Destined

Koharu's POV

Talk about an efficient boyfriend. Yuzu promised to be quick as a bunny, but maybe Japanese bunnies were tortoises.

Hurry up, you fool, it's creepy here.

Funny, it seemed pretty serene and peaceful here just an hour ago, but the only vibe this place is giving out is the feeling of uneasiness and fear.

Like something was going to happen.

A soft woof startles me, and I nearly jump.

A tiny black puppy wags its tail excitedly at me, his tongue hanging.

I smile to myself, bending down to pet it.

But the puppy backs away before I can touch him, and I nearly fall over.

"What do you want?" I grumble.

The puppy runs down the path, and stops, turning.

Is it asking me to follow him?

Somehow I feel as though this is important, and I just follow.

A normal Koharu wouldn't follow black puppies in the dark.

Then again, a normal Koharu wouldn't have found such a great boyfriend.

The puppy dashes into a corner, and I run, heaving the basket as I try to keep up with the bundle of cuteness.

"Hey, wait," I call, but I freeze in my tracks.

I hear a yell of agony, and as much as I don't want to admit it, it sounds too familiar.

Way too familiar.

My heart pounds, and blood is rushing in my ear as I follow the puppy into a small alleyway.

In the darkness, with a tiny street lamp at the end of the alley, there are two silhouettes, one of them sliding down the wall with a groan of pain, something suspiciously like a knife sticking out of his chest.

My feet refuse to move as my eyes water, frozen and stuck to the spot.

The words I hear next chill me to the bone.

"I liked Koharu ever since I saw her when we were young in Sendai. And you've taken her too. I'll take what was mine back. You didn't deserve this, you didn't know how hard I worked to get where I am. I'll stop you from stealing my career, I'll stop you from stealing Koharu."

As much as I want to deny it, there's no doubt that the figure who stabbed Yuzu is Tadashi.

My mind flashes back to the small boy with spiky hair back in Sendai.

In the small corner of our classroom, always being teased and bullied.

Tadashi-kun, who collided with Yuzu a week before.

Tadashi-kun, who showered me with accidental souvenirs.

Nakamura, who stabbed the love of my life.

The spell of shock suddenly lifts, and the puppy nudges my leg. I step into the alleyway, shocked for a moment by the amount of blood staining Yuzu's pristine shirt.

Nakamura freezes, his dark eyes trained on me.

The black puppy barks at Nakamura, who jumps in fear.