As usual, Hina and Haku were walking home together beneath the soft orange glow of the afternoon sky.
For once, Haku seemed strangely nervous.
He kept glancing at Hina before immediately looking away.
Hina noticed.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“You’re acting weird.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Haku scratched the back of his neck.
Then finally sighed.
“Fine.”
He looked away.
“Hina…
for the karaoke outing…”
“Hm?”
“Can we go together?”
Hina blinked.
“Together?”
“Yeah.”
He quickly continued.
“Last time I wanted to go with you, but everyone suddenly showed up.
This time I want to actually walk there together.”
For some reason, he looked unusually serious.
Then—
“Please?”
Hina stared.
Then laughed.
“You actually said please.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not!”
She thought for a moment.
“Sure.”
Haku froze.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
His entire face brightened.
“YES!”
His eyes met Hina’s.
His emotions entered her senses.
Pure happiness.
Hina couldn’t help smiling.
“You’re way too happy.”
“Of course I’m happy.”
He pointed dramatically at the sky.
“I’m finally going with my friend instead of being forced to spend the whole trip with that guy.”
“Ryu?”
“Exactly.”
Hina giggled.
“You two are honestly adorable together.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Very adorable.”
“Hina.”
“Extremely adorable.”
“Hina!”
She laughed even harder.
Her emotions were light.
Happy.
Comfortable.
At that moment-
Bathed in the soft, glowing amber of the afternoon sky, the moment felt effortlessly peaceful.
The weekend arrived.
The day of karaoke.
Haku stood outside Hina’s house waiting.
This time without his bike.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
Hina stepped outside.
She was wearing simple but elegant outfit.
But for Haku, she looked just like an angel.
He doesn’t even understand why he was feeling that way.
He looked away immediately.
Embarrassed by his own feelings.
A faint blush crept on his face, but she didn’t seem to notice it.
“You were really waiting.”
“I wasn’t waiting.”
“You were.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You absolutely were.”
Haku looked away.
“Maybe a little.”
Hina laughed.
The two started walking together.
“I still don’t understand why you always come to pick me up.”
“Because Ryu is clingy.”
“Clingy?”
“You should see him on my bike.”
Hina immediately burst out laughing.
“Poor Ryu.”
“Poor me.”
Before she could answer—
“Hina.”
A familiar sharp and calm voice cut through the playful moment like a knife.
Both turned.
Reiji Kurotsuki was approaching them from behind.
“Oh,” Hina said.
“Reiji?”
He smiled politely.
“Good afternoon.”
He adjusted his glasses.
“I was heading to karaoke as well.”
“Oh, yeah.
Yui told us that you are also coming to karaoke.
Then let’s walk together.”
Reiji smiled.
“I’d like that.”
Haku remained silent.
Something about Reiji continued bothering him.
The guy never did anything wrong.
Yet every word felt carefully chosen.
Every smile felt measured.
Like he was always calculating something.
As they walked, Reiji casually spoke with Hina.
“So you’ve lived here long?”
“Not really.”
“I see.”
“And you?”
“A few years.”
His tone was calm.
Almost too calm.
At one point Hina accidentally met Haku’s eyes.
Her power activated briefly.
A flash of emotion reached her.
Jealousy.
She blinked.
“Jealousy?”
She murmured to herself.
The feeling disappeared almost instantly.
Haku quickly looked away.
Hina became confused.
Why would he be jealous?
Maybe because Reiji kept talking to her.
Maybe because they were friends.
She decided not to think too much about it.
Then Reiji suddenly said,
“Your eyes are beautiful.”
Hina froze.
The comment caught her completely off guard.
She felt uncomfortable immediately.
Haku noticed.
“So what?” he said.
Reiji looked at him.
“Hm?”
“A lot of people have beautiful eyes.”
Reiji smiled.
“True.”
Then he looked back at Hina.
“But hers feel different.”
For a brief second, Hina felt as if he was trying to look through her.
Like he was searching for something.
She quickly looked away.
“It’s nothing special.”
Reiji didn’t push further.
But when no one was looking, a faint smirk appeared on his face.
Then vanished.
Soon they arrived at the karaoke building.
Yui and Itsuki were already there.
Yui waved both arms wildly.
“HINAAAAAA!”
Hina waved back.
Yui immediately ran over.
“You came!”
“I said I would.”
Itsuki sighed.
“She’s been staring at the entrance for ten minutes.”
“I was not!”
“You were.”
“I wasn’t!”
“You were.”
Yui smacked his shoulder.
Everyone laughed.
Soon the group entered their reserved room.
The atmosphere immediately became lively.
Yui and Itsuki started arguing within five minutes.
As usual.
“You cheated!”
“I won fair and square.”
“You absolutely cheated.”
“You just lost.”
Hina sat between them laughing.
Ryu arrived a little later.
“Sorry I’m late.”
Haku grinned.
“Old man finally arrived.”
“I’m literally two years older than you.”
“Exactly.
Ancient.”
Ryu sighed.
“I’m surrounded by idiots.”
“That’s rude.”
“Accurate though,” Itsuki added.
After some chatting, Yui suddenly jumped to her feet.
Her eyes sparkled.
“Alright!”
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed dramatically toward the karaoke machine.
“TIME TO SING!”
A collective groan filled the room.
Yui ignored it.
“Hina!
You’re coming with me.”
“What?”
“Let’s sing.”
“I can’t sing.”
“Neither can I.”
“That’s not helping.”
“It’ll be fun.”
Itsuki immediately spoke.
“Yui is right.
She’s a terrible singer.”
Yui grabbed his hair.
“What did you say?”
“OW!”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Even Ryu couldn’t hide a smile.
Eventually Yui dragged Hina to the front.
The song started.
Neither of them were amazing singers.
But they were having fun.
And that was enough.
The rest of the group cheered for them.
“Go Hina!”
“Go Yui!”
“Don’t destroy the song too badly!”
“Itsuki!”
Yui shouted while singing.
The room exploded with laughter.
Meanwhile, Reiji sat quietly.
Watching.
Observing.
Listening.
His unreadable eyes occasionally drifted toward Hina.
Always Hina.
Never for long enough to be obvious.
But often enough to notice.
Haku noticed.
And he hated it.
After several songs, food arrived.
Everyone immediately attacked the snacks.
“Mine.”
“No, that’s mine.”
“I touched it first.”
“That means nothing.”
Yui was somehow involved in three separate arguments simultaneously.
It was honestly impressive.
The room felt warm.
Comfortable.
Happy.
Hina looked around.
Yui laughing.
Itsuki complaining.
Ryu smiling softly.
Haku arguing with everyone.
For the first time in years…
She felt like she belonged somewhere.
Her eyes briefly met Haku’s.
Again she sensed his emotions as her power activated.
Comfort.
Admiration.
Before she could focus on it—
She felt another gaze.
Watching her.
Hina turned.
Reiji immediately looked away.
The feeling disappeared.
But the uneasiness remained.
And somewhere behind his calm smile…
Reiji Kurotsuki continued observing.
Patiently.
Like a hunter waiting for the perfect moment.
End of Chapter 14.