Where do we go from here?

-After that, Aoi gave us all a good stern talking to. We were back at the villa.

"We're so sorry!" The group spoke in unison.

They had just been caught spying on Aoi and Shuchin, who were sharing an intimate moment. Reina raised her head; the look on her face was dejected.

"This was my fault."

In all honesty, she was the one to blame. She had caused a scene, and that's what had gotten them caught. Futoshi scoffed:

"You really are an idiot."

The two- now face-to-face biquered. Rin, who was now sitting on the couch, coughed, getting the attention of the group. Her gaze was lowered.
Haruto sat next to her. He had yet to apologize for his prior outburst. 

"So, Ojino-"

"Just call me Rin, it's not like we're strangers anymore."

 Her tone was monotone, like she didn't care. Getting to call someone by their first name was a sign of closeness; it made Haruto blush slightly. He scratched his cheek.

"R-right, Rin. Could we maybe... like, talk?"

She folded her arms, not giving him the grace to look in his eye. 

"What's there to talk about?"

She posed a question - one that didn't need an answer. Haruto's eyes quivered slightly. After all, he had labelled her as just a 'rich girl' without taking into account what pain she might have had to endure.

"About earlier...."

"When you blew up in my face, when I was trying to help?"

"-Yeah, that's it."

His voice hitched between breaths. He had already felt guilty for what he had done, but hearing it directly from her must have solidified that regret. 

Are they seriously gonna do it here?

Sensing the situation, Futoshi grabbed a hold of Reina, dragging her into a different room.

"Cmon. Let's give the two love birds some privacy."

"Hey, don't pull on me, Futoshi!"

Before they had left the room, Reina and Futoshi had shot a smile in the two's direction. They had to make up. 

"Hajime-san, Yamada-kun, you guys too"

Aoi and Shuchin followed suit, leaving the room. 

                                                                                         ***

It was quiet.

The only thing audible in the room was the birds chirping from outside.

"This place is really beautiful, isn't it?"

Haruto opened with a question. He had been sitting curled up. Rin, on the other hand, had been sitting up straight. This was common etiquette for people of higher stature, so it must've been ingrained within her.

"You hurt me, y'know?"

"..."

Haruto opened his mouth to speak, although nothing came out. All he could do was nod.

"But I know you must've been hurting even more. Why didn't you tell us before?"

"I was embarrassed." 

Before he had entered high school, his best friend had undoubtedly been Shuchin. They were practically inseparable, doing almost everything together.
That was until Shuchin betrayed him for Miku-chan, a name which didn't hold any significance until recently. 

"I was more hurt that you couldn't tell me. "

Haruto nodded once more.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lashing out at you as well."

"I was just trying to help, I care about you after all."

"Yeah, I know."

He turned to Rin, who had been twiddling her thumbs.

"So, you wanted to tell us something?"

As he said that, Rin's eyes widened before dropping to her feet.

"It's about my past."

"I had been born into a rich family, as you know. But believe me, it wasn't as nice as you think."

"...How so?"

Rin looked at Haruto, her gaze sharpened.

"I had to perform. That's when the mask first appeared. To be honest, I don't think you'd like the real me."

"And that thought... it scares me."

Rin continued:

"I'm not the nice girl you think I am. I shout, I get mad easily, in fact, I'm mad at you right now."

She pouted. 

Haruto shook his head, his lip curled.

"I don't expect you to be. To be honest, I'd prefer you not be."

That answer shocked Rin. How could it be that the person in front of her could say such things while being so calm? That was the question she asked herself.

He snapped his fingers.

"Plus, I like all of you."

Rin rolled her eyes.

"Too much."

"Thought so."

The two sat there in silence. Not one of them spoke for at least a minute. In that time, Haruto had grabbed Rin's hand. 

Surprisingly to him, she didn't move away. 

She glared at him, not with anger, but with comfort.

"Thank you, Haruto."

"Thank me? I haven't done anything."

She shook her head, smiling.

"Cmon, this is no time to be selfless."

He looked up at the ceiling, still with his hand in hers.

"Who woulda thought, the pliote girl was a lie."

Then, he chuckled to himself. 

"It was obvious, no one's ever that nice."

"No more hiding things from each other, ok?"

"...yeah."

The two sat there gazing through the open window. The beautiful blue sky had now turned an inky black. The stars in the sky shimmered.

"Which one do you think you are?" Haruto asked. 

In the distance, there was a star that shone brighter than the rest, as if it had lit up the rest of them.

"Because I think you're that one."

He had pointed to the star, smiling intently. Rin tilted her head. 

"Why?"

He shot an open smile, one that was full of warmth. 

"Because you shine the brightest."

Rin covered her mouth, chuckling. 

"That was... so cringe. But that suits you."

Rin played along, pointing at a star in the distance. It had a darkened edge to it.

"Then you're that one."

"Am  I?"

"Because I'm light and you're dark. Opposites attract."

He shot her a look of disgust. 

"Too cheesy?"

"Yeah, very much so."

"Noted."

Then he turned to Rin.  He bit his tongue.

"Rin, there's been something I've been trying not to say."

His expression hardened.

She cocked her head.

His gaze had narrowed, and his brow furrowed. 

Taking in a deep breath, he spoke:

"I love you."