Their long-overdue performance together felt just as "ordinary" as ever. Both gave it their all onstage, purely focused on delivering the best show to the audience below. Even though they hadn't performed side by side in ages, their synergy hadn't faded in the slightest.
The thunderous cheers and applause from the packed crowd echoed below. It was a scene Haru had experienced countless times before, but this time it hit him differently, more powerfully.
His fingers were still pressing the keys, letting the final notes linger. He took a deep breath, while the resonant thrum of the bass surged through the melody like a pulse, slicing through the air with a brilliance that seemed to tear through the dark.
"..."
His fingertips executed a fluid legato he had practiced hundreds—no, thousands of times, bringing the seamless, high-intensity three-song set to a flawless close.
The final chord rang out.
Haru slowly opened his deep black eyes and looked to his side.
There, standing beside the keyboardist, was the bassist, Umiri, breathing lightly. Her long, dark hair shimmered faintly under the stage lights, and beads of sweat sparkled along her temples and hairline.
They said nothing, just met each other's gaze.
The roar of the audience faded into silence. It felt like the world had frozen around them, time reversing like sand flowing upward in an hourglass. In that moment, the only space that existed was between the two of them.
The world stopped, right here.
"..."
Cradling her bass, Umiri turned toward him. She lifted her jade-green eyes and looked at him calmly.
Haru had expected her to walk off stage expressionless as always, but she remained still and in her clear, unwavering eyes, he caught a vivid light he had never seen before, never even imagined.
He froze.
Under his astonished gaze, the girl's lips slowly curved into a breathtaking smile.
In that instant, the frozen, silent space around them shattered into dazzling fragments.
…
"You two really saved us!"
The orange-haired punk guitarist clasped her hands together in exaggerated thanks, tears welling in her eyes as she bowed repeatedly to Haru and Umiri.
Behind her, the rest of the band looked equally exhausted, but their excitement outshone their fatigue.
"Seriously, I can't thank you enough… You guys came to help on your day off, and that performance just now... it was incredible!"
The talkative guitarist kept chirping on, but Umiri responded with her usual soft, polite nod.
"Here's the agreed payment for both of you. I hope we can work together again sometime!"
Umiri seemed slightly surprised as she accepted the envelope. It felt noticeably heavier than usual. Just as she was about to ask, the guitarist winked at her.
Leaning in close, she whispered with a knowing smile:
"Sorry, today must've been a date, huh?"
"I feel bad for interrupting your private time, so I added a little 'thank you' in there as an apology! Please, don't hold back, use it to enjoy the rest of your day together, just the two of you."
Umiri visibly froze for a couple seconds, but then took the envelope without a word. She bowed again in thanks and turned away, followed by Haru, who raised a brow in mild surprise.
Their [mercenary] work was finished, for now.
By the time they left Shinjuku FOLT, dusk had fallen. With Christmas around the corner, the winter sun dipped below the horizon earlier than in summer. They strolled side by side through the busy Shinjuku shopping street.
The black-haired girl beside him still carried that cool, distant aura, as if she were always walking alone at the edge of the world.
The smile she had shown on stage felt like a fleeting dream, an illusion like mist over water.
But Haru knew it hadn't been an illusion.
"So, Lady Safurin? I know it's been a while since I was on stage, but I didn't embarrass you out there, right?"
With a teasing grin, Haru leaned closer, eyes twinkling as he tried to read some emotion on her face.
But to his surprise, Umiri remained completely unfazed.
She looked just like she had that morning when they first met up calm, serene. When he made his smug little jab, she simply gave a slight nod, her clear jade eyes glowing faintly with elegance.
"Just call me Umiri."
Come on, wasn't it you who said you didn't care what I called you?
"But about today's performance..."
As they reached a gentle slope at the edge of the shopping street, Umiri suddenly stopped, as if in thought.
Her glossy black hair caught the fading light as she turned, sweeping through the air like a falling star. From above, her serene, composed face looked down at Haru.
After a long silence, Umiri finally spoke again. "The performance overall? I'd say... pretty average."
"...Are you serious?"
"Not really."
Umiri's eyes narrowed, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her lips as if she were playing with him on purpose.
Haru, who loved messing with others and feeding off their embarrassed reactions, felt the corner of his mouth twitch. Being the one on the receiving end for once was rare, and it left him with a strange mix of frustration and amusement. He gave himself a quiet mental pep talk.
