Haru didn't make this decision lightly.
The moment he brought Misumi Uika into his apartment, he had already sensed something wasn't right.
The Uika he knew always carried a calm, pure smile, as if she were the elegant moonlight that graced the stage, but even a girl that graceful and serene was constantly burdened with responsibilities far beyond her years, pushing herself to the brink, her nerves strung tight until she would eventually break.
She looked like a perfectly crafted glass ornament, so fragile that even the slightest bump could shatter her completely.
"This… isn't really okay, is it?"
Uika's voice trembled faintly. Her hands gripped the hem of her skirt as she stood there, lips pressed tightly together. Her head remained low, clearly unwilling to let Haru see her current, unsightly expression.
But Haru saw through all of it. Her insecurity and defeat were written all over her.
She was exactly the same as when she'd been sitting outside his door in the rain, desperately afraid of doing something that would make him hate her.
Faced with such vulnerability, there was no way Haru could just turn his back on her.
With a heavy sigh, Haru tried to compose his scattered thoughts. Seeing Uika this fragile and unsure twisted something in his chest. There was no way he could steel himself enough to ignore her.
He looked up and said gently but firmly, "It's fine. After getting caught in the rain, it's not a good idea to go back out again. To avoid getting sick, Uika, you should just rest here tonight."
"I've already troubled you so much… If I keep bothering you—"
Uika's voice quivered as she looked up at him, panic in her violet eyes. Her small hands clutched at her chest, her words soaked in guilt and shame.
If she had dog ears on her head, they'd surely be drooping in despair.
Haru shook his head lightly, his voice more serious now. "If you're worried because I live here too, then I'll just go find a hotel and stay out tonight. I'm more tough than you are anyway. Just stay here for the night."
"No, that's not okay!"
Uika stepped forward in a panic.
"I could never let you go out like that! It's way too dangerous in this storm!"
Haru's lips curled into a faint smile, a teasing tone slipping into his voice. "See? Even you think it's dangerous to go out in this rain. So how could I possibly let you do it or... are you saying that in your eyes, I'm the kind of guy who'd let a girl walk home in the pouring rain in the middle of the night?"
"No! Haru, you're not like that at all…"
Uika shook her head with all her might, her voice trailing off into something small and uncertain.
"Then it's settled. You're staying here tonight."
"…Th-thank you."
The blonde girl still wore that nervous, tense expression. Her overwhelming insecurity tangled together with the hidden joy and hope in her heart, leaving her utterly confused, her mind a complete mess. For the moment, she simply stood there, unsure of what to do next.
Suddenly, she was going to be spending the night at Haru's place.
"...Haa."
Uika took deep breaths to regulate her breathing, trying to calm her racing heart. But the more she tried to suppress the chaos inside her, the worse it got like a spring, the harder she pressed down, the more it bounced back. Her tension grew so severe that even her shoulders began to tremble.
Of course, Haru noticed her reaction. Watching her so flustered and at a loss made her seem all the more disoriented. Haru softened his tone, speaking gently. "You can sleep in my room, Uika. If you need anything, just let me know."
"Eh? Then where will you sleep?"
Seeing her wide-eyed, dazed look, Haru sighed and gave a small twitch of his lips. "The couch, of course. You know I live in a one-room apartment. There's only one bed. We're not going to, you know, sleep together or anything."
"...Y-you're right!"
It took Uika a full two seconds before she lowered her blushing face.
Seeing her cheeks flush like a stove made Haru raise an eyebrow, a strange thought surfacing in his mind.
Did she… think we were going to sleep together?
No, no, no this was the strong, mature idol Miss Uika. Even if she was a high school girl with high emotional intelligence, and even if she had once practically confessed her feelings to him, there's no way she'd imagine something that extreme… right?
"Th-then, I'll go check the room!"
Her delicate face was now glowing bright red. Maybe it was because she'd just come out of the shower, but in the soft light of the entryway, her skin glowed with a gentle, translucent sheen, the rosy hue even extending to her ears.
