School had finally ended.
Students poured out of the gates in groups.
Some headed home.
Some went to clubs.
Others made plans with friends.
Meanwhile, Hina quietly walked down the sidewalk alone.
Just like always.
The cold afternoon breeze brushed against her hair as she adjusted the strap of her bag.
Everything seemed peaceful.
For about thirty seconds.
Then—
“HEY, SHORTY!”
Hina immediately froze.
A familiar voice.
A very annoying familiar voice.
She slowly turned around.
And there he was.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
A stupid grin.
Haku.
Running after her.
“Wait up!”
“I wasn’t running.”
“You were walking suspiciously fast.”
“That’s called walking.”
“No.”
“That’s called escaping.”
Hina sighed.
“What do you want?”
Haku quickly matched her pace.
“We should go somewhere.”
“No.”
“Come on.”
“No.”
“Karaoke?”
“No.”
“A café?”
“No.”
“Arcade?”
“No.”
“A mysterious underground secret organization?”
Hina stopped walking.
“…What?”
“I’m running out of ideas.”
Hina rubbed her forehead.
“Why are you always following me?”
Haku immediately answered.
“Because you’re interesting and I like interesting things.”
“…”
“…”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Haku placed a hand on his chest.
“That hurts.”
“You say weird things.”
“And yet you’re still talking to me.”
“I’m not.”
“You literally are.”
Hina immediately looked away.
Trying—and failing—to hide her embarrassment.
Then—
“Hina.”
A voice called out.
Both of them turned.
Ryu stood a short distance away.
For a moment, Hina stiffened.
The memories from Christmas night immediately resurfaced.
The argument.
The tears.
The apology.
Everything.
Before she could react—
Ryu walked toward them.
But surprisingly—
He wasn’t looking at Hina.
He was looking at Haku.
“Haku.”
The white-haired boy blinked.
“Hm?”
“I need to talk to you.”
Hina looked between them.
Confused.
Ryu finally glanced at her.
Their eyes met.
Ryu’s emotions entered Hina’s senses.
Protectiveness.
“Hina.”
“You can go ahead.”
“We’ll talk.”
Hina hesitated.
For a brief moment.
Then nodded.
“…Okay.”
Without another word, she continued walking home.
Leaving the two boys behind.
The moment she disappeared around the corner—
Ryu grabbed Haku’s collar.
The playful atmosphere vanished instantly.
Haku’s smile faded.
His blue eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re only playing around with her, aren’t you?”
The words came out cold.
Sharp.
Direct.
Haku blinked.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Ryu tightened his grip.
“If Hina gets hurt because of you…”
His voice lowered.
“I won’t forgive you.”
“And why do you think I’ll hurt her?”
Haku raised an eyebrow.
“Because I know people like you.
People like you always take advantage of girls just for fun.”
Ryu said with barely contained rage.
For several seconds—
Silence.
Then Haku slowly grabbed Ryu’s wrist.
And removed it from his collar.
Not forcefully.
But firmly.
The usual playful expression was gone.
For the first time—
He looked completely serious.
“Listen carefully.”
His voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
“I’m not the kind of guy you think I am.”
Ryu remained silent.
Haku continued.
“I don’t play with girls.”
“I don’t mess with people’s feelings.”
“And I definitely don’t get close to someone just for fun.”
Ryu stared at him.
Trying to read his expression.
But Haku didn’t look away.
Not even once.
“You don’t know me.”
Haku folded his arms.
“So stop acting like you’ve already figured me out.”
Ryu frowned.
“I know your type.”
Haku laughed once.
A humorless laugh.
“No.”
“You don’t.”
The seriousness in his eyes was unsettling.
Even Ryu noticed it.
Haku took a step closer.
“If someone hurts Hina, I won’t allow it either.”
Ryu’s expression shifted slightly.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Haku sighed.
Then ran a hand through his hair.
The playful Haku finally returned.
“As much as she denies it…”
A grin appeared.
“I’ve already decided she’s my friend.”
Ryu looked unconvinced.
Haku pointed at him.
“And friends don’t hurt friends.”
The grin widened.
“So stop using your imagination.”
Then he patted Ryu’s shoulder.
Hard.
“Anyway.”
“I’m going home.”
“I don’t have time for this.”
He walked past him.
Then paused.
“Oh.”
Ryu looked back.
Haku smirked.
“And stop looking at me like I’m a criminal.”
Then he left.
Leaving Ryu standing alone.
Confused.
Because for just a moment—
Haku had felt like a completely different person.
Meanwhile.
Hina arrived home.
The house was quiet.
As she stepped inside, she heard laughter coming from the living room.
Her aunt was sitting on the sofa.
Watching a comedy movie.
The moment she saw Hina—
Her face brightened.
“Hina!”
“Come here!”
Hina stopped.
“How was your day?”
“How was your first day at school?”
“Did you make any friends?”
The questions came one after another.
