The school festival hit like a storm—color everywhere, music blasting, food stands screaming for attention. The smell of grilled squid and sweet crepes mixed with fried dough until it practically clung to the air.
Haruki and I pushed through the crowd toward our class's big attraction: the Karaoke Battle Room.
Haruki stretched his arms behind his head, grinning like an idiot.
"Alright, Takahashi. Let's see if your voice can match your recent main character energy."
"Please," I scoffed. "You're the one who begged me to join the committee for the drama stage."
"That was strategic delegation."
"Cowardice."
"Shut up."
We stepped inside the Karaoke Battle Room just in time for a girl holding a clipboard to spot us.
"Yuuto! Haruki! Perfect, we need two more for the next round!"
Haruki tried to nope out immediately.
I didn't give him the chance.
I grabbed two mics, tossed one at him, and smirked.
"Let's settle this like men."
His eye twitched. "You're dead."
The song started.
Haruki went full rockstar—dramatic leaps, hair flips, raw chaos.
I kept it clean—steady tone, calm delivery.
When the score flashed: TIE, Haruki stared like the universe betrayed him.
"Not bad," he said, clapping my back. "You might actually be fun now."
"Glad you're enjoying my character arc."
We left the room laughing, still riding the high, heading toward the second-year maid café.
Haruki nudged me on the way.
"You practiced that love song, didn't you?"
"I did not."
"I heard emotional repression in every note."
"I hate you."
"You love me."
I didn't dignify that with a reply.
---
THE MAID CAFÉ
Soft lighting, ambient jazz, girls in frilly maid outfits—it was like stepping into a different world.
Then Haruki froze beside me.
I followed his gaze.
Tanaka.
Perfect maid outfit, neat headband, expression flat but eyes sharp. She approached with a sweet—almost too sweet—smile.
"Welcome back, master" she looked at haruki with teasing smile
May I suggest the house special for cool boys who lose karaoke battles?"
I stared,then haruki said
"…Miyu, was that supposed to be an insult?"
She blinked innocently.
"Why don't you tell me, haruki?"
I burst into a quiet laugh.
"Miyu," he said, way too casually, "stop bullying me in front of others."
I stiffened.
"Miyu? When did you start calling Tanaka by her first name?"
Miyu and Haruki exchanged a synchronized we are absolutely hiding something glance.
"Since always?" Haruki said, sounding absolutely not confident.
Miyu leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
"Why? Does it bother you, Yuuto-kun?"
"…No," I lied.
It wasn't fair. They got "Miyu" and "Haruki."
And I couldn't even get close enough to Tachibana-san to drop the honorific without feeling like an idiot.
Haruki smirked like the menace he is.
"Then maybe you should tell us why you've been staring at Tachibana-san like a kicked puppy."
My face heated instantly.
"It's not like that."
Miyu placed the drinks in front of us, tone deceptively sweet.
"Then how is it, Yuuto-kun? We're very curious about your relationship with Tachibana-san."
I grabbed my drink just to hide my embarrassment.
"You two are awful."
"We know," they said together.
---
A faint echo tugged at Haruki's chest, pulling him back to a memory he rarely touched.
Haruki sat alone on the swing set, sneakers carving slow lines through the dirt.
"…Stupid baby," he muttered.
"She doesn't even say goodnight anymore… maybe she doesn't even care."
A girl he hadn't noticed before sat on the swing beside him—a sketchbook held to her chest.
"You looked upset," she said.
"Go away."
"I can't. I'm drawing you."
He glared, but she didn't leave.
"You think they don't love you anymore," she said softly.
"…They don't."
"They do. Grown-ups get tired. But you're still their hero."
She hopped off the swing and placed a tiny white flower in his hand.
"Heroes carry reminders. Don't run away again."
She waved without looking back.
Haruki stared at the flower long after she left.
---
Tanaka placed Haruki's cup down.
A small doodle was next to his name—
A flower
He froze.
The same style.
The same petals.
Haruki's breath hitched quietly.qq
I leaned closer.
"…Maybe you already found her."
He didn't reply.
But he didn't deny it either.
---
We eventually made our way to the auditorium.
The lights dimmed.
And Tachibana stepped onto the stage.
Her Snow White dress shimmered under the spotlights. Her expression was poised—perfect—but something in her eyes felt… tight.
When the final scene arrived, my stomach dropped.
Ren knelt beside her.
The kiss scene.
Haruki whispered, "You okay?"
No.
Not even close.
Ren leaned down.
The kiss happened.
My hands curled tight.
Tachibana sat up on cue, smile professional—but her eyes, just for a second, searched the audience.
And they found me.
Something twisted painfully in my chest.
I slipped out of the auditorium before the applause faded.
---
I barely made it ten steps outside when—
"T–Takahashi-kun."
A voice trembled behind me.
I turned to see Fujimura-san, a classmate from 2-B, wringing her hands, cheeks burning red.
"I… I really like you.
Please… go out with me."
What The hell just happened