Apparently not wanting Haru to see her in such an embarrassing state, the bashful girl fled into the bedroom at a quick pace.
"Huh. A shy Uika, huh? If her fans found out I got to see that side of her alone, they might literally kill me in a fit of jealousy."
"Guess I should install a security chain at the front door, just in case."
Haru narrowed his eyes and began muttering to himself.
He recalled the way Uika had glanced at him earlier: shy but mustering her courage, with those alluring eyes and even with all his mental preparation, he couldn't help but take a deep breath, trying to calm his rattled nerves.
The more beautiful Uika was, the harder it was to stay composed around her.
"I thought I could keep cool around Uika. I guess I overestimated myself."
This wasn't some cute situation like taking in a stray cat. For Haru, this was a real "boy and girl alone together" kind of scenario.
Especially with Uika mature, beautiful, and in love with him. If something really happened, she might not resist. Just thinking about that made her a terrifyingly high-level threat.
…
The wooden bedroom door shut softly behind her as Uika leaned against it.
The sudden turn of events had completely shattered her usual poise and grace. Her nerves and excitement welled up inside her uncontrollably. She couldn't help but place both hands on her cheeks. The warmth she felt made her let out a cute little whimper.
When she'd first opened that door and seen the downpour, she had fully intended to brave the storm and go home. But deep in her heart, she had still clung to one impossible little hope.
A hope she knew she had no right to wish for. Even imagining it felt like a sin.
Would someone as kind as Haru ask me to stay?
The moment that hope surfaced in her mind, she'd scolded herself for being foolish. She was just a selfish girl with an agenda. Haru had already been kind enough to let her in out of the rain, to use his shower. That was more than enough. How could she dare ask for anything more?
"And yet… I really did stay."
An impossible dream had somehow become reality.
Thinking back to the way Haru had looked at her with such care and sincerity, Uika's lips slowly curved into a soft smile.
"It's because Haru is like this… that I fell so helplessly in love with him."
She placed her hands over her heart, feeling it race wildly in her chest. All the stress and negativity she'd been holding from work over the past few days completely vanished.
Finally relaxing, she began murmuring to herself. Then, blinking, she suddenly realized what she'd just said aloud.
Her face turned pink again as she darted her eyes around the room, checking if anyone had heard. Once she was sure no one had, she breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Even now, it still didn't feel real and half wondered if she were dreaming.
"I'm really going to sleep in Haru's room tonight?"
"If this is a dream, then please, let me stay asleep forever…"
With a sigh, she finally began looking around the room.
For a high school boy, Haru's room was surprisingly simple.
A clean, neatly made single bed, a desk set up for music composition, a modest wardrobe, and in the center, an easel with paints and brushes laid out with careful precision. It was the art supplies that gave the room its unique charm.
Even though she'd been to his apartment many times, Uika had never really had the chance to study his bedroom.
…
She slowly climbed onto Haru's bed. Maybe it had been freshly aired, because it smelled faintly of sunshine. The warmth and softness made her body go limp. When she pressed her nose closer to the blanket, she could even pick up that subtle scent unique to him.
Uika's cheeks grew redder.
She knew exactly how weird her behavior was, but she couldn't help herself, she just wanted to feel a little more of him, to bask in his scent, like being held in his arms.
Startled by how far her mind wandered, Uika immediately pulled away from the bedding.
After a few seconds of stunned silence, she muttered:
"I-I was just testing how the bed felt. This is totally normal behavior…"
She didn't know who she was even trying to convince, but she figured it was best to come up with an excuse anyway.
Her thoughts a chaotic swirl, Uika shook her head. If she stayed in this room full of Haru's scent any longer, she might never come back out again.
Trying to stay sane, she patted her cheeks, grabbed a pillow, and opened the door, heading for the living room.
"Uika? What's wrong?"
