As Sakura entered her Law class, she glanced around the room, hoping to find Mia. But there was no sign of her. The absence tugged at her nerves, and she checked her phone for any messages, only to find the screen blank.
Why isn't Mia here yet? Sakura thought, frowning. She remembered Mia being present by the second day of their second year in college. Yet, this time was different. Hesitating for a moment, she considered texting her but was interrupted when someone dropped into the seat beside her with an audible thud.
"Hello."
The voice was warm and familiar, sending a jolt through Sakura's chest. She turned to find Haru smiling at her, his dark eyes full of curiosity.
"H-hi," Sakura stammered, caught off guard.
"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Haru said with a soft chuckle. "I just saw your face and figured sitting with someone I'd already met was a safer bet than a stranger. You don't mind, do you?"
"O-oh, not at all." Sakura's cheeks flushed. She wondered why her words kept stumbling over themselves. Her heart raced as she studied his face, still struck by how young and carefree he looked. This was Haru—her Haru—yet not quite the same.
"So," Haru said, settling in, "Are you a regular here, or do you just come to dazzle new students like me?"
Sakura let out a soft laugh, her nerves loosening at his playful tone. "A regular. Are you new here?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"Yeah, transfer student," Haru said, leaning back casually in his chair.
"Well, you picked the right place," Sakura said, finding her confidence again. "The lectures are tough, but the challenge is worth it."
"Tough, huh?" Haru let out a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over his heart. "Great. Just what I needed—stress and sleepless nights. Thanks for the reassurance."
Sakura laughed again, this time more freely. "Don't worry. The professors are good, and the lectures help a lot. If you ever need a hand, you can always come to me." The words left her lips before she could stop herself.
Immediately, regret set in. What am I doing?' she thought, internally cringing. To Haru, she was just someone he met this morning. To her, he was someone she had loved for years. Offering to help him so openly felt like she was offering herself.
Haru's gaze lingered on her. "Sakura, right?"
She nodded.
"You seem really confident," he said, his tone softer now, as if he were seeing her for the first time.
Sakura's heart skipped a beat under the weight of his gaze. Nervously, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and Haru's eyes followed the motion, captivated by the delicate way her fingers brushed her face.
"Trust me, I'm not that confident," she said, a shy smile curving her lips. "I just like helping others."
That smile—it was like the sun breaking through a storm, radiant and unguarded. Haru felt as if he took an arrow to the heart. He quickly turned away, pressing a hand to his heart to steady himself.
"Are you okay?" Sakura asked, concern lacing her voice.
Clearing his throat, Haru nodded quickly. "Yeah, just a little cramp. No big deal. Looks like the lecture's about to start," he added, eager to change the subject before he embarrassed himself further.
Sakura tilted her head, her eyes lingering on him for a moment longer.
…
After the lecture finished, Sakura rushed out of the classroom, a sense of unease settling in her chest. She remembered clearly from the past that Mia was always supposed to be here today—there was no reason for her to miss class. The fact that she wasn't worried her. Her phone remained silent, no messages, no calls. 'Where is she?' The question gnawed at her, and Sakura's frustration mounted with each passing second.
She stopped at the door, her fingers nervously tapping her phone. Why isn't she answering? Her mind circled back to that nagging question, and with each passing moment, her frustration grew.
As she was about to leave, someone called out to her. It was Jules Fujiwara—one of Sakura's so-called friends at Historia College. In truth, Jules only ever sought her out when she needed something. Sakura remembered how she helped Jules every single day after college in her previous life.
"Sakura!" Jules beamed, a little too brightly.
Sakura forced a smile, bracing herself. She already knew what was coming next.
"Hi, Jules," she replied, her voice strained.
"'Sweet Sakura,' could you please help me with the lecture today? You see, I didn't get enough sleep last night and accidentally fell asleep during class. Also, I know you weren't here yesterday, but can you help with that lecture as well? Please. Can we study at the library after college?"
Sakura's pulse quickened, her mind still locked on Mia's absence. She'd already missed yesterday's lecture, and now, on top of that, she had to help Jules. It wasn't that the material was difficult—she'd graduated from university—but now that she was stuck in the past, she had to avoid showing off any knowledge that wasn't appropriate for her current self. The last thing she needed was to draw more attention to herself.
But 'Sweet Sakura' couldn't say no. Not to anyone. Not to Jules, her friend.
"Sure, I'll help you later," she said, the words coming out automatically, as if she had said them a thousand times before.
"Thank you, thank you! I swear I'll make it up to you," Jules said.
Meanwhile, Haru, still seated in the back of the classroom, watched the whole exchange with quiet amusement. He'd been observing Sakura ever since he sat down next to her. Something about the way she interacted with others caught his attention. She wore a mask of kindness, but there was something forced in the way she smiled—like she was saying yes to things she didn't really want to do.
Haru chuckled softly to himself, his eyes darting between Sakura and Jules. It was clear to him that Sakura was caught in something she didn't want to be.