Chapter 1: — "Reunion"

The bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, but Sakura couldn’t hear it properly. Her heart was still hammering, cheeks hot with embarrassment. The memory of standing in front of everyone, stammering over her words, played on repeat in her mind like a cruel recording.

She tried to focus on the teacher’s instructions for the next lesson, but it was useless. Her hands fidgeted with the straps of her bag, and her notebook lay forgotten on the desk. Every sound in the classroom seemed magnified, the scraping of chairs, the rustle of papers, the laughter of other students, and each one reminded her of how small and out of place she felt.

Then she felt it: a shadow falling over her desk. She looked up to see the three girls from before, walking toward her with smirks that made her stomach twist.

“Well, well, look who it is,” the tallest one said, tilting her head. “The little stutterer from class. You still can’t talk properly, huh?”

Sakura’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Her eyes started to sting.

“Oh, don’t cry already,” another girl chimed in, leaning closer. “We haven’t even finished having fun with you yet.”

The teasing didn’t stop there. Every word they spat felt like it sank into her chest, dragging her further down. Her lips quivered as tears began to pool in her eyes.

“P-please… stop…” she whispered, barely audible.

But the girls only laughed harder. “Aww, is the new girl going to cry? Look at her, she can’t even handle a few words,” the leader mocked, flicking her hair.

Sakura’s vision blurred. She wanted to shrink into herself, to disappear completely. Her chest heaved as she struggled to breathe through the panic building inside her. 

The laughter from the three girls only grew louder as Sakura’s tears finally slipped free, trailing down her cheeks. She pressed her hands against her face, trying to muffle the quiet sobs, but the girls weren’t done.

“Oh my gosh, look at her! She’s crying!” the leader sneered. “You really can’t handle anything, can you?”

Sakura shook her head, whispering, “S-stop… please… ”

The middle girl leaned closer, voice dripping with amusement. “Aww, it’s just a few words! Why are you crying so easily?”

Suddenly, a sharp, firm voice cut through the room like a blade.

“Hey! Leave her alone!”

The three girls froze, turning their glares toward the source. Behind them, a boy, tall, calm, and confident, stood with his hands in his pockets, eyes narrowed.

“Why should we?” the leader demanded, crossing her arms.

“Because I said so,” the boy replied evenly. His tone wasn’t loud, but it carried an unmistakable weight. “If you don’t leave her alone, you’ll regret it.”

The girls blinked, exchanging looks. One of them scoffed. “Regret it? Hah! You think you can scare us?”

The boy’s gaze didn’t waver. “Try me,” he said simply.

The girls huffed, rolling their eyes in irritation. “Whatever,” the leader muttered. “This isn’t worth our time.” With that, they turned on their heels, muttering complaints, and stalked off, leaving Sakura trembling in relief.

Sakura’s chest heaved as she wiped at her tears, still shaking. Her voice came out barely above a whisper. “Th-thank you…”

The boy crouched slightly to meet her eyes, expression gentle now. “Are you okay?”

Sakura blinked, looking up—and froze. Her eyes widened. The familiar face, the sharp, teasing gaze from her childhood… it couldn’t be.

“Haruto… Shinohara?” she gasped, taking a small step back. “Y-you… don’t… don’t bully me! Please… just… go away!”

Haruto’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t step back. Instead, he gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Sakura… I know what you’re thinking. I used to be a bully. I’m… not that person anymore.”

Sakura's hands shook. "W-What?"

"I've changed Sakura. I promise" Haruto said, trying to state the truth.

Sakura’s eyes widened. “Y-you… changed? You… really changed?”

Haruto nodded slowly, his gaze steady. “I realized a long time ago, back in middle school… bullying isn’t a game. It hurts people. It hurts their feelings. I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore. Not you. Not anyone.”

Sakura’s mind spun. Part of her wanted to flee, like the old instinct that had saved her from him in the past. But another part… a part she hadn’t expected… felt a strange warmth, a sense of relief she hadn’t felt in years.

“I… I don’t know if I can fully… trust you yet,” she admitted softly, biting her lip.

"I understand that. I hurt your feelings, and I don't deserve your trust yet." Haruto said, his voice low and tired.

“Wait... w-what I meant to say is that… I... I want to… try.”

Haruto’s smile widened just slightly, but he didn’t push. “Really? That’s all I ask. Take your time. I’ll prove it to you, Sakura. I'll prove to you that I have changed.”

She nodded, wiping her remaining tears and taking a shaky breath. The fear that had gripped her chest moments ago loosened just enough to let a small glimmer of hope in. Though she didn’t say it out loud, a part of her wanted to believe him… wanted to see if the boy who had once been her greatest tormentor could really be someone she could trust.

For the first time that day, Sakura felt a flicker of something new: a cautious, trembling sense of relief, and maybe, just maybe, the beginning of a second chance.

—

Haruto eventually gestured toward the doorway. “Come on, I’ll show you around,” he said, his tone casual but warm.

Sakura hesitated for a moment, then nodded, clutching her bag straps tightly. “O-okay…”

As they stepped into the hallway, the noise of bustling students felt slightly less intimidating with him beside her. He pointed out the locations of the library, the cafeteria, the gym, and the clubs. He even mentioned where the best places were to get a quiet spot for studying.

Sakura followed closely, her eyes drifting to him every few steps. He… he’s really different, she thought. The boy she remembered from elementary school, the one who teased her relentlessly, who had always made her stomach knot in fear, was gone. In his place was someone who smiled easily, spoke kindly to strangers, and even joked lightly about the confusing school layout.

“Here’s the library,” Haruto said, stopping at a large set of glass doors. “It’s usually quiet in the mornings. You can go here if you want some peace, away from… well, everything else.” He shot her a friendly grin, as if he could sense her nervous thoughts.

Sakura’s cheeks flushed slightly. He’s… really changed. He’s not scary at all… he’s… kind? Friendly? She shook her head softly, trying to focus on his words instead of how surprised she was. I can’t believe this is the same Haruto Shinohara I knew…

As they continued down the hallway, she noticed small details: how he greeted passing students politely, how he gestured respectfully to the teachers they passed, and how he seemed genuinely considerate of her pace and comfort. Every little gesture made her heart skip just a little.

Did he… always have this side? Or is this all new? she thought, confused and yet oddly relieved. I prayed this day wouldn’t get worse… and maybe, somehow… it’s getting better?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Haruto pointing to the next classroom. “And this is where your next class will be. If you ever get lost, just ask. I’m usually around.”

Sakura nodded, still quiet, cheeks still warm. “T-thank you… for showing me around,” she murmured.

“No problem,” he replied with a shrug, smiling easily. “It’s no trouble at all.”

As they paused at the doorway, Sakura’s heart thumped in her chest. She still didn’t fully trust him, not yet, but a small part of her wanted to. Wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, the boy she had feared for so long could really be someone she could count on.

And for the first time that morning, she allowed herself a small, cautious hope.