Hina forced a small smile.
“It was fine.”
“That’s good.”
Her aunt smiled warmly.
A genuinely warm smile.
Her aunt’s eyes met Hina.
Hina’s eyes shimmered.
All of her aunt’s emotions entered Hina senses.
No anger.
No hatred.
No disgust.
No hidden hostility.
Yet…
Hina couldn’t trust it.
Ever since Ryu disappeared years ago—
Trusting people had become difficult.
Even when she couldn’t sense anything negative from them.
Even when they were kind.
A part of her always expected them to leave.
Eventually.
Everyone left.
Didn’t they?
After exchanging a few more words, Hina went upstairs.
Closed her bedroom door.
And lay down on her bed.
The ceiling stared back at her.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
The memories returned.
The tree.
The promises.
The tears.
Ryu leaving.
Christmas night.
Everything.
A single tear slid down her cheek.
Then another.
She quickly wiped them away.
But the pain remained.
Eventually—
She sat up.
Maybe a walk would help.
The evening air was cool.
A gentle breeze drifted through the streets of Tokyo as Hina walked quietly.
The city lights had begun to glow.
People passed by.
Cars moved along the roads.
Everything felt peaceful.
For once.
No arguments.
No uncomfortable memories.
No Ryu.
No Haku.
Just silence.
Hina let out a small breath.
Maybe a walk had been a good idea after all.
Then—
A familiar sound reached her ears.
“SHORTY!”
The rumbling of an engine.
Before she could react, a motorcycle sped past her.
The bike moved several meters ahead before suddenly turning and stopping directly in front of her.
Hina blinked.
The rider removed his helmet.
White hair.
Blue eyes.
A mischievous grin.
“…”
“…”
“Haku.”
“Good evening, Shorty.”
Hina immediately sighed.
Of course it was him.
“Why are you here?”
“That’s a very cold greeting.”
“What are you doing here?”
Haku pointed at the motorcycle.
“I’m here to pick you up.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
“You don’t have to.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Absolutely yes.”
Hina stared at him.
Haku stared back.
Neither moved.
Their eyes met.
His emotions entered her senses.
Excitement.
Eventually, Hina rubbed her forehead.
“You make my head hurt.”
“That’s because you think too much.”
“I do not.”
“You do.”
Hina looked away.
“I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Haku immediately gasped.
“You rejected me.”
“I wasn’t aware I was accepting anything.”
Another dramatic gasp.
“You rejected me twice.”
“Haku.”
“Three times.”
“Haku.”
“My heart is breaking.”
Hina seriously considered walking away.
Then Haku suddenly smiled.
A genuine one this time.
“Come on.”
“Just one ride.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“I’ll buy you food.”
“No.”
“I’ll stop calling you Shorty.”
Hina paused.
Haku blinked.
“…Actually, I can’t promise that.”
“I knew it.”
“But come on.”
His voice became softer.
“You’ve looked sad all day.”
Hina froze.
Just for a second.
Haku noticed.
But thankfully didn’t comment.
Instead, he simply smiled.
“Let’s go somewhere.”
“Where?”
“Wherever the wind takes us.”
Hina stared at him.
“…That’s not an answer.”
“It absolutely is.”
“That’s the worst answer I’ve ever heard.”
Haku grinned proudly.
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“It is now.”
For several moments, neither spoke.
The wind gently rustled their hair.
And somehow…
For the first time all day…
Hina felt a little less heavy.
Just a little.
Eventually she sighed.
A long, defeated sigh.
“…Fine.”
Haku’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Really?”
“Only because you’re annoying.”
“I’ll take that as a victory.”
Before Hina could change her mind, Haku grabbed the spare helmet hanging from the motorcycle.
Then he carefully placed it on her head.
The gesture caught her slightly off guard.
“Too tight?”
“…No.”
“Good.”
He adjusted the strap one final time.
Then stepped back.
“There.”
“Perfect.”
For some reason, Hina suddenly felt embarrassed.
So she quickly looked away.
Haku chuckled.
Then climbed onto the motorcycle.
“Come on, Shorty.”
Hina hesitated.
Before finally sitting behind him.
“Don’t call me that.”
“No promises.”
“Haku.”
“No promises.”
“Haku.”
“Okay, maybe a few promises.”
Hina sighed.
Again.
Then the motorcycle engine roared to life.
A few moments later—
They disappeared down the street.
Carried away by the evening wind.
Unbeknownst to them—
Someone had witnessed everything.
Standing across the street.
Silent.
Watching.
Ryu.
His gaze followed the motorcycle as it disappeared into the distance.
The image lingered in his mind.
Haku laughing.
Hina sitting behind him.
The two of them leaving together.
Ryu remained motionless.
The evening breeze brushed against his hair.
Yet for some reason—
The air felt strangely heavy.
And before he realized it—
His hands had quietly tightened into fists.
End of Chapter 6.