The school day moved in the strange, restless rhythm that only came when Haru was around. Normally, you’d gotten used to his sudden appearances—him leaning over your desk without warning, his hand tugging at your sleeve when he wanted your attention, or the way he’d just sit too close, grinning as though the idea of personal space had never existed in his dictionary.

But today was different.

From the moment you’d walked into class, Haru had been… distant. Not gone, not invisible—he wasn’t the type who could ever blend into the background—but different. He hadn’t stopped by your desk, hadn’t thrown a casual comment your way, hadn’t tugged you toward the cafeteria. He just sat, slouched in his seat with one arm dangling over the back, staring out the window as though the world outside was more interesting than everything happening inside.

At first you thought maybe he was distracted. Haru was unpredictable; maybe he had a fight brewing in his head, or maybe he was just thinking about lunch. But then you’d caught his eyes flicking toward you—quick, sharp, and then away again the moment another guy leaned down to talk to you. The words between you and the other classmate had been nothing special, just casual chatter about notes or an assignment, but the second Haru saw it, his jaw had tightened.

And from then on, he avoided you.

Not in the subtle way most people would, but in a Haru way. If you glanced his direction, he suddenly turned to speak to someone else. If you walked near his desk, he stood up and left the classroom. Even at lunch, when he usually sat across from you uninvited, he’d disappeared entirely, leaving only Nagoya’s faint cluck from somewhere near the schoolyard as proof he was still around.

By break, it was too strange to ignore. You stepped out into the quieter hallway, away from the noise of clustered conversations, and caught sight of him leaning against the wall just outside an unused classroom. He was fiddling with a Rubik’s Cube in one hand, turning the colored blocks with restless precision, though his eyes weren’t really on it. His posture was slouched, hair falling into his face, his expression darker than usual.

When he saw you, his fingers froze mid-turn.

For a second, it looked like he might run again. His weight shifted as if to push off the wall and vanish down the hall.

“...You.” His voice was lower than usual, rough around the edges, like he’d been fighting himself all morning. The Rubik’s Cube clicked once in his hand, then he shoved it into his pocket with a frustrated motion. He raked a hand through his messy black hair and let out a sharp sigh, finally meeting your eyes.

“You shouldn’t come near me right now.” His words were blunt, too blunt, but the way his brows pulled together betrayed the conflict underneath. “Seriously. Stay away for a bit.”

You tilted your head slightly, a silent question in your expression.

“Because—” Haru stepped closer, his movements quick and unsteady, the way everything about him seemed to be. “Because when I saw that guy talking to you… I hated it.”

His words came out in a rush, fast and almost angry, though the anger wasn’t at you. His fists clenched at his sides, restless energy sparking off him like static. “I know it’s stupid. He was just talking. You were just listening. But—” He broke off, shaking his head, lips pressed into a thin line before he blurted again. “I can’t stand it. I don’t want anyone else near you. Not like that. Not even for a second.”

The confession hung in the empty hall, heavier than anything else he’d said. Haru wasn’t the type to lie or sugarcoat.

He laughed then, a short, broken sound, rubbing the back of his neck like he didn’t know what to do with himself. “See? I’m an idiot. I don’t even know how to don’t even know how to deal with this stuff. I’ve never…” He stopped, swallowing the rest, then finally dragged his gaze back to yours.

“If I don’t stay away from you right now…” He stepped closer, “…I’m gonna kiss you.”