(V3) Chapter 10: Takamine Family

Takamine stood frozen in the candy shop’s doorway, her bag still slung over one shoulder, strands of her hair gently catching the light as the breeze behind her faded. She blinked once. Twice.

Then, as if catching herself in the middle of a fever dream, she let out a slow exhale.

Meanwhile, Haru's thoughts were a mess—how would he end up stumbling over and over with the person that rejected him at unexpected places?

But the memory of the two of them talking outside Saori's school clinic room surfaced.

“I was also present at the mall a few days ago. I was with my sister. And I’ve never seen you that relaxed before. Your eyes showed life, and your face was bright.”

That's exactly what Takamine said and it all made sense.

His heart wanted to ditch out his chest just by its drumming beats.

Such a small world, after all.

“Ishida-kun?” she asked flatly, her voice carefully measured—but there was no mistaking the sharp edge of 'what the hell are you doing with my sister?' behind it.

“Takamine-san.” Haru stood slowly, lifting both hands like a guy at gunpoint. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Her eyes narrowed. “That’s not an answer.”

Shizumi, entirely oblivious to the rising tension, beamed. “Shishi! Look! This is my new Onii-chan! He bought me candy!”

Takamine’s eye twitched, and a crack of disgust surfaced on her particularly composed face. “Your what?”

Haru held up a hand toward her before she could explode. “Okay, wait. I didn’t kidnap her, if that’s what your face is saying. I stopped her from getting snatched.”

Still unsatisfied, she raised a sharp eyebrow.

Haru continued, tone calm but clipped. “A couple in a black van tried to lure her off with candy. I stepped in. She clung to me and wouldn’t let go. I brought her here. That’s it.”

Shizumi nodded, chewing a sour ribbon like this was the most natural story in the world. “I told him to buy me better candy too. He did! He’s really strong!”

“I’m going to lose my mind,” Takamine muttered, walking toward them. She knelt beside Shizumi, brushing crumbs from the girl’s uniform. “Are you okay? They didn’t touch you, right?”

“I’m fine! He saved me!”

Takamine heaved a sigh of surrender. Her shoulders were finally relaxed and tension in the air dissipated.

“Is that really true?” she asked once more—but the bite in her words was gone.

Haru exhaled in relief, and for the hundredth time, as expected, Takamine was always this meticulous.

“Yes, Shishi. If you want, I had it captured on the phone!”

Takamine peeked on the phone screen, eyebrows slightly furrowing. As the muffled sounds from the clip faded into the background, relief washed over her face.

Then, she turned to Haru, gaze softening—but only slightly. “...Thanks. For helping her.”

Haru nodded, his body finally relaxing a little. “Didn’t know she was yours.”

“Now you do,” Takamine replied curtly, standing. “And just to be clear—I owe you. But don’t get any weird ideas.”

He crossed his arms, a smirk forming. “What kind of ideas?”

“The kind where you pretend we’re close just because you helped my sister buy snacks.”

Shizumi blinked between them, then gasped. “Oh! Wait! Wait wait wait—do you two know each other?!”

Takamine visibly flinched. Haru sighed.

“Unfortunately.”

“Unfortunately?” Shizumi repeated, surprised.

“Your big sister is my classmate,” Haru muttered.

Takamine gave him a sidelong glance. “More like a nuisance that won't quit throwing himself into danger.”

“And yet here I am. Still alive.” Haru shot back with a grin.

She rolled her eyes. “Barely. When do you plan on changing that attitude?”

“Never.”

“What?!”

“I won't stop as long as I am wronged.” he argued with a slackened grin.

“You surely don't learn, are you?”

Shizumi giggled, kicking her feet under the table. “You two fight like a married couple!”

“We are not—” they both shouted in unison, then paused.

Silence.

They stared at each other.

Takamine was the first to look away, cheeks coloring just faintly.

Haru flushed too, and ruffled his hair apologetically.

“Anyway,” she said, collecting her composure. “Shizumi, finish your candy. We’re heading home soon.”

“But I want to hang out with my Onii-chan more!”

“I said finish your candy.” Her tone left no room for argument.

Haru laughed lightly under his breath, watching Shizumi grumble and chew. “So…your sister, huh?”

Takamine didn’t answer at first. She kept her eyes on the window, the afternoon sun casting soft light across her face.

“Yeah,” she finally said. “The only person that makes me feel that I belong to a family.”

Something in her voice made him quiet. They never talked about Shizumi before, even at the library where they used to hang out before.

And now Haru saw it—how Takamine’s eyes and posture softened around her, like she wasn't the perfect student council president he knew.

Right now, she was just a person—a girl, and a sister.

Their eyes met again.

And for a moment—just a brief, fragile breath of time—there was no past, no tension, no unspoken bitterness between them.

Just two people silently agreeing on the lengths they’d go to for someone they cared about.

Shizumi crunched the last of her candy.

“Come home with us!” she mumbled, hopping up from her seat. "I really really like you!"

"Errr..." Haru nervously stuttered, wanting to bail out of the situation. "I really can't."

"No!" Shizumi argued. "Because I'll tell dad to kill you if you won't!" she declared cheerfully, making the other customers and workers of the candy store shudder in surprise, followed by a distinct background whisper.

