, unchecked power.
She tried to hold it in, to suppress it, but the more she fought it, the more unstable she became. Her control wavered. She would wake up in the middle of the night, her room scorched with heat from an unintentional energy burst. Her mind was a battlefield—memories of her and Haruto playing together clashed against the cold, harsh reality of her solitude.
One day, she snapped.
She had begged Master Kagawa and the facility handlers to let her see Haruto, but they ignored her. Treated her like an experiment. Like she was dangerous.
So she proved them right.
A surge of raw power erupted from within her. The walls cracked, alarms blared, and before she knew it, she was standing outside the burning facility, staring at the destruction she had caused.
That was the day she swore she would never lose control again.
The facility had somehow managed to survive, Ishi continued her training but was kept away from the other kids in a more secluded area just for her, Master Kagawa didn't stop training her, and by the time she was 14 —she was in complete control. She had no real family to go back to when it was time to go but fortunately she was taken in by some of her childless relatives, they are the ones who enrolled her in school, she started out in middle school, she was always a loner, the kids who thought to pick on her were too afraid to try because they knew what would happen if they messed with a caster like her. After two years of middle school and a year of highschool in Tokyo, she and her guardians moved to Hoshizora, there she would be enrolled as a second year highschool student—at Hoshizora high.
Ishi—17 years-old, was no longer the scared little girl from the facility. She had become strong.
Yet… even after all those years, when she saw Haruto in that classroom for the first time, it all came rushing back.
+++
Ishi's voice grew quieter as the memories faded, Haruto embraced her on his couch.
"I thought I'd moved on, Haruto. But when I saw you… I hated you. I hated you because I realized… I never stopped waiting for you."
Haruto felt a lump in his throat. He had no words—just a deep, aching guilt that settled in his chest.
"Ishi… I never wanted to leave you," he murmured, his grip on her tightening. "When I came back home I was alone. My parent's practically locked me up in their house… I had no friends, I wasn't allowed to go anywhere, when I asked about you, nobody told me anything… But I never stopped wondering, I've thought about you everyday since then, I always hoped that you were happy wherever you where, I never lost hope of seeing you again ."
She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she just rested her head against his chest, her exhaustion finally catching up to her.
"...Haruto … I want to stay with you tonight," she admitted, barely above a whisper.
Haruto sighed, running his fingers gently through her slick black hair.
"Then stay," he said softly. "Just stay."
For the first time in years, Ishi allowed herself to trust someone.
And as she drifted into sleep in Haruto's arms, she realized something terrifying.
She didn't want to be alone anymore.
+++
The early morning air was crisp as Sakura walked toward Haruto's apartment. The sun was barely up, casting a golden hue over the quiet street. She adjusted her school bag on her shoulder and sighed, frustration creeping onto her face.
"Honestly, Haruto… ignoring my calls and texts for an entire night? What's his problem?" she mumbled to herself.
She reached his door and knocked firmly.
No answer.
Frowning, she knocked again, this time louder.
After a few seconds, the door creaked open… but instead of Haruto, Ishi stood in the doorway.
Sakura blinked. "Uh…?"
Ishi, dressed in an oversized shirt that was clearly not hers (probably Haruto's), Sakura caught a glimpse of her dragon tattoos on both her shoulders as she leaned lazily against the doorframe, her crimson eyes locking onto Sakura's confused expression. Her slick black hair was slightly messy from sleep, and she looked far too comfortable for someone who supposedly wanted nothing to do with Haruto just a day ago.
Sakura's brain short-circuited. What. The. Hell.
"Haruto's still asleep," Ishi said flatly, stretching her arms. "Try again later."
Before she could shut the door, Sakura shot out a hand, stopping it.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—wait a second!" she blurted. "Why are you in Haruto's apartment?! Dressed like that?!"
Ishi raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Sakura's reaction. "Does it bother you?"
"That's not the point!" Sakura huffed, crossing her arms. "I mean, what's going on here?!"
Ishi yawned. "Nothing. I needed a place to stay for the night, Haruto offered. That's all."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "And the shirt?"
"…Laundry situation."
Sakura's fingers twitched. Something about the smug way Ishi answered made her want to shake her.
At that moment, footsteps sounded from inside.
"Ishi, who's at the door—?"
Haruto appeared behind Ishi, rubbing the back of his head groggily. His hair was a mess, and his t-shirt was slightly wrinkled from sleep. When he saw Sakura standing at the door, her face burning with a mix of emotions, he immediately realized how this must have looked.
"…Oh."
Sakura pointed an accusing finger at him. "Explain. Now."
Haruto quickly waved his hands. "Wait, wait—it's not what you think! Ishi showed up last night, we talked, she fell asleep on the couch. That's all!"
Ishi, as if to mess with him, casually leaned against his shoulder. "Oh? Is that all?"
Haruto stiffened. "Ishi, not helping."
Sakura let out a sharp breath, staring between the two of them. She knew Haruto was too much of a dork to pull something like this… but still.
After a moment, she crossed her arms, exhaling loudly.
"Fine. I'll believe you." She shot Ishi a look. "But you could've at least let me know before giving me a heart attack."
Ishi smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
Sakura rolled her eyes before shoving Haruto back in the apartment. "Whatever. Get ready, we're going to be late for school."
Haruto quickly got dressed but Sakura was still impatient, he barely had time to react as she dragged him out of the apartment. Ishi stood in the doorway, watching them go with an unreadable expression.
As they walked down the street, Sakura still gripping Haruto's wrist, she finally glanced at him with a sigh.
"So… Ishi's staying with you now?"
