BRUISED TRUTH
The sun filtered through the windows of the school hallway, casting a golden hue over the floors. Hiroshi adjusted his glasses, his hands clammy with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The thought of joining the literary club had been on his mind for weeks, but today, he had finally mustered the courage to go for it.
His grip tightened on the neatly filled application form as he approached the door labeled *Literary Clubroom*.
"Okay, Hiroshi. You've got this," he muttered under his breath. "Just hand over the form, smile, and don't embarrass yourself."
Pushing the door open, he was greeted by the sight of rows of shelves lined with books, cozy seating arrangements, and a warm, almost nostalgic scent of aged paper and ink. His eyes scanned the room nervously, only to widen in surprise when he spotted a familiar figure sitting by the window, flipping through a book.
It was Hina.
The sunlight streamed in behind her, making her long, sleek hair gleam like polished obsidian. Her posture was relaxed, one hand propping up her chin while the other turned the pages of the book in her lap. Her skin was smooth and glowing, her almond-shaped eyes focused intently on the words in front of her. Hiroshi couldn't help but notice the subtle scent of jasmine wafting through the air, faint but undeniably hers.
"Wait… what is *she* doing here?" Hiroshi whispered to himself, his throat tightening.
Hina looked up at the sound of the door opening, her gaze locking onto his. A wide, playful smile spread across her face.
"Hiroshi?" she called out, closing her book and setting it aside. "What are you doing here?"
Hiroshi froze, gripping the application form like a lifeline. "I… uh… I'm here to join the club."
Hina raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Really? You? Joining a club?"
"Yes," he replied quickly, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "I like books. And… I want to write one someday."
"Well, well," she teased, standing up and sauntering over to him. "Who would've thought? The quiet bookworm has ambitions."
Her teasing tone made him want to shrink into himself, but he held his ground, lifting the form slightly. "I just need to submit this."
"Relax, Hiroshi. I'm just messing with you," she said, taking the form from his hand. "Come on, I'll help you out."
---
Hiroshi followed her to the desk at the front of the room, where applications were kept. As she checked over his form, he couldn't help but notice how effortlessly poised she seemed. Her movements were graceful, her demeanor confident.
"So," she said, breaking the silence, "what kind of books do you like?"
"Fantasy, mostly," he replied, shifting on his feet. "I like the idea of creating whole new worlds."
Hina glanced up at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Let me guess—your first novel is going to have dragons, wizards, and a chosen hero, right?"
"Well… maybe," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck.
She chuckled. "Figures. You don't seem like the romance type."
Hiroshi frowned. "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," she said with a grin. "It's just… predictable."
"Predictable?" he echoed, feeling a twinge of indignation. "What about you? What do you like to read?"
"Everything," she replied breezily. "But I have a soft spot for romance. The cheesier, the better."
Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "You're making fun of *me* for being predictable, and you like cheesy romance?"
Hina laughed, the sound light and melodious. "Touché."
---
As they continued talking, Hiroshi began to feel more at ease. Hina had a way of drawing people out, her teasing never crossing the line into cruelty.
"You know," she said, handing back his form, "I think you'll fit in here. The club president's a third year, and they're super chill. But I'll be the one keeping an eye on you."
"Why?" he asked, startled.
"Because," she said with a smirk, "someone needs to make sure you don't turn this place into a nerdy fantasy camp."
Hiroshi rolled his eyes. "I think it's already a nerdy camp."
Hina burst out laughing, and despite himself, Hiroshi found a small smile tugging at his lips.
---
By the time his application was officially approved, the two of them were chatting like old friends.
"Welcome to the literary club, Hiroshi," Hina said, clapping him on the back. "I hope you're ready for some serious book talk."
"I'll try my best," he replied, adjusting his glasses.
As he turned to leave, Hina called after him, "See you tomorrow, newbie!"
"Yeah," he said, glancing over his shoulder. "See you."
He left the room with a faint blush on his cheeks, his heart beating a little faster than usual.
---
Back in the clubroom, Hina watched him go with a thoughtful expression. Once he was out of sight, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small, worn keychain—a tiny sword with a dull silver sheen.
Running her fingers over it, she murmured to herself, "You may not remember me now, but I'm going to make sure you do. And this time, I'm not letting you forget."
A soft giggle escaped her lips as she slipped the keychain back into her bag, her determination evident in her eyes.
The next day....
Hiroshi slouched in his desk chair, keeping his head low as the laughter and taunts of his classmates buzzed around him like flies. The bullies had been relentless today. A group of boys in the back of the classroom had taken to hurling paper balls at him during break, and one particularly cruel prank left him stumbling as he tripped over an extended leg near the classroom door.
