The cool evening breeze drifted through the park as golden sunlight slowly faded behind the trees.
Hina and Haku sat side by side on a wooden bench.
The conversation from earlier still lingered between them.
Hina kept staring at her hands.
For the first time in her life, she was about to tell someone her biggest secret.
And strangely enough…
That person was Haku.
Haku noticed her hesitation almost immediately.
“You don’t have to force yourself, you know,” he said gently.
“If you’re not comfortable telling me, then don’t.”
Hina quickly shook her head.
“No, no, that’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
She looked away.
“I’ve just never told anyone before.”
“Anyone?”
“Anyone.”
Even her voice sounded uncertain.
Haku blinked.
“Now you’ve got me curious.”
A small nervous laugh escaped her.
“I knew you’d say that.”
For a few moments, silence settled between them.
Then Hina took a deep breath.
“Haku…”
“Yeah?”
“My secret is…”
She hesitated one last time.
Then finally said,
“I can sense people’s emotions.”
Haku stared at her.
“…What?”
Hina looked completely serious.
“I can sense other people’s emotions.”
A few seconds passed.
Then Haku pointed at her.
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You definitely are.”
“I’m definitely not.”
Haku rubbed his forehead.
“Hina, that’s impossible.”
“It’s true.”
“No.”
“It is.”
“No.”
“It is.”
“No.”
“It is.”
Haku sighed dramatically.
“Why are you so stubborn?”
“Because I’m telling the truth!”
For a moment, both of them just looked at each other.
Their eyes met.
His emotions flowed into her senses.
Confusion.
Then Haku suddenly laughed.
Hina puffed her cheeks.
“Hey!”
“I’m sorry,” Haku said while laughing.
“But that’s such a ridiculous thing to suddenly hear.”
“It’s not ridiculous!”
“It absolutely is.”
Hina lightly punched his shoulder.
Haku pretended to be hurt.
“Ouch.”
“You deserve it.”
Still smiling, Haku looked at her.
“Fine.
Let’s assume you’re telling the truth.”
“I am.”
“Can you sense my emotions too?”
Hina nodded.
“Yes.”
Haku immediately covered his eyes.
“Then you’re stealing my privacy.”
Hina froze.
“Wait, that’s not what—”
“I’m joking.”
“Haku!”
“Sorry, sorry.”
He laughed again.
Honestly…
Seeing Hina get flustered was surprisingly entertaining.
Then his expression softened.
“So how does it work?”
Hina pointed toward his eyes.
“When I look directly into someone’s eyes, I can feel their emotions.”
Haku lowered his hand slightly.
“So if I wear glasses?”
“Then I can’t.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.”
Haku stared at her for several seconds.
Then he leaned back against the bench.
“You’re either the world’s greatest liar…”
“Or?”
“…or you’re not completely human.”
Hina immediately smacked his arm.
“Hey!”
“What?
That’s a reasonable conclusion!”
“No, it isn’t!”
“It is!”
“It isn’t!”
Their argument continued for several minutes until both of them eventually started laughing.
For some reason…
The secret Hina had carried alone for years suddenly didn’t feel so heavy anymore.
Haku smiled.
“Thanks for telling me.”
Hina blinked.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t think I’m weird?”
“Oh, you’re definitely weird.”
“Haku!”
“But that’s not a bad thing.”
His smile became softer.
“I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me.”
For a moment, Hina simply stared into his eyes.
His emotions entered her senses.
Admiration.
Then she smiled.
A genuine smile.
One that reached her eyes.
“Thank you.”
The next morning.
The classroom buzzed with its usual noise.
Hina, Haku, Yui, and Itsuki were talking before class started.
Yui suddenly stood up.
“I’m going to the restroom.
Don’t start having fun without me.”
Haku nodded.
“No promises.”
Yui gasped dramatically.
“Betrayal!”
Then she marched out of the classroom.
A few minutes later.
As Yui walked back through the hallway, she noticed someone standing near a window.
Dark red eyes.
Black hair.
Had his glasses on.
