A Kiss and a Lie

“Oh dear… Haruto…”

—Ah.

Oh, crap.

Did he hear anything?

That couldn’t be right. I was talking to myself… and barely even above a whisper.

There’s no way he heard me.

Kaori’s heart skipped a beat as she slowly turned her gaze toward the boy lying beside her bed. Her breath caught in her throat.

He was still there.

Still asleep.

His chest rose and fell gently, his face calm and completely unbothered—as if the storm outside and the storm inside her didn’t exist at all.

“…What a relief,” she murmured under her breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “I really worried for nothing…”

But then—

Wait.

Wait, wait, wait.

Her eyes widened.

If he was calling her name… while he was asleep…

“…then that means…”

A faint blush crept across her cheeks, spreading quickly until her entire face turned red.

“…he saw me in his dream…?”

Her hands flew up to her face, covering it instantly.

“S-Seriously…? What kind of dream was it…?”

Her thoughts spiraled out of control, imagination running wild without permission.

Kaori shook her head violently.

“No, no, no! I shouldn’t think about that!”

But the more she tried to stop, the worse it became.

Her heart pounded louder.

Her face burned hotter.

“I have to get away from him… right now… before I do something reckless…”

She peeked at him again.

Still sleeping.

Still peaceful.

Still… dangerously close.

“If he stays here any longer…” she whispered, gripping the bedsheet tightly, “I’m going to lose my mind…”

Taking a deep breath, she gathered all her courage—and then suddenly shouted,

“Hey, you idiot! How long do you plan to sleep here?!”

Haruto flinched.

His eyes slowly opened, still heavy with sleep.

“…Geez…” he groaned, stretching lazily. “What’s the problem if I stay here? I don’t have any problem sleeping like this…”

“I do!” Kaori snapped immediately.

Her voice came out sharper than she intended, but she didn’t bother correcting herself.

Haruto sat up, rubbing the back of his head.

“Ah… right. Sorry about that,” he said casually. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Then, with a small smile, he added,

“By the way… thanks for the blanket. It was really warm.”

“And more importantly…” he continued, his tone teasing now, “it smelled really nice. It smelled just like you.”

“…!”

Her entire body stiffened.

“O-Of course it smells like me! It’s my blanket!” she shouted, trying to hide her embarrassment. “And what were you even doing last night anyway?!”

Haruto shrugged.

“What do you think? Watching anime late at night, obviously.”

“You idiot…” she muttered, exasperated. “You’ll never change. Now get out of here.”

Haruto glanced toward the window.

Rain poured heavily outside, droplets hitting the glass in a steady rhythm.

“…You see that?” he said. “It’s still raining. I’ll catch a cold if I go out now.”

“Then take my umbrella,” Kaori replied quickly. “Just go already.”

Haruto paused for a moment… then grinned.

“I’ll go… on one condition.”

“Condition rejected,” she said instantly. “I’m not listening.”

“Hey, at least hear it first before rejecting it,” he said, laughing softly. “Are you free this Saturday?”

Kaori didn’t even hesitate.

“No. Not at all. Exams are coming soon, and I actually have to study,” she replied firmly. “I’m not a ‘smart genius’ like you who can get good marks without studying.”

There was a brief silence.

Then—

“Alright then,” Haruto said casually. “Let’s go on a date this Saturday.”

“…What?”

Kaori blinked.

“Did you even listen to what I just said?!” she snapped.

“Of course I did,” he replied calmly. “And based on that, I’ve decided—you’re going on a date with me this Saturday.”

“You idiot! That’s not how listening works!”

“What’s the problem?” he said with a light shrug. “It’s just one day.”

“I don’t want to hear your nonsense anymore!” Kaori turned away, crossing her arms. “I’ll be satisfied if you just leave.”

Haruto stared at her for a moment.

Then his expression softened.

“…You know,” he said quietly, “I’ll still be waiting. Whether you come or not.”

Kaori’s shoulders tensed.

“I don’t know what kind of future is waiting for us,” he continued, a faint smile on his lips. “But no matter what you choose… in the end…”

He stood up, grabbing his bag.

“I’ll always stay by your side.”

Kaori didn’t turn around.

“…Take care of yourself.”

“…Idiot,” she muttered under her breath.

“Okay! Bye-bye!” Haruto waved casually as he walked toward the door.

“Wait!” Kaori called out instinctively. “At least take the umbrella!”

He paused at the entrance, glancing back.

“…No need,” he said with a grin. “There’s only one. You’ll probably need it more.”

And just like that—

He left.

The door closed.

And the room fell silent once again.

Only the sound of rain remained.

By the time Haruto reached home, he was completely soaked.

He pressed the doorbell.

A moment later, the door swung open.

“Do you even know what time it is?” his older sister snapped immediately. “What were you doing outside at this hour?”

Haruto sighed.

“What do you think? I was at Kaori’s place.”

Her expression changed instantly.

“…Oh my~” she said, her tone suddenly playful. “And what exactly were you doing with her  at this hour, you little troublemaker naughty boy?”

“Maaam!” she called out loudly. “Look at what your son is doing!”

“Will you shut up?” Haruto groaned. “Clear your dirty mind. She’s sick. That’s why I stayed there for a while.”

Their mother appeared from inside, concern evident on her face.

“Is she alright?” she asked gently. “What happened to her?”

Kaori had been part of their lives for so long that she was practically family.

“She’ll be fine,” Haruto replied. “It’s nothing serious.”

“I see…” his mother nodded, relieved. “That’s good.”

Then she noticed his wet clothes.

“You’re completely soaked. Go take a shower. I’ll prepare dinner.”

“I’ll pass on dinner,” he said, already heading toward his room. “Just need a shower.”

Warm water ran down his back.

“…That feels good,” Haruto muttered, letting out a relaxed sigh.

After changing into dry clothes, he sat down at his desk.

Books open.

Pen in hand.

“…Time to study.”

He stared at the math problems in front of him.

But then—

“…‘I’m not a smart genius like you who can get good marks without studying.’”

Kaori’s voice echoed in his mind.

Haruto scoffed.

“Smart, my ass…” he muttered. “I have to study like crazy just to keep up.”

He tightened his grip on the pen.

“I don’t want her to regret anything…”

The room grew quiet.

“I don’t want her to ever feel like choosing me was a mistake.”

He began solving problems again, more focused than before.

“I can endure anything… if it’s for her.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“…Maybe… there’ll come a future where I get to marry her.”

The thought lingered.

Warm.

Hopeful.

Dangerous.

“…Yeah.”

Time passed.

The clock ticked steadily.

“…It’s late,” he finally muttered, stretching. “If I don’t sleep now, I won’t wake up for school.”

He turned off the light.

And lay down.

But even as he closed his eyes—

A certain girl remained in his thoughts.

Meanwhile—

Kaori lay on her bed, face buried deep into her pillow.

“…He finally asked me on a date…”

Her voice was muffled.

Her heart restless.

“What am I supposed to do…?”

She turned slightly, gripping the pillow tighter.

“I said no…”

But—

“…why does it feel like I already know I’ll go…?”

Her face burned again.

“…Idiot…”

Outside, the rain continued to fall.

As if it knew—

Something was about to change.