(V4) Chapter 5: Destined Rivals (III)

[E/D: Friends, character showcases are out! You can check out Ayase, Shizuku, and Haruki's character impressions by clicking Novel Details -> then Showcase. I uploaded it there to create a more immersive and familiar faces to my characters. Thank you so much for your constant support!]

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It was already the middle of the night and Haru sat comfortably at his room balcony, overlooking the moonlit sea and the crowd of other Komorebi High students throwing a late night party at the seaside.

The energy and noise reached his position, but a cup of tea was enough not to break the solemn moment.

At first, it was just Ayase.

Then, there was Takamine.

He still wonders what he did in order for them to lead to this.

He never once thought of involving himself romantically with either of them, and neither did they appear to have the same thoughts about him. He just wanted to enjoy the very best of their moments together and rebuild what he thought he lost.

But in fact, maybe it's right that all of their previous encounters, accidental or not, and the process of his decisions made it well deserved.

"What a foolish thing, thinking about love."

Just before, his life was all about revenge. About disappearing into walls he carefully built.

Then Takamine rejected him, making the world tilt in such an unpleasant direction.

He saved Ayase, and thought about moving on and healing himself.

And she steered him away from his past and it was already a long road from it.

He had no idea where to go from here, like he was stuck on a traffic light—or a fork. But for now, he just wishes that this peace would last forever.

He nudged the fresh bandage in his nose, the pressure of the coming days weighing over him.

So he stood and leaned on the railing, letting the cold sea breeze blow past, carrying the natural howls of the waves glinting like liquid glass.

"Was it always me in the middle of it all?" he asked himself.

Haru was never the main character. He just always lets situations happen around him, like a spectator sitting back and observing the play.

Because after everything he had experienced before, he thought that this place of comfort and happiness never belonged to him anymore.

But now, two people are trying to prove him otherwise.

He looked at the moon, paler as it ever was, but it wasn't enough to calm him down. Her mother's magic didn't work tonight.

Tock. Tock. Tock.

Haru blinked, turning around the balcony. His heart churned in alert, unaware of the sudden visitor.

Even partially against his will, he marched slowly to the entrance and slightly pulled the door.

His breath caught.

"Takamine-san?"

She stood there, hood draped over her head. She didn't even wear her sandals. Her eyes looked like they hadn’t blinked in hours.

"Can I go in?"

“How did you even get out?”

She gave a light shrug. “Same way you did, probably. Slow and silent.”

Right. Haru was obliged to stay at the clinic for tonight. But he snuck out earlier that night when the nurse left to eat dinner.

"If you came here to talk, you should've texted or called me."

She shrugged again. "This isn't something that can be solved through text messages alone."

Haru stepped aside instinctively. “If a teacher catches you—”

“Then let me in.”

At that single statement, the room for argument was sealed.

“What—” his jaw dropped halfway, perplexed by Takamine's cunning.

She stepped inside without even a confirmation from Haru and closed the door behind her.

He had no choice but to follow her onto the balcony. Neither of them said anything for a few seconds.

The wind played gently with the hem of her hoodie as she leaned against the railing. Her eyes searched the horizon like it held answers she couldn’t name.

"Feels like a deja vu back at the condominium." she started, gripping on the guardrail.

He didn’t know what to say.

“I wasn’t trying to make it dramatic,” she retorted, shooting a glance over her shoulders towards Haru sitting and sipping tea. "I just wanted to let go of that burden."

“I know.”

One breath. Two. Three.

The waves of the sea were the only thing that stood between them.

Then, out of nowhere, Takamine voiced out something that caught Haru off guard.

"You really don't know about it, right? Why did dad withdraw from the idea of sending me to the states at the last minute?"

Haru replied immediately, as if answers were predetermined.

"Didn’t we talk about that earlier?"

Haru looked at himself. It’s probably Takamine purposefully catching him off guard, expecting for his tongue to slip accidently.

"I trust you enough, don't worry. I’m just confirming it."

Haru contemplated for a second, letting the memories resurface.

“Your bodyguards helped me sneak you back to the house undetected by your father. They said that they already knew you’re always going out for a midnight stroll, so they became lenient."

She chuckled in self-mockery, uncharacteristically knowing how stiff her countenance is.

"Guess that's how freedom tastes."

"That's the price of freedom. It has consequences."

"And you may think I was just too bold back then to say things of some sort because I was drunk."

Haru turned to her, questioning.

"What do you mean?"

"Let me tell you that again." she closed her eyes, breathed in the sea air like it might steady her.

Then, softly, "I like you, Ishida-kun."

Haru blinked, eyes slightly widening.

He didn't speak.

What can he say? His throat was locked—especially at the realization that the situation between them has come full circle.

The girl that rejected him, now was the one confessing feelings for him. This should be interesting in a sense, but Haru kept his cool composure, not letting anything show on his face as he waited for this confession to continue.

“I didn’t say it for you to pick me.” she added, voice firm. “I just—wanted to say it before someone else did. Besides, I’m not asking for anything. I don’t expect an answer.”

He nodded in understanding.

“It sounds insane, I know.” as her grip on the railings tightened. “I rejected you a few months ago. Back when I thought I knew everything. And now I’m here, saying this, like it’s fair of me to ask you to care.”

Her voice faltered—but she kept going, even as the wind threatened to steal her words. Shizuku just wanted all the feelings out.

Because she's going to break down more if she doesn't.

“I just realized…that every time I fell apart, you were there. You didn’t fix things. You didn’t have to. You just…stayed.”

Haru thought of that time, that some people may never need fixing. They just want somebody to be there when they break.

She gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh.

