The door slammed shut as Haruka stepped into the hallway. She flopped off her shoes and pulled all her bags to the kitchen where Kazuo was pouring himself a glass of water.

Haruka left the plastic bag with food in the kitchen and took the rest with her to the living room.

“- Just put your stuff in the living room somewhere… “ Kazuo drank his water and put the glass on the kitchen counter.

Haruka looked around the naked living room. There was the table in the centre of the room and her futon by the wall to the left.

“- But, if I put it all on the floor it’ll get dusty… Don’t you have a wardrobe in your room? “ Haruka complained.

“- Didn’t you say earlier that it felt so weird living together and now you wanna share a wardrobe? “ Kazuo said as he was looking through what food Haruka had bought.

“- Well, it is weird but I want to get used to it kinda… “ Haruka had sunken down at the table with her bags around her.

“- Don’t you think we act rather natural already thought? “ Kazuo was looking at different food products he had never seen before.

“- Yeah… I guess… “ Haruka looked up at the ceiling.

“- Well, whatever, you can put your stuff in my wardrobe if you wanna. If you’re gonna live here why not do it properly. “

*- Never though I’d say that… I have nothing to lose though, really… * Kazuo had realized that even though Haruka could be annoying, Mabuchi was right, she did make him feel and he wasn’t against that.

“- Oh, really? Thank you… “ Haruka looked over at Kazuo as he inspected the food further.

*- He’s a friendly person, isn’t he… * Haruka stood up and shook her head as she realized her heartbeat was rising. She grabbed her bags and moved to Kazuo’s room where she opened the wardrobe that was directly to the left when you entered the room. The top three drawers were mostly filled but the fourth one was empty. Haruka started to empty the two bags and sorted the clothes in different stacks after she removed the price tags.

*- Gosh, what the hell was that? Am I really getting these feelings right now? * Haruka was sitting on her knees with price tags all around her and some clothes on her lap. She started to fiddle with one of the price tags as she zoned out in her thoughts.

*- I wouldn’t be like this with any other guy, would I? Although we’ve only just met and he seems to be annoyed by me… He’s still so nice thought… * Haruka's eyes were focused on her lap as she gripped the price tag harder and harder. Her heart started to beat faster again and she could feel a tense excitement in her chest.

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*- This might complicate things though… I need to just keep going like I have been, not to friendly so that we can keep the secret. *

*- I wonder what he really feels though… * Haruka zoned out again, staring straight forward.

“- Hey, Haruka, what’s for dinner? “ Kazuo shouted from the kitchen and made Haruka snap out of her stare.

“- Oh, right. I was thinking Omurice… “ Haruka shut the drawer.

“- Cool, haven’t had that for like three, four years now. “ Kazuo had moved to the living room table.

“- So you’ve been eating just noodles for more than three years? “ Haruka also moved to the living room table with the two empty bags.

“- Yeah, pretty much… “ Kazuo scratched his chin.

“- Wow, how are you even alive? What happened anyways? “ Haruka sat on her knees with her head resting on the table. Kazuo looked a bit troubled.

“- Umm, basically everything was fine concerning my family until my parents had a divorce… “ Kazuo stopped up for a moment.

“- That’s bad… How come you’re by yourself now though? “ Haruka gave of a more gentle feel somehow which tipped Kazuo into telling more.

“- Ahh, I couldn’t really accept that my parents formed new families which made me unruly i guess you could say… “ Kazuo leaned back looking towards the ceiling.

“- It ended with these new families not accepting me either so i was neglected and homeless. “ Kazuo sighed. Haruka sat up straight and looked at Kazuo with a troubled look herself.

*- This is the first time I’ve felt this bad for someone… * Haruka gripped her skirt.

“- Huh… T-that’s pretty rough… “ A Heavy and uncomfortable mood started to develop as Kazuo seemed to have faded away staring at the ceiling while Haruka grappled on how she felt.

*- Neglected by your whole family, huh… Guess I look stupid for leaving mine now… * Haruka took a deep breath and looked up at Kazuo. She saw his eyes, they were dripping in some kind of heavy presence like something was there, not visible but you could feel it lurking behind those pupils. She couldn’t quite understand it but she felt it resonating and it suddenly made her want to comfort him in some way.

*- I don’t know him that well but… Screw it! * Haruka suddenly rose as she felt the surge of her will flow through her. She wilfully stepped towards Kazuo with her plan in mind and positioned herself behind him where she sunk down on her knees. Kazuo didn’t seem to notice as Haruka sat right behind him with a devoted look on her face. Haruka felt a little shaky but she made her resolve to take a step. She stood up on her knees and leaned in towards Kazuo and hugged him tightly from the back. Her heart that was already starting to race were now doing triple laps. She kept holding him as she felt him reacting to the sudden embrace. With her arms wrapped around him she could feel his heartbeat drastically increase.

*- Ahhhhhhh, what am I doing?! He’s definitely going to think I’m a weirdo! And he’s totally gonna take this the wrong way as well…! Wait, what way? * Haruka could feel her face turning hotter and hotter and she felt like she was going to explode. She decided it was time to let go.

“- Wait… Thank you, Haruka… “ Kazuo’s words made her freeze for a moment, still holding on to him. She quickly realized how awkward it was going get however and released her arms and leaned away from Kazuo’s back.

“- Sorry… I should prepare dinner now. “ Haruka stood up and turned around facing the kitchen.

“- Mm… “ Kazuo was still stuck in the same stance but he was now looking down at the table and Haruka felt his heart racing as fast as hers. Haruka still thinking about it, however, made her blush even more as she was cooking rice in dead silence.