The karaoke session had finally ended, and everyone was stepping outside, still laughing from the chaos inside.
But as expected, peace did not last long.
“I’m taking Hina home,” Ryu said firmly, crossing his arms as he looked at Haku.
Haku immediately frowned.
“Excuse me, Mister Senpai?
Why are you acting like this?
You’re old now.
Your knees will start hurting if you walk too much.
Let me handle this.”
Ryu’s eyebrow twitched.
“Old?” he repeated.
“Yes, old,” Haku said shamelessly.
“You should go home and rest.”
“Hina came with you,” Ryu said, trying to stay calm, “so I want to be the one who drops her home.”
“Nope.
I asked first,” Haku shot back.
“So you can’t steal her.”
Their argument only grew louder until Hina stepped between them.
“Stop!
What happened?”
Ryu pointed at Haku.
“This idiot won’t let me take you home.”
Haku gasped dramatically.
“Look at him lying.”
Hina tried not to laugh.
“Okay… okay…” she said, suppressing a smile.
Then she turned to Haku.
“Haku… can I go with Ryu today?
Please?
I came with you, so… let me go with him this time.”
Haku pouted.
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Haku…”
He sighed dramatically, puffing his cheeks.
“Fine.
Go with the old man.”
Ryu instantly glared.
“Stop calling me old.”
Hina finally laughed.
Soon, the groups split up.
Haku, Yui, Itsuki, and Reiji headed in one direction, while Hina walked beside Ryu.
For a while, silence stretched between them.
Then Ryu spoke.
“Hina… what do you think about Reiji?”
Hina blinked.
“Reiji?”
“Yeah.”
She thought for a moment.
“I don’t know yet,” she admitted.
“I’ve only known him for a few days.”
Ryu nodded.
“I see.
Actually, he seems a bit strange to me…”
Then Hina smiled slightly.
“You know… Haku said almost the exact same thing.”
Ryu froze.
“What?”
“He also said Reiji feels strange.”
Ryu immediately looked away.
“I’m nothing like him,” he muttered.
Hina giggled.
“Sure.”
“I’m serious.”
“Of course.”
They continued walking under the evening sky.
Soon, they reached Hina’s house.
Ryu gave a small smile.
“Alright.
I should go.”
Hina waved.
“Bye, Ryu.
See you at school.”
But suddenly—
A bike sped past far too close.
Ryu’s eyes widened.
“Hina!”
Without thinking, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward himself.
Hina stumbled forward.
Thud.
She collided directly into his chest.
Everything stopped.
Ryu froze.
Hina froze.
Her eyes met his.
She sensed his emotions.
Panic.
Relief.
Protectiveness.
Her eyes widened slightly.
His heartbeat exploded.
Fast.
Too fast.
So loud he was sure she could hear it.
And Hina did.
In that moment-
Ryu felt something warmer.
Something deeper.
His chest tightened.
In that instant, realization hit him.
He was in love with Hina.
The feeling was overwhelming.
The realization was overwhelming.
His breathing became uneven.
Hina slowly tried to move back—
—but paused.
“…Ouch…”
A stray hair of hers had gotten stuck in one of Ryu’s shirt buttons.
She couldn’t move.
Ryu swallowed.
“I… I’ll fix it.”
They were painfully close.
He carefully untangled the stray hair around his button.
His fingers were slightly trembling.
Every second felt endless.
Finally, he freed it.
“There…”
Right then—
“Ohhh?”
A voice came from behind.
Both turned.
Hina’s aunt stood at the gate.
Smiling.
Very suspiciously.
Ryu and Hina instantly stepped apart.
“A-Aunt—!”
Hina panicked.
Her aunt covered her mouth dramatically.
“So this is how kids greet each other now?”
Ryu nearly choked.
“N-No!
It’s not like that!”
Hina turned red.
“He’s just my friend!”
Ryu bowed awkwardly.
“H-Hello, Aunt.”
Her aunt laughed.
“Come inside first.
Don’t be shy.”
“No, no, I should go—”
“Dinner.”
“No, really—”
“That was not a question.”
Ryu lost.
“…Okay.”
After freshening up, everyone gathered at the dining table.
Hina sat beside Ryu, while her aunt and uncle sat across from them.
As dinner began, her aunt smiled.
“You two look very cute together.”
Ryu instantly choked on water.
“Cough—!”
Hina quickly patted his back.
“Are you okay?”
Ryu’s ears turned red.
“Aunt!” Hina protested.
“You misunderstood!”
“Oh?
Did I?”
“There’s nothing like that!”
Her uncle chuckled.
“In this era, it’s normal.
You can tell us.”
“No, Uncle, really—”
Ryu blushed.
“Seriously, there’s nothing!”
Hina shook her head quickly.
After several minutes of explaining, her aunt finally gave up.
“Alright, alright.
I believe you.”
Then she smiled at Ryu.
“Sorry, dear.
I misunderstood.”
Ryu laughed nervously.
“No… it’s okay.”
During dinner, Hina mentioned something.
“He’s actually my childhood friend.”
Her aunt froze.
“What?”
She looked at Ryu.
“You’re from the same small town?”
Ryu nodded.
“Yes.”
Her aunt softened.
“I didn’t knew.”
Then she smiled warmly.
“Thank you for staying by Hina’s side all this time.”
Ryu blinked.
Then gave a gentle smile.
“It’s nothing.”
After dinner, her aunt suddenly said—
“You two should go for a little walk.”
Hina sighed.
“Aunt…”
But eventually, she agreed.
Outside, the air felt cool and calm.
For a while, they walked in silence.
Then Ryu spoke.
“Hina, your aunt and uncle are so kind.”
Hina nodded.
“I know, right?”
“You’re so lucky to have them.”
“Of course, I am!”
She exclaimed while smiling warmly.
“Hina… can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
He inhaled.
“Will you go somewhere with me?”
Hina tilted her head.
“Somewhere?”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“Sure.
I’ll tell Haku, Yui and Itsuki too.”
Ryu quickly shook his head.
“No.”
Hina blinked.
“No?”
“I want…”
He hesitated.
“I want it to be just us.”
Hina stared at him.
Ryu looked away.
“When too many people come… it doesn’t feel the same.”
Because he wanted time with her.
Alone.
Hina studied his eyes.
Her ability activated.
She sensed nervousness.
Hope.
Sincerity.
No deception.
Only genuine feelings.
A soft smile formed on her lips.
“Okay.”
Ryu looked back.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then… Amusement Park?”
Hina nodded.
“Amusement Park, it is.”
Ryu smiled.
A real one.
Warm and soft.
Hina smiled back.
Above them stretched a sky full of stars, glowing quietly over the two of them.
And beneath that endless night sky—
They stood smiling at each other,
As something gentle and new began to bloom.
End of Chapter 15.