They spent a little over an hour inside, plenty of time to finish a short book . Stepping out of the book cafe, Hayato stretched his back. Unlike Yuka, he still wasn't used to sitting in one place for too long.
Leaving the café behind, they stepped onto the bustling street. Suddenly, a loud shout came from behind.
"Thief! Someone stop him!" an old man cried out.
At that moment, a man in a black hoodie, his face hidden beneath a cap and mask, dashed past Hayato at full speed. There was no doubt about it—he was the thief.
Without hesitation, Hayato sprinted after the thief, moving before Yuka even realized.
However, there was a problem—the crowded street made it difficult for him to close the distance. But the thief dug his own grave. Struggling to weave through the mass of people, or perhaps panicked at the thought of being caught, he suddenly pulled out a knife.
"Get out of my way, or I'll stab anyone who stands in front of me!" he shouted, his voice laced with desperation.
The terrified crowd quickly scattered, clearing a path for the thief. Seeing this, he grinned nervously, convinced that no one could stop him now.
But he had yet to realize—the real threat was still behind him.
With the road now open, Hayato seized the opportunity. In one fluid motion, he grabbed a dustbin lid from the roadside and hurled it like a disc, his aim razor-sharp.
The lid struck the thief square in the back, sending him stumbling forward and knocking the stolen wallet from his grasp.
Now, he was faced with a choice—go back for the wallet and risk getting caught, or cut his losses and flee. Gritting his teeth, he glanced back for a split second before making his decision. With frustration in his eyes, he turned on his heel and bolted, abandoning the wallet.
Hayato clicked his tongue in frustration as he picked up the wallet. He was disappointed that he hadn't been able to catch the thief, but there was nothing he could do about it now.
He first approached the old man and returned the stolen wallet. After receiving heartfelt words of gratitude, he simply nodded before making his way back to Yuka's side.
"You really love helping others, don't you?" Yuka commented as soon as Hayato returned, her tone soft.
Hayato let out an awkward laugh. "Haha, I can't help it," he said, scratching his cheek with his index finger.
After taking just a few steps, Yuka suddenly came to a halt, her face tightening in slight pain. Noticing this, Hayato immediately crouched down to check her feet. Just as he suspected, a blister had formed.
Hayato quickly pondered his options. Yuka couldn't walk in this condition, and there wasn't a place nearby for her to sit and rest.
In this situation, there was only one thing he could do.
Remaining crouched, he turned his back to her and said, "Get on."
He was offering her a piggyback ride.
Yuka stared at his back. It wasn't particularly broad, but at this moment, it looked incredibly dependable.
Yet, she hesitated. "Don't trouble yourself, I can still walk," she said softly.
Hayato shot back, "Don't be stubborn and just get on. Walking will only make it worse."
After a moment of hesitation, Yuka finally climbed onto his back, albeit reluctantly.
She was surprisingly light, but what caught Hayato off guard was how incredibly soft she felt against him. He quickly shook his head—he shouldn't be thinking like that.
Carrying her, he made his way to a nearby park. Throughout the entire walk, Yuka remained silent, burying her face in his back, saying nothing.
Placing her on a bench, he told her to take off her heels. In the meantime, he headed to a nearby convenience store to buy some ice—along with a couple of juices so they could sit and relax for a bit.
He returned with the ice and juices, setting them down beside her. As he did, he couldn't help but ask, "Why did you wear something like this if you're not used to it?"
Yeah, he had found it strange from the beginning. Yuka usually didn't wear shoes like that, so why now?
Yuka placed the ice bag over her blister, letting out a small sigh of relief. She took a moment before replying, her gaze avoiding his.
"I don't know… I just… wanted to look good," she murmured.
Hayato was taken aback. She wanted to look good? Was it for him? Wasn't this just two friends hanging out? Hadn't she thought the same?
No—that would be a foolish question at this point. Her efforts were obvious. Whether intentional or not, nobody would go this far just for a friend.
And here he was, completely forgetting the most important thing.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Hayato looked away, scratching his cheek with his index finger.
"This might be late, but… you look absolutely pretty today," he said, his voice slightly awkward yet sincere.
Yuka's eyes opened as she slowly turned to him, and a small beautiful smile bloomed on her face, "that's certainly late, but thank you."
Hayato was stunned. She smiled? A very rare moment of her, and what's more, that smile was dedicated to him.
After a brief silence between them, Yuka added.
"You remember the day I proposed to you?"
Hayato flinched at her words. 'Why is she bringing that up now?'
His head turned mechanically, almost reluctant to face her. But when he did, he found her looking down, a slight blush dusting her cheeks.
That sight made him realize once again just how stunning she look today. And that soft smile, paired with the gentle blush on her face—it was the perfect finishing touch, like a cherry on top.
Before he knew it, he was captivated, unable to look away.
Without waiting for a response, Yuka continued, her voice soft yet firm.
"Back then, I told you that my feelings for you were a nuisance… that I wanted to get rid of them. That's why I asked you to reject me after I confessed. I thought it would help me forget… but nothing changed. I still think about you all the time. I still want to talk to you, to stay close to you, to spend time with you."