“I’m not expecting some big romantic gesture, Ishida-kun. I just realized...it made me happy. That you were there when I needed someone. Every time.”

Her voice dropped lower.

“Even when I didn’t know I needed you.”

Haru stood up and held the railing just like her, staring at the sea.

"But why now?" Haru asked.

"I was thoroughly denying myself that choice until now because you know what my family would do if I ever fell for someone they wouldn't like. When they decided that I would be leaving the country, that's where I knew—I didn’t want to leave anything unsaid. Not this time.”

The moonlight traced the edge of her profile. She wasn’t crying. But there was something about her stillness that felt like mourning.

“At first, I thought that it’s just a small pang of guilt that deprived me of sleep on the night that I rejected you. But it lingered, and I became aware of your existence. Maybe other people will find you annoying, invisible and stiff. Gradually, I learned that you're actually a great person and it shows both ways. That day, even before knowing that you saved Ayase, I knew what I felt wasn't just pity. It was something tangled and different. And I hated that it existed."

“Just like you, it was more like a duty to Ayase. It isn’t anything worthy of recognition.” Haru finally answered, voice quiet and careful.

Too careful not to hurt her feelings anymore than she already did, even though they both knew they were far beyond that point now.

“I always saw you looking out for Ayase. Even the first time at the mall. She’s too special. She...makes you glow beyond what the other people can offer.”

"Probably." Haru simply admitted. "She always knew my tight spots and softened them up."

"I’m not trying to win you over, Ishida-kun,” she said, turning to him. “I just wanted you to know that…being near you made me feel like I wasn’t disappearing.”

Haru opened his mouth, but still, nothing came. Because deep down, he was still trying to understand how someone like her could break and rebuild herself in front of him like this.

"And I just thought you should know how I feel…in case it ever matters.”

She looked at him again—eyes raw, but smiling.

Strong.

But only on the facade.

Just for Haru not to see her breaking.

But Shizuku’s already way beyond it. Her chest was being clawed open and her eyes were too heavy to keep.

The smile wavered.

Pursed.

Twisted into agony.

Then, she keeled over, head pressed against the railing. Haru managed to catch her shoulders, but it wasn't enough to lift her up.

Literally and figuratively.

"Is this too much...to ask? Being loved?"

She pressed a hand to her lips, but that can't stop the sobs that came after.

The world stopped.

With her frame trembling against his arms, Haru swallowed the lump of his guilt.

“I keep pushing people away…and when they leave, I wonder why I’m always the one left behind...”

She wailed, bitter and breathless.

He just held her tighter, unsure if doing this gesture would help or only undo her further.

“It’s pathetic. I—I don’t even know what I want sometimes. I hated myself for saying no to you, and I hated myself more for hoping you’d still wait…”

His heart was drumming against his ribs, his sweat trickling and spilling from his temple. He knew what needed to be done when people sought compassion and comfort. But seeing Takamine break down like this, completely vulnerable and exposed, had taken the preparedness right out of him.

“I thought if I disappeared to the States, everything would be simpler. But then...you—you stayed. Even when I didn't ask you to. Even when I didn't deserve it.”

She choked on her own breath. Her shoulders shook under the weight of all the things she had held in too long.

“I thought if I could be perfect enough, I’d be easy to love. But I’m not. I’m not perfect, Haru. I’m just...me. Stupid, scared, selfish Shizuku.”

And then—finally—he pulled her in, and then they collapsed against the railings, her head slumped against his chest.

No words. No explanation. Just warmth and genuine comfort through intimacy.

Takamine returned the gesture, wrapping him in her arms like Haru might disappear without.

And maybe he would have.

She clutched his shirt with shaking fingers, burying herself in the quiet warmth of his chest.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry, Haru…”

Her tears were already soaking the thin fabric, and Haru caressed her back, steadying her.

He knew that this was something she couldn't deal with. That she wouldn't be able to get rid of it. There is too much inside of her, overflowing, drowning her in regret and pain.

"That pain..." he started, unsure at first, then continued, "...let me carry it."

He could hear the shakiness in her breaths, the sniffles and ragged hiccups, but Haru didn’t hush her. He didn’t tell her she didn’t need to be. He just held her tighter. The moon poured pale light on their tangled shadows, and the night around them held its breath.

"I..." Takamine trailed off, "I can do it...but..."

"Shizuku-san."

She flinched at her name. As if she’d forgotten who she was for a moment.

"You don't have to always act strong for others. You don’t have to be the best at everything."

"..."

"We don't have a formal promise, but you know that I'll always be here when things fall apart, right?"

He leaned back just enough so she could see his face. Bare, broken and vulnerable.

A far cry from the Madonna of Class 3-2. The unbreakable student council president.

And she slowly nodded.

“I’m here because I want to be." Haru continued, tucking a strand of tousled hair behind her ear. "Not as a boyfriend. Not as some prize. But as Haruki.”

His voice dropped to a whisper:

“Just…Haruki. The guy who’ll always be here when you want to dance in the rain. The guy who will always be your partner in your little rebellions. The guy that will be present when you need someone who sees you when no one can.”

Her eyes, blue and shining, met his.

“Even if I mess up again? I know my family wouldn't like the idea of their child messing up.”

He smiled, something in between gentle and reassuring.

“Especially when you mess up. Treat me differently. I am not them."

After a breath, he continued.

"You don’t have to be perfect to be loved, Shizuku-san.”

She let out a soft cry and pressed her forehead to his chest again.

They stayed like that.

Two silhouettes under a sky too big for all their feelings, with nothing but the sound of waves and unsaid love folding around them.

And two people on a balcony, not saying the words they weren’t ready for.