Then, he looked up and spoke slowly.
"So, how about the date today?"
"Umiri... did I manage to make your heart flutter?"
The distant streetlights cast a soft golden glow across the evening sky, like a veil of light draped over the metal handrails of the stairs. The black-haired girl standing on the steps met his gaze head-on, her eyes calm and clear.
A chilly autumn breeze brushed against her delicate cheeks, lifting a few strands of her dark hair.
His sudden question pierced through her chest like an arrow. Umiri stood still, eyebrows knitting slightly. That usually calm and collected face, always cool no matter the place or moment, now showed a flicker of something else. A crack in her composure.
She fell silent for a moment, thoughtful. Then answered, meaningfully:
"Haru, how do you want me to answer that?"
Her straightforward nature deflected the question back at him. But that, in itself, made Haru breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
So this was a test. Umiri wanted to know what he really thought of her now. The way he answered would determine how she would respond in turn. She had placed all the power in his hands.
"How do I want you to answer, huh...?"
Haru slowly closed his eyes and murmured as if to himself.
He used to see this icy beauty as just a "friend." Umiri, whether in personality or on-stage coordination, had always been in perfect sync with him. She would help him out without a fuss whenever he was in a pinch, even stepped in between him and Taki to smooth things over.
She always fulfilled her role as a friend. No matter how close they got, she maintained a certain distance. She never acted romantic, never allowed anything ambiguous to show.
That was how she kept their relationship firmly locked in a neutral zone.
If it hadn't been for Taki's sudden confession, Haru might never have noticed the feelings Umiri had kept hidden.
But once he realized her feelings weren't just platonic, he could no longer treat her like "just one of the guys" and that's when he began to truly notice her charm.
Her quiet strength, her poised coolness, and the warmth buried deep beneath her icy exterior. Even though she had feelings for him, she kept them inside and supported her friend's love instead.
Even when she had a chance to be happy, this blunt, stubborn girl chose to stay silently by his side.
Stubborn. Awkward. Always giving quietly from behind the scenes.
Maybe the moment he saw the real Umiri on stage, everything in Haru's heart had changed.
"Umiri... I don't care how you answer. I just want to hear what you really feel, without holding anything back."
"Right now... do you like me?"
"...!"
Umiri was clearly stunned. Her always-serene green eyes widened.
"This has nothing to do with what you're going to say next. I just... I had to say it all out loud."
Haru spoke slowly, pushing the words out bit by bit.
At some point, he had closed his eyes and begun to steady his breath, bracing himself for what might come next.
"I…"
Umiri's furrowed brow gradually relaxed. Even though she had sensed what was coming, she still felt uncertain, unsteady. Her heart pounded so hard that her normally clear, composed voice began to tremble and rasp.
She had never imagined, never dared to imagine, that this day might come.
She clenched her fists tight, trying to hold on to her usual calm. But even biting her lip couldn't stop her heart from pounding out of control. It felt like her whole body, her blood and soul, was trembling.
Her fingers turned pale and stiff. She could barely stand. It was like being at the edge of a thousand-meter cliff, breath stolen by the height.
She couldn't keep calm anymore.
Haru opened his eyes and looked up, his deep black gaze locking onto her slightly shaking green one. Seeing her falter, his lips curved into a gentle smile.
Then, with complete sincerity, he said:
"Umiri, I like you."
He confessed first.
The words were out. The truth, plain and unvarnished.
Haru let out a long breath, finally able to relax. Since Umiri had thrown the initiative back to him, he had responded in the most direct and undeniable way possible.
He had said all he needed to say. Now it was her turn.
"..."
Umiri fell completely silent.
She had thought that sealing herself away behind calm detachment would protect her. That if she gave up on hoping, she wouldn't have to feel the sting of disappointment. But now that she had chosen not to take that one step forward, she found herself on the verge of losing the one thing she had always wanted but never dared to reach for.
Even someone as stubborn and foolish as her... could someone really pull her back into hope? Could someone become her "home"?
"…That's why I hate gentle people."
Umiri muttered softly, shaking her head.
She took a step forward, her long, beautiful legs exposed to the chill of the evening air.
In less than half a second, she closed the gap between them. Standing one step above him, her emerald eyes now met his directly, and for the first time, the distance between them disappeared.
