The morning air was crisp, the sun just beginning to peek through the classroom windows. Kaito sat at his desk, tapping his pencil absently against the paper in front of him. His thoughts kept drifting back to last night—the midnight ride, the way Hana had opened up to him, even if only a little. There was something more she wasn't saying. He could feel it.
The bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom, and Hana stood up to leave, gathering her things. Kaito followed her out of the classroom, trying to figure out how to bring up the question that had been gnawing at him all day.
"Hana," he called, catching up to her in the hallway. She glanced at him, her usual calm expression in place.
"Hey, Kaito," she greeted him, her voice soft but polite as always.
He hesitated. "So… about last night. You didn't really tell me why you're leaving, did you?"
Hana's step faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, offering a small, nonchalant smile. "I've told you before, right? My dad's job. He's being transferred overseas, so we're moving."
Kaito frowned. He hadn't known much about her family, other than the fact that her father was often away on business. But something about the way she said it felt like she was closing a door on the conversation. Like there was more to the story.
"Are you okay with it?" he asked, trying to gauge her true feelings. "I mean, that's a huge change, Hana. You're going halfway across the world."
Hana paused at the door to the courtyard, her fingers still gripping the handle. She was silent for a moment, and Kaito could sense her internal struggle.
"I don't really have a choice," she said finally, her voice almost too calm. "It's not like I can change anything about it, right?"
Kaito couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She had been quiet about her feelings since he'd met her, but this felt different. Hana had always been the type to keep her emotions hidden behind a mask of composure, but now it seemed like she was barely holding it together.
"Are you… sure it doesn't bother you?" Kaito pressed, his voice softer now.
Hana's eyes flickered with something he couldn't quite read. For a split second, there was a crack in her calm façade—just a brief flicker of vulnerability. But it was gone before he could catch it, replaced by her usual distant expression.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, her voice cool. "I'll be okay."
Kaito didn't buy it. He could feel the weight of her words, the hollow distance in them. But there was nothing he could do, not if she didn't want to share. He wanted to push further, to demand the truth, but he knew that would only drive her away.
"Okay," he said quietly, looking at her with concern. "If you ever need to talk, you know where to find me."
Hana gave him a small smile, the kind that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks, Kaito. I'll keep that in mind."
With that, she turned and walked out into the courtyard, her back straight and her pace purposeful. Kaito watched her go, his mind racing. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that Hana wasn't just leaving because of her father's job. There was something deeper—something she wasn't telling him.
Later that day, after school, Kaito found himself unable to focus. His thoughts kept returning to Hana, to the way she had avoided answering him earlier. He decided to take matters into his own hands, determined to get to the bottom of it.
He knew where she spent most of her free time—at the art room, working on the mural.
When he arrived, the door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open, peeking inside. Hana was standing by the mural, a paintbrush in hand, her brow furrowed in concentration. She didn't notice him at first, so Kaito took a step inside, quietly closing the door behind him.
"You're here," Hana said without turning around, her voice as calm as ever.
Kaito walked over, his eyes drifting to the vibrant mural that had begun to take shape. It was beautiful, but there was a sadness to it that he hadn't noticed before. The colors were bright, but there were dark, almost stormy shades mixed in, as if the scene was being pulled into a whirlwind.
"Do you mind if I ask something?" Kaito said, his tone casual, though his heart was pounding a little.
Hana glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "What is it?"
"You said last night that you don't have a choice, right?" Kaito began, choosing his words carefully. "But you don't have to hide everything. I don't know why you're leaving, but I know it's more than just your dad's job, Hana. You don't have to pretend like it doesn't bother you."
Hana froze, the brush still in her hand. For a long moment, she didn't speak, and Kaito wondered if he had crossed a line. But then, she set the brush down slowly, her shoulders sagging.
"I'm not pretending," she said quietly. "It's just… easier if I don't think about it. If I don't think about what it means to leave all of this behind. To leave everything I've known."
Kaito watched her carefully, his expression softening. "So, it's not just about your dad's job, then?"
Hana nodded slightly, her gaze distant. "No. It's about everything. About starting over, about leaving people behind—about leaving you behind."
Kaito's heart skipped a beat. "You're leaving because of me?"
Hana shook her head quickly. "No, that's not it. I just... I don't want to get attached to anyone when I know I won't be here long enough to matter."
"But you matter, Hana," Kaito said before he could stop himself. "To me, you matter."
Her eyes flickered to his, and for the first time, he saw the rawness in her expression. There was pain in her eyes, but there was also something else—something like longing, mixed with fear.
"I don't know what to do with that," she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.
Kaito took a step closer, his tone gentle. "You don't have to do anything with it, Hana. I just want to be here for you, no matter what happens."
Hana looked down at the mural, her fingers brushing against the painted surface. "I don't want to leave," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "But I don't know how to stay."
For the first time, Hana's mask had cracked, and Kaito saw the girl behind the quiet, reserved exterior. The girl who was afraid of losing everything.
And in that moment, Kaito knew that whatever happened in the next few days, he wouldn't let her face it alone.
"Whatever happens, you won't have to go through it by yourself," Kaito promised quietly.