Haku and Ryu stood facing each other, neither willing to look away.
Haku glared at Ryu.
Ryu glared right back.
Between them stood two things.
One was tension.
The other was Hina.
Poor Hina stood right in the middle, completely confused.
She couldn’t understand why both of them were reacting like this.
And more importantly—
She had no idea what she was supposed to do.
Without breaking eye contact with Ryu, Haku spoke.
“Hina.
Go inside.”
Hina blinked.
“W-What?”
“Inside.”
Haku repeated, his voice firm.
She hesitated.
Slowly, she turned to leave—
But suddenly—
Ryu grabbed her wrist.
“No, Hina.”
His grip was gentle, but determined.
“I need to talk to you.”
Hina looked into his eyes.
Her power activated.
Annoyance.
Jealousy.
Toward Haku.
Her brows furrowed.
Jealousy…?
Why…?
Before she could process it—
Haku grabbed her other hand.
“No.”
His voice sharpened.
“Hina is going inside.”
Hina turned to him.
Her eyes met his.
Again, emotions rushed into her senses.
Jealousy.
Possessiveness.
Annoyance.
Toward Ryu.
Her confusion deepened.
Again…?
Why…?
Ryu pulled her slightly toward himself.
“She’ll talk to me first.”
Haku pulled back.
“No.
She’s going home.”
Ryu tugged.
Haku tugged harder.
Hina was dragged left.
Then right.
Left.
Right.
Like a human rope in a ridiculous tug-of-war.
Her patience snapped.
“STOPPP!!!”
Both boys froze instantly.
Silence.
Hina yanked both hands free.
“Enough!”
She glared at them.
“Stop fighting!”
Neither said a word.
She looked into both of their eyes.
Their emotions flowed into her senses.
Concern.
Only concern.
Hina exhaled slowly.
Then she turned to Haku.
“Haku… I couldn’t talk to Ryu after school today.”
She spoke gently.
“So I’ll talk to him now, and then I’ll go home.
Okay?”
Haku’s jaw tightened.
He immediately looked away so she couldn’t read his emotions.
Because right now—
His jealousy was almost impossible to hide.
“…Hm.”
He still refused to look at her.
“Fine.
Go.”
Hina smiled softly.
“Haku… don’t be upset.”
He only gave a small nod.
Still no eye contact.
“Good night.”
A pause.
“See you at school, Shorty.”
Then he walked away.
Without looking back.
Not even once.
After he disappeared, Hina turned toward Ryu.
Their eyes met.
Relief.
Strong relief.
As if a burden had been lifted.
Because Haku was gone.
Hina tilted her head.
“Should we go somewhere and talk?”
Ryu smiled.
A small, genuine smile.
He nodded.
“Yeah.”
A few minutes later, they sat side by side on a park bench.
Night had deepened.
The park was quiet.
Only the soft wind and distant sounds filled the silence.
For a while—
Neither spoke.
Then Hina broke the silence.
“So…”
She turned toward him.
“What did you want to talk about?”
Ryu’s ears turned slightly red.
But Hina didn’t notice.
He scratched his cheek.
“Nothing serious.”
“I just… felt like talking to someone.”
His voice had become unusually soft.
Hina looked into his eyes.
Shyness.
Happiness.
She blinked.
“Why are you blushing?”
Ryu nearly choked.
“I-I’m not blushing.”
“You are.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
He looked away.
He was so embarrassed that he couldn’t meet her eyes.
Then, after a pause, he asked quietly—
“Did you figure out who my sunshine girl is?”
Hina sighed.
“I really tried.”
She looked apologetic.
“I thought about it a lot… but I still couldn’t figure it out.”
Ryu smiled softly.
Then he turned toward her.
“It’s okay.”
His voice carried warmth.
“I trust you.”
He held her gaze.
“You’ll find her.”
Hina looked into his eyes.
Hope.
Gentle hope.
Then Hina smiled.
Brightly.
Warmly.
Adorably.
The kind of smile that could melt anything in its path.
And it did.
Ryu’s heart completely melted.
His cheeks reddened.
He quickly looked away to hide it.
Hina giggled.
“I hope I find that girl soon.”
Then her expression slowly changed.
Her smile faded.
She became serious.
“Ryu…”
He immediately noticed.
“What happened?”
Hina hesitated.
Then spoke quietly.
“I feel like… someone has been stalking me.”
Ryu froze.
His head snapped toward her.
Their eyes met.
Her power activated.
Shock.
Concern.
Protectiveness.
Ryu went completely silent.
The air felt heavier.
After several long seconds—
He moved.
Suddenly, he raised both hands—
And gently held her face between his hands.
Hina froze.
Her eyes widened.
Ryu leaned closer.
Closer than ever before.
His voice dropped low.
Steady.
Serious.
“Hina.”
His thumbs rested lightly near her cheeks.
“Don’t worry.”
His gaze never left hers.
“I’m here.”
His emotions flooded into her senses.
Protectiveness.
Determination.
Fear of losing something precious.
Then he said—
Word by word—
“I’ll protect you.”
He leaned just slightly closer.
“No matter what it costs.”
Hina’s breathing stopped for a moment.
Their faces were so close now.
He’s so close to me…
Too close…
Heat rushed to her cheeks.
A soft blush spread across her face.
Her heart began beating faster.
She could hear his breathing.
Feel his warmth.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Under the quiet night sky, surrounded by silence and racing heartbeats, they remained frozen in that fragile distance—
A distance that felt dangerously close to changing everything.
End of Chapter 19.