Haruto hesitated, then nodded. "No, it's not like that… It was just for the night, we just wanted to catch-up is all."
Sakura was silent for a moment before she sighed again, this time softer.
"Well… I'm glad you made up with your friend"
Haruto chuckled. "Yeah… me too."
Sakura glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her grip on his wrist loosening slightly. She wouldn't admit it, but… she was a little relieved.
At least now, she understood why Haruto ignored her calls.
Still, something about Ishi bothered her… and she wasn't sure why.
+++
The cafeteria buzzed with chatter as students gathered around their usual spots. Haruto and Sakura sat at their table, trays in front of them, still recovering from the awkward morning encounter.
Sakura tapped her fingers on the table, still looking a little sour. "I can't believe you didn't tell me about Ishi showing up at your place last night."
Haruto sighed. "I was going to, but then—"
"Then she answered the door wearing your shirt."
"…Yeah."
Sakura scoffed, stabbing at her food. "Unbelievable."
Just then, a shadow loomed over their table.
"Ishi?" Haruto looked up in surprise as Ishi stood beside their table, tray in hand. She had a neutral expression, but there was something mischievous lurking beneath her crimson eyes.
Sakura, remembering this morning, narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"
Ishi ignored the hostility and casually took the empty seat next to Haruto, setting down her tray. "What? Am I not allowed to sit here?"
Haruto blinked. "I mean… no, it's fine, I just—"
Ishi turned her gaze to Sakura, head tilting slightly. "So, are you his girlfriend?"
Sakura nearly choked on her drink. "What?!"
Haruto coughed, waving his hands. "Ishi—!"
Sakura's face flushed as she glared at Ishi. "Why the hell would you ask that?!"
Ishi smirked. "You were acting jealous this morning."
"I—I was not jealous! I was just… concerned!"
"Uh-huh."
Haruto sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Ishi, please, don't mess with her."
Ishi shrugged. "Just curious."
Before Sakura could yell at her, another voice cut in.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?"
Akari slid into the empty seat next to Sakura, setting down her tray with a bright grin. "Did I just walk into something juicy?"
Haruto groaned. "Not you too."
Akari's eyes gleamed with mischief as she looked between Haruto, Sakura, and Ishi. "So, what's this about Haruto and a girlfriend?"
"Ishi's just messing around," Haruto muttered.
Akari smirked. "Ooooh, so Sakura isn't your girlfriend anymore?"
"I never was!" Sakura snapped.
Ishi took a bite of her food. "She got defensive real fast."
"You—!" Sakura clenched her fists.
Haruto sighed. "Can we please just eat in peace?"
Akari laughed, leaning on the table. "Man, this table just got a lot more fun." She turned to Ishi. "You're kinda hilarious, y'know that?"
Ishi gave a half-smile. "I try."
Sakura groaned, looking exhausted already. "I swear, I hate this."
Akari elbowed her playfully. "Oh, come on. You love us."
Sakura just grumbled into her food.
Haruto, despite everything, smiled slightly. He had never imagined sitting at a table like this—with friends. He glanced at Ishi, who seemed more relaxed than before. Maybe… this was a good thing.
Even if they were chaotic, they were still his people.
At a nearby table, a group of male students sat together, their trays untouched as their attention was fixed elsewhere.
"Dude," one of them muttered, gripping his fork tightly. "I can't believe what I'm seeing."
Another leaned forward, eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Four. He's sitting with four of them."
"I mean, first it was just Sakura, and that was already insane. Then Akari started hanging around him, and we thought that was his peak."
"And now Ishi? Ishi Kazehaya?" One of them groaned, clutching his head like he was in physical pain. "She doesn't even talk to people!"
"Not just talk—she's sitting with him. Laughing. Smirking. Actually engaging."
"Haruto Aoki… how? What's his secret?"
The table went silent for a moment as they all stared. At Haruto's table, Sakura was angrily poking at her food while Ishi casually ate, throwing in occasional sarcastic remarks. Akari laughed, clearly enjoying the chaos, while Haruto just looked tired, rubbing his forehead.
"…Look at him," one of the guys finally muttered. "He doesn't even appreciate it. He's just sitting there like it's normal."
Another sighed dramatically. "Some guys have all the luck."
"We have to be missing something. No way is this just 'coincidence.' What if… he's actually some kind of mind-controlling caster?"
"Dude, if he had that power, do you really think he'd choose to use it like this?"
"I dunno, man. If I had that power, I'd—"
"Don't even finish that sentence."
They sat in silence for a few more moments before one of them groaned, slumping forward onto the table. "This is unfair. This is so unfair."
Another shook his head. "The balance of the school has been completely destroyed."
A third grumbled, picking at his food. "I'm starting to get why some people hate casters."
Meanwhile, at another table, a separate group of girls were whispering among themselves.
"Haruto's table is kinda… unfair, isn't it?"
"He literally took all the coolest girls in school and just… claimed them."
"That's not fair, right? I mean, he's cool and all, but come on."
One of the girls sighed dreamily. "Not gonna lie, though, him beating Ryohei? Super attractive."
Another nodded. "Yeah… when he fought back, it was kinda—"
"—hot?"
A pause.
"…I wasn't gonna say it, but yeah."
They all shared a guilty look before sighing in unison.
One of them frowned, looking determined. "We have to find out what his deal is."
Another nodded. "Agreed. We need to study this."
"Operation Uncover Haruto Aoki's Secrets begins now."
And so, unbeknownst to Haruto, his table had officially become the most talked-about thing in school, they called it—The Cool Table.