She paused for a breath, as if gathering the courage to say what came next.
"I'm sorry, but it seems… I don't want to be just your friend."
Her voice trembled slightly, yet her resolve was clear.
"I know it's shameless of me to say this now, but I just can't get rid of these feelings. And now… I don't want to anymore. I don't want to run away from them. I want to accept them."
Finally, she looked up, her eyes filled with emotion. Raising her hands, she cupped his cheeks. Hayato instinctively tried to pull away, startled by the sudden intimacy—but she caught him before he could.
"These feelings are still new to me," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I want to understand them… without running away. Will you help me with that?"
Her face, her eyes, her smile—he could no longer say that she wouldn't be happy with him. And yet… something still felt wrong to him.
He didn't know what to say. His lips trembled as he tried to form words, "I-".
but before he could, Yuka gently placed a finger over them, silencing him.
"Don't say anything right now," she whispered. "I know that back then, you rejected me on your own accord, not just because I asked you to. That's why… I'm afraid to hear anything from you right now."
She pulled back slightly, her eyes filled with quiet determination.
"But mark my words, one day, I'll make you say those three words i want to hear."
Hayato stood frozen, like a statue. He heard every word Yuka was saying, yet his mind was filled with questions.
Why is she doing this? She shouldn't be this bold...
But among them, one question stood out—one he couldn't ignore, one he needed to know the answer to.
"W-What do you even like about me?" His voice wavered, unsure. "Are you sure those feelings of yours aren't just… gratitude?"
Yuka didn't falter. Her eyes locked onto his, unwavering.
"I don't know," she admitted. "There's a possibility that you're right. But.... even so, I want to believe in these feelings… and in myself. I want to be true to them."
She took a breath, then continued, her voice steadier.
"As for your first question—that isn't hard to answer. The thing I love about you the most is your selflessness. You always help others without expecting anything in return. There are hardly any people like that nowadays."
Her expression softened.
"Outside of my family, you're the only person I wouldn't feel reluctant to lean on. There will be times in the future when I might need your help. And I know you wouldn't hesitate to be there for me."
That's… she isn't wrong. 'Even so, how could she—'
Hayato was about to talk down on himself once again, but then… Misaki's words echoed in his mind.
"Don't insult what someone loves."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"I'm not trying to be narcissistic, but… what you're saying won't be easy." His voice was quieter now, almost cautious. " You know I wouldn't hesitate to help others, even if it means risking my life. And that includes other girls too."
He looked at her seriously.
"I will hurt you. Maybe not intentionally, but it'll happen. You still have time to think this over. You have a bright future ahead of you, so many possibilities… you could still find someone who will truly make-."
Yuka's sharp voice cut through his words.
"Stop."
Her tone was firm—almost angry.
"Don't decide for me." She clenched her fists, her eyes burning with determination. "I just want you and you alone."
Hayato was taken aback. 'When did she become this assertive?'
But… she wasn't wrong. He had no right to decide for her.
"Fine." He let out a tired sigh, his voice laced with resignation. "Do whatever you want."
The moment the words left his mouth, Yuka wasted no time. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, pressing herself against him.
Hayato stiffened, his face instantly turning red. "W-What are you d-doing?!"
Yuka looked up at him with a radiant smile. "You just said I could do whatever I want."
"T-That's not what I meant." Seriously… Why did she become like this?
After Yuka put a band-aid on her blister and felt ready to walk again, they both decided it was time to end their date and head home. Since their homes were in the same direction, they took the same train, planning to return together. However, they boarded during rush hour, and the station was packed.
The moment the train doors opened, a surge of people rushed in, pulling them along with the crowd.
Hayato stayed close her as they were pushed inside the train, he made sure to secure a spot for Yuka. He guided her to stand against the wall and positioned himself in front of her, using his body as a shield. With the sea of people pressing in from all sides, there was barely any space between them.
"Shit, it's too packed," he muttered under his breath, glancing back at the crowded train, his frustration evident.
Hayato turned back to check on Yuka, but as soon as his eyes landed on her, he froze. Her face was flushed a deep red, and her breathing was slightly erratic.
'Damn it, I totally forgot!'
It was something he'd overlooked, a secret of hers that she wasn't fully aware of herself. A rather embarrassing one, actually. Yuka had a... fetish, of sorts. She gets excited when she is pinned by the person she like. And now, in this tightly packed train, with no space between them—he is practically pinning her against the wall.
Hayato's face went slightly red too, realizing the situation he'd inadvertently put her in. He swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. 'Calm down. Just act normal.'
"A-Are you okay?" he asked, but it seemed his words weren't reaching her.
Yuka's eyes were hazy with confusion, as if she didn't understand what was happening to her own body. Without saying a word, she placed both hands on his chest and leaned her forehead against him.
Because of her height, it was a perfect fit—her head resting against his chest, her warmth seeping through his shirt. And that's it, she just remained still like that, pressing against him without a word.
Hayato let out a weary sigh, his gaze drifting to the ceiling of the train. 'Looks like i won't be getting any break soon, do i?'
(AN: With this chapter, it's the end of volume1.)