"Watch it, nerd," one of the boys sneered as Hiroshi scrambled to his feet, clutching his book bag tightly.
Hiroshi's face burned with embarrassment, but he said nothing. He had learned long ago that standing up to them only made things worse. Instead, he buried his frustration and focused on the clock, silently willing the day to end.
---
When the final bell rang, Hiroshi gathered his belongings and made his way to the literary clubroom. His bruised arms and aching ribs screamed in protest with every step, but the thought of spending time in the club offered a small sliver of comfort.
Hina was already there when he arrived, her usual radiant energy lighting up the room. She waved at him as he entered.
"Hey, Hiroshi!" she called, grinning. "You're late. Did you get lost on the way?"
"Sorry," Hiroshi mumbled, forcing a small smile. "I had… some stuff to do."
Hina raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. The meeting went as usual, filled with discussions about upcoming events and new books they wanted to read together. But Hina couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Hiroshi seemed quieter than usual, his gaze darting around as if he were afraid someone might jump out at him.
---
As the meeting ended and the other members filtered out, Hina noticed Hiroshi packing his things with deliberate slowness. Her sharp eyes caught the faint discoloration on his wrist as his sleeve slipped up slightly.
"Hey, Hiroshi," she said, her tone casual but her eyes focused. "Wait up for a second."
Hiroshi froze, clutching his bag straps tightly. "Uh, yeah?"
She walked over and grabbed his wrist before he could pull his sleeve back down. Her expression shifted instantly when she saw the purplish bruise.
"What happened?" she demanded, her voice soft but firm.
"It's nothing," Hiroshi said quickly, yanking his arm back. "I just… bumped into something."
"Bumped into something?" Hina echoed, her tone incredulous. "Hiroshi, that looks like someone grabbed you too hard."
"It's really nothing!" he insisted, backing away.
Hina crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "Hiroshi, don't lie to me. Did someone hurt you?"
He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I—I just fell, okay? It's not a big deal."
Hina stared at him for a long moment before sighing. "Fine. If you don't want to talk about it, I won't push. But you can't just ignore stuff like this."
---
Before Hiroshi could respond, Hina rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small tube of ointment. "Here," she said, holding it out. "Let me take care of that."
"No, I'm fine—"
"Sit down," she interrupted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Hiroshi reluctantly sat on one of the chairs as Hina pulled his arm toward her. She dabbed some ointment onto her fingers and gently applied it to the bruise, her touch surprisingly soft.
"This might sting a little," she murmured.
Hiroshi flinched slightly as the cool ointment made contact with his skin, but the pain was quickly replaced by a soothing sensation. His heart began to race as he realized how close Hina was.
Her face was only inches away, her lashes casting delicate shadows on her cheeks. Her scent—something warm and floral, like freshly bloomed peonies—drifted toward him, making his head spin.
"You really should be more careful," she said, her voice softer now. "Getting hurt like this isn't normal, you know."
Hiroshi swallowed hard, unable to tear his gaze away from her. "I… I'll try."
Hina glanced up, catching the flush creeping up his neck and cheeks. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips.
"You're turning red, Hiroshi," she teased, tilting her head. "Am I making you nervous?"
"N-No!" he stammered, his face growing even hotter.
She giggled, the sound light and musical. "Relax, I'm just messing with you."
---
As she worked her way to his face, Hiroshi stiffened. "What are you doing?"
"Lifting your bangs," she replied matter-of-factly. "I saw a mark on your cheek earlier."
Before he could protest, she brushed his hair aside and leaned closer to apply the ointment. Hiroshi's breath hitched as her fingers grazed his skin.
"You smell nice," she commented, her voice playful.
"Th-Thanks," he mumbled, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
Hina finished applying the ointment and stepped back, placing her hands on her hips. "There. Good as new. But seriously, Hiroshi, if something's going on, you need to tell someone."
"I'll be fine," he said quietly, avoiding her gaze.
Hina studied him for a moment, her playful demeanor giving way to concern. She wanted to press further, but she knew he wouldn't open up easily.
"All right," she said finally. "But don't think I'm going to let this go. I'm watching you, Hiroshi."
He managed a small smile. "Thanks, Hina."
---
As Hiroshi left the clubroom, his thoughts were a jumble of emotions. His face still burned from Hina's teasing, but a part of him felt strangely comforted by her attention.
CHAPTER END 🫠