Calm expression.
Reiji Kurotsuki.
“Hey, Reiji!” Yui greeted cheerfully.
Reiji turned toward her.
A polite smile appeared on his face.
“Hello, Yui.”
“What’s up?”
“Nothing important.”
He looked out the window.
“I was just thinking.”
“Thinking about what?”
Reiji sighed softly.
“How difficult it is to make friends.”
Yui blinked.
“Huh?”
“You seem surprised.”
“A little.”
Reiji chuckled.
“Most people don’t really talk to me.”
Yui tilted her head.
“Really?”
“Maybe I look intimidating.”
Honestly…
That wasn’t entirely wrong.
Even Yui had thought that during his first day.
“But everyone talks to you,” she said.
“Not the way they talk to you.”
His voice remained calm.
“You make people feel comfortable.”
Yui scratched her cheek.
“Well…
I do try.”
Reiji smiled.
“I noticed.”
Then he casually asked,
“You all are going to karaoke soon, right?”
Yui nodded.
“Yep!”
“Sounds fun.”
“It will be.”
Reiji looked away.
“Must be nice.”
Yui frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
He laughed lightly.
“It’s just…
I don’t really have anyone to go with.”
Yui immediately felt bad.
Exactly as Reiji expected.
The emotion crossed her face instantly.
Sympathy.
Concern.
He read people the way he read a chessboard.
He had read Yui as well.
“I mean,” Reiji continued, “you guys are close friends.”
“I’m not part of that.”
“Reiji…”
“It’s fine.”
He smiled.
“I’ll survive.”
Yui immediately shook her head.
“No way.”
Reiji looked at her.
“Hm?”
“You should come with us.”
His eyes widened slightly.
“Oh?”
“Yeah!”
“Would they be okay with it?”
“Of course!”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m totally sure!”
A small smile appeared on Reiji’s face.
“Then…
I’d like that.”
He manipulated people like pieces on a chessboard.
He used it.
His mission accomplished.
A little later.
Both of them entered the classroom.
Reiji quietly returned to his seat.
Yui practically bounced toward Hina’s desk.
“Guys!”
Uh-oh.
Haku immediately recognized that tone.
“Why do I feel like you’re about to create problems?”
Yui pointed dramatically.
“Reiji is coming with us to karaoke!”
Silence.
Then Haku blinked.
“What?”
Yui nodded proudly.
“What do you mean what?”
“I mean what.”
“He’s coming.”
“Why?”
“Because I invited him.”
Haku dropped his head onto the desk.
“Of course you did.”
Yui pouted.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re collecting people like Pokémon.”
Itsuki immediately nodded.
“Accurate.”
Yui smacked his shoulder.
“Traitor.”
Hina giggled.
Watching them always made her smile.
“Come on,” Yui said.
“The more people, the more fun.”
“That’s not always true.”
Haku replied.
“It is!”
“It isn’t!”
“It is!”
“It isn’t!”
Hina sighed.
“You two started again.”
“See?” Yui pointed at Haku.
“Even Hina agrees with me.”
“Actually, I didn’t.”
Yui froze.
“Et tu, Hina?”
Hina laughed.
Itsuki laughed too.
Even Haku smiled.
As everyone argued, Hina’s gaze drifted across the room.
Toward Reiji.
For a split second, their eyes met.
She couldn’t sense his emotion because of his glasses.
A strange sensation brushed against her senses.
Not a clear emotion.
Not happiness.
Not sadness.
Something colder.
Something hidden.
Like standing before a locked door.
The feeling disappeared instantly.
Reiji simply smiled.
Polite.
Perfect.
Unreadable.
Hina looked away.
Maybe she was imagining things.
Yet…
For some reason…
She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been watching her.
And across the classroom, Reiji quietly observed her once more.
Not the group.
Not Haku.
Not Yui.
Only Hina.
Like a chess player studying a single piece on the board.
The bell rang.
And the lesson began.
But neither Hina nor Reiji had forgotten that brief moment when their eyes met.
End of Chapter 13.