The wind sliced across their skin like tiny blades, but neither of them looked away.
"...Guess you win."
"What did I win?"
"Everything."
A faint, teasing smile curled at Umiri's lips, as if joking.
She had lost and badly.
She had been pushed to the point where she could no longer lie to herself, couldn't tell herself "he doesn't like me," or pretend "I don't like him."
They both knew now. In this moment, everything had changed.
" Haru, I like you."
Umiri spoke evenly, without haste. Her tone was calm, as if saying it were no different than breathing.
"...Are you serious?"
"This time, I am."
Straightforward and sincere, that was the real Umiri.
Just seeing Haru raise his brow slightly, she knew immediately he understood what she meant but was pretending not to. Their mutual understanding, built over time, was now being used in the strangest ways.
Not that it mattered to Umiri anymore.
"Fine. I'll prove it to you."
The moment she said that, Haru froze for a second. Then he saw Umiri step even closer to him.
Oh no, he thought. This feels familiar.
He braced himself instinctively, thinking she was about to kiss him, ready for the impact.
But the ice queen in front of him only shot him a sly look, gently took his left hand and lifted it into the air. Without a word, she placed it firmly against her chest.
The strong, rapid beat of her heart pulsed steadily against his palm.
"Does this prove it?"
Yeah. That proved it plenty.
Haru gasped softly at the sensation. Though Umiri looked calm and collected, she held his hand firmly to prevent him from pulling away. He could feel her heartbeat clearly: urgent, relentless.
As if her restrained emotions were crashing violently beneath her cool surface.
Hot. Fiery.
Beneath her icy exterior burned a passion deeper than he had ever imagined. Like fire blazing in a frozen cave.
Before, Umiri had stubbornly denied her feelings, leaving Haru to take the lead. But now, after admitting her love, she had no more reason to hold back. She could be direct, honest, and let everything she'd buried inside pour out.
"...If I said, just for argument's sake," Haru murmured, "That it wasn't enough proof... what would you do then?"
Umiri hadn't expected that kind of response. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, then gave him a thoughtful, knowing smile.
"Do you really want to find out?"
Her tone was calm, but carried a hint of overwhelming presence.
Haru remembered her easily cracking open a can with one hand earlier and flinched.
Umiri's sharp jade eyes no longer looked serene, they gleamed with a fierce, predatory intensity. Even he felt the urge to retreat.
"Actually, I think that was plenty of proof."
"Too bad. I don't think it was."
With that curt reply, Umiri grabbed his hand and yanked him toward a nearby alley.
As if venting her long-held frustration from his earlier accidental rejection, Umiri (soft yet commanding) wrapped her arms around his neck and, standing on her toes, kissed him without the slightest hesitation. Their first kiss as a couple was anything but tentative. It was bold, passionate.
Entwined. Close. Merged.
Their hearts burned against one another. Umiri's lashes trembled, but she didn't pull away, breathing hot and ragged against him.
It was impossible to tell how long they stayed like that. Finally, with a soft, wet parting sound, she slowly released him, face flushed and glowing faintly.
Haru, stunned, took a deep breath and stared wide-eyed, trying to memorize every detail of what had just happened.
Umiri exhaled quietly, then quickly regained her usual composure. Watching him intently, she asked in a slightly odd tone, "So this is what a first kiss feels like? It's... kind of strange."
"Umiri, actually, we've done this a lot before."
"…?"
Umiri frowned faintly, not quite following.
Haru just shrugged and chuckled, "Didn't the ancients say, 'When two people gaze into each other's eyes, it's a kiss of spirit and soul'? Back on stage, we probably shared a hundred kisses already."
"I see."
Umiri nodded thoughtfully. Her serious reaction to everything was honestly kind of adorable.
Now that this cool, aloof beauty had agreed to be his girlfriend, Haru couldn't help thinking she looked prettier and more charming from every angle. Just a little while ago, he had actually been considering whether to make her his sworn brother or something.
But now, with things the way they were, they might as well go straight to the wedding altar.
Perhaps suddenly recalling something, Umiri murmured after a pause:
"I think the ancients also said, if couples don't communicate enough, they won't last."
"So let's go somewhere else and keep talking."
Wait, what? Did she just stab me with Frostmourne?
