Chapter 39: Begging
Haruto shook his head firmly at Azame’s offer. "I’m good. Thanks though." He adjusted his school bag strap and gave her a polite but dismissive wave. "If Ryouta’s got beef with me, then that’s something I gotta handle myself, you know? Can’t have someone else fighting my battles."
Azame looked like she wanted to argue, her eyebrows furrowing in that stubborn way she had when she disagreed with something. But Haruto was already backing away, his breath forming small clouds in the cold air. "Look, I appreciate you wanting to help and all, but this is just how it’s gotta be. See you tomorrow, okay?"
He turned and walked away before she could protest further, hearing her frustrated sigh behind him. The snow crunched under his shoes as he made his way down the familiar path home. It was the same route he’d taken every day for the past two years – past the convenience store where the old man always nodded at him, past that weird house with all the garden gnomes, and finally through the narrow alley that served as a shortcut to his neighborhood.
The alley was always quiet this time of day. Most people took the main road since it was better lit and wider, but Haruto liked the peaceful atmosphere here. The snow had piled up pretty thick on both sides, creating these weird little walls that made everything feel muffled and separate from the rest of the world. His footsteps echoed softly off the buildings on either side.
Then he saw her.
At first, it was just a silhouette standing at the far end of the alley, but even from a distance, something about the way she stood made his heart skip. The posture was too familiar, too recognizable. As he got closer, the streetlight caught her profile, and there was no mistaking it.
"Akiko?" The name came out barely above a whisper, like he was afraid saying it too loud would make her disappear.
She turned toward him, and damn if his chest didn’t tighten up seeing her face again. Those dark eyes that always seemed to look right through him, the way her hair fell over her shoulders, even the slight tilt of her head when she was thinking about something. It had only been a few weeks since they’d last talked, but it felt like way longer.
"I knew you’d come this way," she said softly, taking a step toward him. "You always did like taking the quiet route home."
Haruto felt his mouth go dry. "What are you doing here? I thought we agreed that—"