Starting a new chapter in his life as a student in Tokyo, Haru never expected his world to be turned upside down. Across the street, he encounters Fujiwara, an aloof and enigmatic young man with a mysterious past. As Haru grapples with unfamiliar em...
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Chie noticed that Haru was still down that day.
"What's up with you?" she groaned, unable to take it anymore. "It's like sitting next to a statue that sighs every five minutes, you know!"
Haru furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
"You and your sudden gloominess!" Chie advised herself to stay calm. "Who's on your mind?"
"Who's on whose mind?"
"What's bothering you!"
"What's bothering me?"
"If you keep answering with questions, I swear I'll punch you!" Chie couldn't help but feel impatient. Her patience was wearing thin. Besides, she did intend to find out, as Ne-chan advised her.
"I can tell you're upset," Chie continued. "Everything else in your life seems fine, so I'm guessing it's about romance. Am I right?"
Haru twirled his pen and sighed. "Maybe."
"Maybe?" Chie had hoped Haru would deny it, but it seemed her guess was accurate. "You've got a crush, haven't you?"
"I... I'm confused," Haru confessed. "I've made a mess of everything."
"You made a mess on your crush? What does that suppose to mean?"
"No, not like that. It's just... I'm still not sure what I feel."
Chie was about to ask again, but Kawafuji suddenly appeared beside their table. Today, their classmate wore a cute peach-colored blouse. She smiled kindly at Chie and approached Haru.
"Hey, Nakano, can I have a moment of your time during lunch?" asked Kawafuji. "There's something I want to tell you."
Whether distracted or nervous, Haru just mumbled a yes. Kawafuji squealed happily and went back to her group. Every now and then, she glanced at Haru, then whispered secretly to her friends.
Chie studied Kawafuji, her suspicion grew. It felt like she knew what was going to happen. The lecturer arrived, and the other students quickly took their seats.
"Ah..." Haru sighed once more. "I think Kawafuji's going to confess later."
"I have a feeling too. You've been quite the center of attention lately," Chie remarked.
"I guess," Haru grumbled. He jotted down today's date and the slide title, then tossed his pen aside. "I don't know why."
Chie knew the reason. Ever since Oda had the guts to confess to Haru in the park, other girls felt emboldened. They, too, were now motivated to express their feelings. Chie had overheard these girls in some extra classes they shared, listening in on their conversations. According to them, Haru was "kakkoi" – cool. His quiet but friendly demeanor, his lean, muscular physique, his innocent, boyish face, and his slightly distant gaze made him a dream guy. Haru's dark skin tone was also a draw – the girls found him exotic, like an albino peacock at the zoo.
