Night had already fallen by the time Hina Takahashi returned home.
After getting ready for bed, she lay beneath her blanket, staring at the ceiling.
She couldn’t sleep.
Her body was tired, but her mind refused to rest.
Only one thought kept circling endlessly.
Who is Ryu’s crush?
She turned to one side.
Then the other.
Then back again.
“Who could it be…?” she mumbled.
Ryu’s words replayed in her head.
You’ll have to figure it out yourself.
Hina groaned into her pillow.
“This is impossible…”
She kept thinking until exhaustion finally pulled her into sleep near midnight.
The next morning—
Hina’s eyes snapped open.
She checked her phone.
Her face froze.
“…I’m late.”
A second later—
“WHAT?!”
She jumped out of bed in panic.
“No no no no—!”
She rushed through getting ready, nearly dropping everything in the process.
After barely managing to leave home, she began running toward school.
“Why did I oversleep today…?”
Then—
“SHORTY!”
A familiar voice called from behind.
Hina turned.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
That lazy grin.
Haku.
As their eyes met, her power activated.
His emotions flowed into her senses.
Warmth.
Happiness.
Relief.
He was genuinely happy to see her.
Hina smiled.
“I overslept.”
Haku shrugged.
“I’m late too.”
“Then run!”
He casually placed both hands behind his head.
“What’s the rush?
Being late once in a while is part of school life.”
Hina stared.
“You seriously don’t care about anything.”
Haku smirked.
“Pretty much.”
They continued walking.
After a moment, Hina spoke.
“You know something?”
“What?”
“About Ryu.”
Haku glanced at her.
“What about Senpai?”
Hina hesitated.
“He has a crush.”
Haku stopped walking.
“…What?”
Hina blinked.
“He told me yesterday.”
His expression changed.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
She began explaining everything about sunflowers and the sunshine girl.
As she spoke, Haku slowly understood.
And then—
Their eyes met again.
Hina’s power activated.
A flood of emotions hit her.
Jealousy.
Annoyance.
Frustration.
Something sharp and painful.
Her eyes widened.
“Haku…?”
He immediately turned away.
“Nothing.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing, Shorty.
Let’s go.”
Before she could protest, he grabbed her hand.
“W-Wait—!”
“We’re late for school.”
He pulled her forward, practically dragging her toward school.
In class, Haku avoided looking at Hina.
Completely.
Every time she tried to catch his eyes, he looked elsewhere.
Hina frowned.
Why’s he acting like this…?
From the seat beside their desk, Reiji Kurotsuki watched silently.
Behind his glasses, his dark eyes observed everything.
Mostly Hina.
But also Haku.
Every tiny reaction.
Every shift.
Every hesitation.
His expression remained unreadable.
Lunch break.
The group sat together in the cafeteria.
Hina.
Haku.
Yui.
Itsuki.
Reiji sat nearby, silent, observing.
Then—
Ryu arrived.
“Mind if I join?”
“Of course!”
Yui said cheerfully.
Ryu sat beside Hina.
One side—Haku.
Other side—Ryu.
Haku stiffened.
His jaw tightened.
Hina noticed.
Ryu smiled at Hina.
“Did you enjoy yesterday?”
Hina brightened.
“Yeah.
It was really fun.
We should go again.”
“Glad to hear that.”
Haku’s fingers tightened around his chopsticks.
Too hard.
He turned away before Hina could sense his emotions.
Reiji quietly observed.
Not a single expression escaped him.
Haku suddenly stood.
“I’m done eating.”
Everyone looked up.
“So fast?” Yui asked.
Without warning, Haku grabbed Hina’s wrist and pulled her up.
“Come with me.”
Hina blinked.
“I’m not done yet!”
“I’ll buy you something.”
“But—”
“Shorty.”
His tone became firm.
“You can eat as much as you want.
My treat.”
“…Huh?”
“We’re leaving.”
And just like that—
He dragged her away.
The others stared.
Itsuki blinked.
“What just happened?”
Reiji silently watched them leave.
His gaze sharpened.
Haku brought her to a smaller snack counter.
But even then—
Haku still refused eye contact.
He crossed his arms.
“Alright.
Eat.”
Hina stared.
“…You kidnapped me for snacks?”
“Yep.”
She pouted.
“You’re weird.”
He smirked.
“You’re welcome.”
She bought snacks anyway.
Soon they returned.
Hina grew more concerned as Haku continued to avoid eye contact with her.
After school, they walked home together.
Still.
No eye contact.
Hina finally couldn’t take it.
Before she spoke—
“Hina!”
She turned.
Ryu.
He approached with a smile.
“My extra classes ended early.
Want to walk together?”
Before Hina could answer—
Haku stepped between them.
“No.”
Ryu raised an eyebrow.
“No?”
“She’s busy.”
“With what?”
“With me.”
Haku crossed his arms.
“She promised me a treat.”
Ryu frowned.
“A treat?”
“Private matter.
Older people won’t be able to understand.”
Ryu’s expression cooled.
“You can do that later.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I want it today.”
Tension rose.
Hina quickly looked at Ryu.
Their eyes met.
Her power activated.
Annoyance.
Disappointment.
Restraint.
She exhaled.
“Ryu… I’ll go with Haku today.
We can walk together another time, okay?”
Ryu took a slow breath.
Then smiled.
“…Alright.”
He stepped back.
“Enjoy, Hina.”
Haku grabbed her hand again.
As they walked away, he muttered—
“I wish I never had to see Senpai again.”
Then he added dramatically—
“Sadly, fate is cruel.”
He said without looking at Hina.
Hina laughed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
After some walking, she stopped.
“Haku.”
“What?”
“Why are you acting weird?”
“Weird?”
“Yes.”
She stepped closer.
“Why didn’t you let me go?”
Haku leaned down slightly.
Until their eye levels matched.
Their faces were close enough to make her freeze.
“Why did you want to go?”
Their eyes met.
Haku’s emotions entered Hina’s senses.
Jealousy.
Possessiveness.
Annoyance.
She blinked.
“That’s not what I meant—”
“You promised me.”
He straightened.
“So I acted according to your promise.”
Then dramatically—
“If that bothers you, what can I do?”
Hina stared.
Then lightly hit his arm.
“You idiot.”
Haku grinned.
“There’s my Shorty.”
She laughed despite herself.
Soon they were walking normally again.
Talking.
Laughing.
Comfort returning.
But far away—
A black car remained parked on the roadside.
Inside sat Reiji.
Black hair.
Dark red eyes behind glasses.
His gaze followed Hina and Haku.
Cold.
Detached.
Unreadable.
He watched them laugh together.
Watched Haku’s possessiveness.
Watched Hina’s trust.
A faint reflection flashed across his glasses.
No smile.
No anger.
Only chilling stillness.
As though he were merely studying pieces on a chessboard.
Calculating.
Waiting.
And somewhere within that cold detachment—
something dangerous was quietly approaching.
End of Chapter 17.