How the hell could she send death threats so casually and happily?

"About that...you could ask Takamine-san."

"Shishi!" Shizumi grabbed Takamine's hand, tugging it. "Can Onii-chan come with us?!"

She looked up at Takamine with upturned eyes.

The big sister hesitated, contemplating.

Then, very reluctantly: “...Maybe.”

Haru looked amused. “Wow. That almost sounded like a ‘yes.’”

He was met by an icy scowl. “Don’t push it.”

***

Takamine and Haru walked down the street, casting long and thin shadows on the concrete sidewalk.

There wasn’t much to talk about; Shizumi had already run up ahead and enjoyed peeking through store windows and left Takamine and Haru alone together.

The silence between them was comfortable, almost easygoing. The wind blowing through their loose hair carried a faint tinge of warmth, and the sky above was a clear and deep orange.

Haru fumbled with his phone, telling Saori and Akito to be with Ayase on the way home. He used his work as an alibi, and alas, it worked.

It always did.

Takamine meanwhile casted introspective glances across places, strangely pausing every so often to admire various flowers or buildings. Each one took its own beauty and value, and despite not knowing each and every one of their names, she still couldn’t help but gape at the wonder of them.

It was like a whole other side of her life—like an entire dimension she had never encountered before.

Haru remembered the night they danced below the rain. That profound joy he saw in her eyes, the one you could only see in the eyes of a five year old kid. Takamine was never outside, and she thrived on fleeting and stolen moments, just like sneaking out at restful midnights, having a sleepover, and watching the rain.

"Let me carry it." Haru suggested. "Bags."

Takamine gave him a confused sidelong glance, skeptical of his intentions. But she handed both of their bags over anyway.

"Haven't I told you to stop fighting, Ishida-kun?" she scolded softly. "You'll bunk school then appear randomly like someone fresh out of the graveyard."

Haru sighed, unaware of what to say.

"Not that I'm complaining," she added quickly when Haru opened his mouth. "Miyamoto-kun looked entirely lost in it without your presence."

He shrugged. "Work called. Urgent."

"What work?" her voice sharpened. "Letting others beat you up in exchange for pocket change?"

She eyed him with concern, her breaths coming shallow.

"There are just people around who won't let you experience peace." he reasoned out. "But I'm dead honest, Akio-san, my boss, really gave me an urgent task at the diner."

Her frown softened, and she hummed, nodding knowingly. It was a common occurrence these days. Even with Takamine, a part-time model and artist, surprise appointments come regularly like surprise quizzes.

"You better mean that." she mumbled, shaking her head.

"I promise. There's nothing going on."

She pursed her lips, looking troubled for a moment, then glanced up at him with a smile. "Alright. I believe you."

The way Takamine showed signs of softening up was a sight Haru can't help but find attractive. A subtle shift in demeanor, a slight upturn of the corners of her mouth and the soft glimmer in her eyes. She didn’t need to act all tough. This was a woman he could see getting softer towards him.

“Don’t you think that this is a great first step?” Haru questioned with a warm tone.

"Towards?"

"Freedom to feel."

Gloom crossed Takamine's eyes, "Protecting and taking care of Shizumi is my duty. The freedom that I crave has nothing to do with her. It is just with me."

"Because you fear she will see you as someone too reckless?"

Her expression hardened, "Maybe. You experienced how bad I was the time I craved it. What would I have done to you if you hadn't been able to get away?"

Haru nodded solemnly. He internally gave props to himself for staying prudent that night, but he didn't think he would be able to overcome her next attempt.

In all honesty, he hasn't been able to erase Takamine’s image from his head since then. It remained vivid in its intensity. But it's a painful reminder of how things can go wrong if they’re both being careless with themselves.

"Don't blame yourself for what happened. I don't either," he responded lightly. "I would've done otherwise that night, and it's true that I do feel that 'carnal desires' you were talking about. But feeling those alone is a different thing compared to letting it take over you."

Takamine shot a thoughtful look across Shizumi. "If only...if I had more control over my emotions. If I were stronger." Her eyes clouded for a moment, before a wry smile formed, "Then maybe I wouldn't be in your position right now."

"You have every right to be afraid. You have the right to be vulnerable. It never made you weak. It makes you human."

After saying that, the two fell into an impasse. But Haru knew that Takamine understood exactly what he meant as her expression brightened slightly and she smiled warmly back at him.

At the same time, Shizumi ran back to them, carrying her usual grin.

"Onii-chan, carry me!" she opened her arms wide.

"That’s enough playing around, Shizumi." Takamine refuted.

"Aw, c'mon, Shishi." Shizumi argued. "Let me live."

"No more petty requests after this."

“Yay!”

Haru smiled as Shizumi climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his torso, humming a tune.

She pointed out various things she could only see if she was this tall, and enjoyed flailing her arms around like a bird and superhero.

Clearly enjoying this, Haru shot a glance at Takamine, who was flushed and turned away when she noticed his gaze.

He grinned inwardly as he started walking, holding tight to Shizumi. It felt so nice to have something normal to focus on for once.