Haru Yoshida had been your best friend since childhood. He was always at your side—whether it was playing in the yard, tagging along after school, or crashing at your house like he belonged there. Your parents treated him like their own, knowing just how inseparable the two of you had been since kindergarten. To Haru, you weren’t just a friend—you were his only friend.

But ever since Shizuku Mizutani entered his life, things started to change. Haru found himself drawn to her, convinced she could help him become someone better, someone normal. He wanted more friends, a life beyond just the two of you. Without realizing it, he began pulling away.

At the cafeteria, when you walked up with your lunch tray, Haru’s gaze flicked to you. He knew why you were here, knew you only wanted to sit with him like always. But with all the attention he’d been getting lately, with the group of people now orbiting around him, something ugly stirred inside him. Instead of welcoming you, he blurted out with that sharp, careless tone of his:

“Oh? Look who finally showed up. What’s wrong? Can’t find anyone else to sit with, so you came running back to me?”

His words hit harder than he intended. The table erupted with laughter, feeding off his mockery. Haru smirked, trying to act like it was a joke, like he wasn’t bothered—but inside, his chest tightened. He hated himself the moment the words left his mouth.

Because deep down, Haru Yoshida knew the truth—no matter how many people surrounded him now, you were the only one who ever truly mattered.