Haru's arm went limp. At some point, Umiri had calmly pulled his left arm into her embrace. Realizing her intention, Haru broke into a nervous sweat.
He cautiously asked, "Umiri, don't you think… maybe we should take things one step at a time?"
"'Because I only see Umiri as a friend.'"
Umiri raised her head and calmly repeated the words he'd once said, every syllable precise.
Welp, I'm done for.
Not that she actually dragged him off to a hotel or anything. After a few repeated apologies and heartfelt reassurances from Haru, even Umiri, who had been harboring some resentment, gradually calmed down. She returned to her usual composed, elegant self.
The icy, stunning beauty wore her usual unreadable face, silently walking beside him.
As they returned to the commercial district, everything looked just as it had before. Yet the pink hue on Umiri's ears said otherwise. Something between them had changed, completely.
Perhaps thinking of something, Umiri spoke in her usual quiet tone.
"So… what's the count now?"
Haru's expression stiffened. When he glanced at his ice queen girlfriend and met her cool, detached gaze, he replied with a hesitant, awkward tone, "Including you, Umiri… that makes six."
"I see."
Umiri replied without emotion, then immediately fell back into her neutral expression.
It was exactly because of her cold, indifferent appearance that she always seemed so calm and rational. And that was what made it so hard for Haru to read her emotions.
This emotionless ice beauty, her quiet pressure was overwhelming.
Even though he still wasn't sure what she was thinking, Haru was already looking for the right moment to apologize.
But Umiri, as if reading his mind, casually lifted the corners of her mouth and said, "Relax, I'm not mad."
Of course Umiri knew, it wouldn't stop at just this number.
After all, there were already four from Ave Mujica alone.
Since Umiri had chosen to respond to his confession and reveal the feelings she had buried deep inside her heart, she wasn't going to let these things bother her. Compared to something so trivial, there was something else she cared about more right now.
Thinking of that, Umiri pressed her lips together slightly and asked in a neutral tone, "What about Taki? Where are things with her now?"
Haru hadn't expected Umiri to bring that up. He sighed, a little helplessly. "I actually already confessed to her... But you know Taki's personality. Right now, I think she still needs time to adjust and prepare herself."
"No, she doesn't."
Umiri suddenly stopped walking. Her emerald eyes shimmered with a subtle light.
"If you don't drag her out of her 'comfort zone' by force, Taki will never admit it on her own. That's why you absolutely can't give her time. What you need to do now is one thing: push her until she acknowledges her feelings."
After a two-second pause, she added in a matter-of-fact tone:
"Haru, go to her house and make her say it."
Haru: ?
Was she serious?
…
Click.sfx
With the door to the Shiina residence unlocking, a thoroughly flushed Shiina Taki stepped inside. She had only just parted ways with Nagasaki Soyo, but her emotions were still a tangled mess. Even at home, everything felt like a haze.
Looking back on it now, what she did earlier had been pretty outrageous.
"...What am I supposed to do starting tomorrow?"
Covering her burning cheeks with one hand, Taki felt her head spinning.
She had actually said it. She had voiced that fake confession agreed to it, even.
No. Maybe from the moment those words left her mouth, it stopped being a lie.
Now she had to figure out how to take responsibility for that impulsive decision. She had to talk to Haru first, otherwise if Soyo ever found out it had been a bluff, things would go sideways fast.
Her thoughts were spiraling, and apparently her older sister, Shiina Maki, noticed something off from the living room.
"Taki-chan?! Why are you getting home so late? Where on earth did you go?"
"...Nowhere. I'm going to my room."
Flustered, Taki tried to brush it off, but her flushed cheeks were way too obvious. As her older sister, Maki instantly caught on, only responding with a knowing smile.
"If you're ever going to spend the night out, just let your big sister know, okay? I'll cover for you with Mom and Dad."
"I don't need that!"
Taki, whose brain felt like it was melting, slammed the door behind her. Once she was alone in her room, her knees nearly gave out. She clutched her burning face with both hands and stared forward, eyes trembling.
Now wasn't the time to space out. What was she even doing?
"R-right... What about Umiri? What happened with her?"
Grabbing on to the first distraction she could find, Taki quickly pulled her phone from her pocket.
But before she could even open a chat, a message from "Umiri" had already popped up in her Line inbox.