Chapter 11: A Heart Cracked Like Glass

That night, after my encounter with Hitomi-san, the memories refused to let me sleep.

Lying atop my soft covers, my mind drifted back to the Kengo I knew in high school. I could still see him so clearly—vibrant, unburdened, his laughter echoing through the halls. Back then, Kengo and Akito seemed like the pinnacle of happiness, a couple so perfectly in sync that they became the target of everyone’s envy.

"That harem guy really hit the jackpot," the boys would grumble. "I guess all those rejections finally paid off!"

Hearing those comments always stirred a strange, sinking feeling in my gut. Something inside me wanted to warn Kengo about that woman, but the words felt like lead in my throat. If I spoke up without proof, I’d just be branded as the jealous girl trying to sabotage a perfect romance.

FLASHBACK — High School Years

In the school cafeteria, the scene was always the same.

"Darling, what do you want to eat today?" Akito would ask, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "I brought my own lunch, and I actually made some for you too!" Kengo would reply, beaming. "Waah, Darling, you're amazing! You really are the perfect boyfriend!"

The entire student body watched them, some with admiration, most with bitter jealousy.

One afternoon, while Akito stepped away to the vending machines, Kukichi—a quiet boy with black hair and glasses—approached Kengo.

"Kengo-kun, you're a lucky man to land someone that beautiful." "It’s all about persistence, Kukichi. I’m sure you’ll find a great girlfriend too," Kengo answered casually, his eyes bright. "I hope so. By the way, did you win that gacha pull last night?" "Oh, man, I pulled Souji! My luck is finally turning around!"

Their conversation devolved into gaming talk I didn't quite understand, but the urge to intervene remained. Yet, my confidence failed me again.

After school, I took my usual route home and spotted Kengo sitting alone by an alleyway. I ducked behind a utility pole to watch.

"Puss, puss... over here. I brought your favorite!"

He was feeding a stray mother cat. A soft, genuine smile played on his lips as he stroked her fur. "You're so cute," he whispered.

In that moment, I realized the rumors were wrong. He wasn't some shallow, flirtatious "harem guy." He was gentle. He was kind. And perhaps, back then, he was just incredibly lonely. He only wanted someone to stand by his side. For him, Akito was the answer to that loneliness.

The following day, the sky was a bruised purple. A bad omen.

Despite the sunny forecast, a light drizzle began to fall as I arrived at school. Inside the classroom, I tried to keep things normal.

"Kurumi, morning!" Shion chirped. "Morning, Shion. You're early today." Shion laughed. "I've been up since four a.m., so I figured I might as well come in."

The bell rang, but Kengo’s seat was empty. I couldn't stop glancing at the door. "Kurumi-chan, what's up? You look anxious," Shion teased. "Ehh, I'm fine." "Watch out, or Kusakabe will get jealous if you worry about other guys!" "I told you, I'm not worrying about anyone!"

Suddenly, the door swung open. Kengo walked in, drenched to the bone. The class erupted in laughter, but I didn't join them. He brushed it off, claiming he’d just run through the rain without an umbrella. I knew he was lying.

During the break, Akito leaned over him. "Darling, I heard you ran through the rain for me. Is it true?" "Don't worry about it, Akito," he replied softly.

By the time school ended, the drizzle had turned into a torrential downpour. Students were huddled in the entrance, waiting for the rain to let up. Shion invited me to play volleyball, but my attention was caught by Akito entering the sports equipment storage room with a group of other girls.

Following a gut instinct, I hovered near the door. I heard them laughing.

"Akito, do you actually love that weirdo?" "Aren't you worried your reputation will take a hit?"

Akito’s laughter was sharp, like breaking glass. "Idiots. Who would actually date a loser like that? I only went along with it because he's naive and easy to mess with." "But he does everything for you!" "Who cares? He’s just a clown for my entertainment."

My blood ran cold. But I wasn't the only one listening.

The door creaked open. Kengo stood there, his shadow long against the floor. "Darling? What are you doing here?" Akito’s voice faltered. "So it's true... I was just a toy to you?" Kengo’s voice sounded hollow, stripped of all its usual warmth. "Darling, I didn't mean—" "Enough!"

A crack of thunder punctuated his shout. He turned and sprinted into the storm. "Kengo-kun!" I cried out, chasing after him. "Leave me alone!" "But—" "I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!"

He roared at me, his eyes full of a pain I couldn't comprehend. Their relationship died that day, right there in the rain.

Later, I went to the spot where he fed the cats. The box was empty. An elderly woman nearby spoke up. "That boy brought all the kittens to my house this morning while running in the rain. He said he didn't mind being late as long as they were safe."

I stood there, speechless. "He’s always helping the little things," she added.

Kengo missed school for several days with a fever. When he finally returned, he was a different person. I tried to greet him. "Kengo-kun, good morning?"

No answer. His gaze was cold, distant. Like glass that had been shattered—it was still there, but it would never be the same again. I wrote him letters, invited him to movies. No reply. By graduation, he was a ghost, avoiding everyone.

"Kengo-kun, Nanami-san is streaming again! Let's watch!" Kukichi invited him on their last day. "Good idea. Let's go."

He had chosen another world. A digital one. A safe one.

PRESENT DAY

I opened my eyes in the dark of my room. Everything made sense now.

His icy demeanor when he first stood at the front of our university class... The hollow look in his eyes when he listened to people’s problems in the Heartbreak Society... The way he spoke with cold, clinical logic, as if feelings were just a theory to be dissected...

None of it was an act. He didn't change because he wanted to look cool. He didn't become cold because he hated love. He became this way because he had once believed in it with his whole heart. And when that belief was decimated, something inside him snapped.

A heart cracked like glass. It looks solid from the outside. It can still reflect the light. But if you touch it too hard, it will crumble into a thousand sharp pieces.

I understand now. I wasn't looking at a man who didn't believe in love. I was looking at a man who had been hurt far too deeply.

If I’m going to stand by his side, I have to be ready to accept those cracks. Not to force them shut, but to make sure that this time... his heart never has to shatter again.