Chapter 10: The Shifting Heart

A day after the chaos in the Heartbreak Society room, my mind was still far from calm. To clear my head, I headed to a supermarket near campus. But as I was navigating the beverage aisle, I accidentally collided with someone.

"I’m so sorry! I wasn't looking!" I blurted out.

"It’s quite alright. I wasn't paying attention either," the woman replied with a composed grace.

We both leaned down to retrieve the items that had scattered across the floor. As I looked up, I realized the woman was staring at me—intently, for a long beat too long.

"By any chance... have we met before?" she asked.

I furrowed my brows, trying to place her face.

"Wait... are you Mitsuzu-chan? My little brother’s friend from high school?"

I blinked in surprise. "Yes... but how did you know?"

The woman’s face broke into a broad, radiant grin. "Wow! It really has been a long time, hasn't it, Mitsuzu-chan!"

I still couldn't quite place her, but there was an unmistakable aura about her—one that felt strikingly similar to Kengo-kun.

"My name is Harumasa Hitomi," she said, her voice full of authority. "I’m Harumasa Kengo’s older sister. Did you forget? We crossed paths once back in high school, though we didn't really get a chance to talk."

I stood frozen. So this is Kengo-kun’s sister.

She was right; we had met briefly. Back then, she had only stopped me to ask for directions to a specific classroom.

"How have you been? Healthy?" she asked warmly.

"Yes," I replied quickly, clutching my shopping basket.

"Anyway, Mitsuzu-chan, I heard you’re in the same department as that foolish brother of mine?"

"Yes, that’s correct," I answered, trying to remain calm.

"Does he cause a lot of trouble? Is he being a nuisance?"

"N-no, not at all. Actually, he’s constantly helping people," I said, defending him before I even realized I was doing it.

"Heeh? Is that so? Don't tell me you two have grown close?" she teased, a mischievous glint in her golden eyes.

"I-it’s nothing like that! We’re just friends!" I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

"I see..." she murmured, her smile becoming heavy with meaning.

Our conversation eventually migrated to a nearby cafe. Over coffee, Hitomi mentioned that after Kengo graduated high school, she had moved abroad for work. Meanwhile, Kengo had been living at home with only his younger sister for company.

"Goodness, I really wish he’d just get a girlfriend already," she said bluntly, leaning back in her chair. "I’ve always wanted a younger sister-in-law."

I nearly choked on my drink. But there was a nagging question in the back of my mind that I couldn't suppress.

"It’s a shame, isn't it?" I said softly. "Kengo-kun is the type who could easily get a beautiful girlfriend if he wanted to."

Hitomi suddenly went quiet. The playful energy vanished.

"He probably won't change back to the way he was... not after that person."

My chest tightened. "What do you mean?" I asked cautiously.

"It’s all in the past now," she replied shortly, her gaze drifting toward the window. "But Kengo used to be so cheerful. He was always smiling. He wasn't like the person he is today."

Her words sent my thoughts spiraling back in time.

FLASHBACK — High School Years

I remember it vividly.

Back then, Kengo was known as the school’s "Harem King." He was notorious for sending letters to countless girls and confessing his feelings to several—including me. However, I had a boyfriend at the time, so I turned him down.

And then, a single name appeared that changed everything.

Akito Isuzu.

She was an elegant girl with long purple hair and eyes the color of pale amethysts. Her beauty was so profound it left the entire school breathless. Boys would stare at her, mesmerized, whenever she walked by.

But beneath that stunning visage, Akito was known for being cold—viciously so.

"Akito-chan, would you like to grab some tea after school?" a student had once asked her, trembling with nerves.

"I’m sorry. People like you should really learn their place," she had replied icily.

She would offer a thin, razor-sharp smile and walk away, leaving a trail of humiliated boys in her wake. The rumors about her were everywhere.

"I heard she’s rejected dozens of guys." "They say she once completely broke a teacher's spirit." "Don't talk too loud, she might hear you!"

I was shocked by the stories. But all those rumors shattered the day I witnessed something I never expected.

"Darliiing!"

Akito was running—actually running—with a high-pitched, spoiled voice. And the person she was sprinting toward was Harumasa Kengo.

The entire school was in an uproar. "Are you kidding me?" "Why would the Ice Queen choose that harem guy?"

I watched them walk hand-in-hand, looking for all the world like a genuine, lovestruck couple. During PE class, Kengo competed in a sprint.

"Kengo-kun, do your best!" Akito would cheer from the sidelines.

That day, Kengo won. Akito immediately threw her arms around him in front of everyone. Cheers filled the field, fueled by the intense envy of every boy present.

Yet, for some reason, I felt a knot in my stomach. Akito’s smile felt... too perfect. It was as if she were hiding something sinister behind that sweet facade.

And after that period... Kengo changed.

Present Day

"Mitsuzu-chan?"

I snapped out of it. Hitomi was calling my name; I realized I had been lost in thought for a long time.

"I’m sorry," I whispered.

We parted ways shortly after. As I walked home, one thought continued to loop through my mind.

If that person really was Akito Isuzu—then Kengo’s heart might have been shattered in a way he’s never told anyone. And if that’s true, then what I’m facing now isn't just a simple case of jealousy.

I’m up against an old wound that hasn't even begun to heal.