Haru looked up from straightening the sofa cushions, startled to see Uika emerge from the bedroom clutching a pillow, her expression anxious.
"I—I'm having trouble sleeping… Could we… talk for a little while?" she asked, voice trembling.
"Of course," Haru replied gently. "If it's okay with you…"
Holding the pillow like a shield, Uika shifted next to the sofa. Her eyes so meek yet filled with a deep vulnerability made Haru frown inwardly. He still remembered the sorrow on her face earlier in the entryway. Even now, facing him again left her visibly shaken.
But he worried about Uika; he couldn't just leave her like this.
With a sigh in his heart, Haru sat down and patted the cushion beside him, silently inviting her to sit.
"Thank you," Uika whispered, her eyes shimmering as she eased onto the sofa.
The living room sofa was modest, so even with deliberate spacing, they were close. Uika's cheeks flushed rosy as she summoned courage and carefully began:
"Haru… how many people are you… dating now?"
What a sudden question!
Haru mentally rolled his eyes, but quickly composed himself. Counting the recently officially confirmed relationship with Kita Ikuyo, plus a few who had accepted him sharing himself, there were the gentle grass-eater Yamada Ryo and the ever-unwilling Shiina Taki, totaling around six or seven.
"Well… around six or seven," he replied honestly.
"That sounds like… a lot of girls?"
Uika frowned. "Do they all know about… you?"
"Don't make me sound like a criminal," he said with a soft sigh, his tone calm. "They're fully aware of my situation. I wouldn't do anything to mislead their feelings."
As he spoke, Haru glanced at Uika, whose soft smile remained unchanged, even hearing about him dating multiple people didn't seem to faze her. But Haru, knowing her character, suspected this was her idol persona masking pain. Under that gentle façade likely lay sorrow and disappointment, all because he had rejected her confession. Haru felt a twinge of guilt as he met her gentle gaze.
"It's okay… Saki-chan doesn't know, right?" she asked tentatively.
"Huh?" Haru paused.
Sakiko was a sharp-edged gem, difficult to read.
"She likely doesn't know. Sakiko's probably in the dark."
Haru gently nodded.
Through their interactions, Haru had grown fond of Togawa Sakiko too. Their relationship was on the cusp between friendship and something more. Despite Sakiko's awkward stubbornness, he planned eventually to tell her.
Uika relaxed slightly. "If Saki-chan doesn't know… that feels a little like a victory."
Haru raised an eyebrow at her surprising confidence.
"Even though I only have a few girlfriends now," he continued with quiet seriousness, "I'm not sure what happens in the future… But for now, I will respond to each person's feelings honestly, with no half-measures."
"You're really amazing, Haru," she said softly.
Uika buried half her face in the pillow, her violet eyes shimmering as tears threatened to fall but she didn't let them. She didn't dare reveal her true feelings again after being rejected.
Sensing her heartbreak, Haru furrowed his brows. He realized she might view him as a heartless player, dating many but rejecting her. This likely made her so cautious around him. His heart wavered.
Closing his eyes briefly, he leaned back. Then he spoke softly:
"Uika… sometimes I don't understand my own feelings."
"Huh?"
Uika lifted her head, eyes vacant.
Haru spoke with deliberate calm, looking straight ahead:
"I often can't see myself clearly. I don't always know if what I feel for someone is pure friendship… or something more. With uncertain feelings, I can't decide."
He confessed that he'd refused her confession before because he felt unready to commit without clear romantic feelings. But now, he wasn't sure he could refuse if she confessed seriously.
Uika's expression softened, like a cloud lifting to reveal a guiding ray of light.
"Haru… are you free next month?"
Her voice was tentative, but her posture conveyed determination. She willed herself to change, to give him a reason to decide in her favor.
"I heard that next month Moonlight Evening Primrose is re-staging the planetarium theater production "Orihime." I remember you and Tomori came here last time… so, shall we go together... just the three of us?"