Walks, Drinks, and Almost Friendship

🌙 CHAPTER 4 — “Walks, Drinks, and Almost Friendship”

Fake dating, Haruki quickly learns, is not just acting.

It is maintenance.

Constant, exhausting maintenance of a version of yourself that doesn’t exist.

And worse—

it starts bleeding into real life.

First Public Appearance

The agency didn’t waste time.

Within a week, they scheduled it.

A simple appearance:

café event

light promotional filming

“casual interaction footage”

Nothing dramatic.

Just enough to look real.

Haruki stood outside the café entrance.

Hands in pockets.

Smile already on.

Camera-ready.

But his stomach wasn’t calm.

Because behind him—

Ren was arriving.

Ren Enters the Frame

Ren walked in slowly.

Careful steps.

Neutral expression.

Like he still wasn’t sure why he was there.

He stopped when he saw Haruki.

“…Why are there cameras.”

Haruki turned instantly.

Too fast.

Smile switching on automatically.

“Ren!”

Too bright.

Too public.

Ren narrowed his eyes slightly.

“…What is this.”

Haruki leaned in just slightly.

Lower voice.

“…Fake dating thing.”

Silence.

Ren stared at him.

“…You agreed to this.”

Haruki hesitated.

Then:

“…Yes.”

Ren’s expression didn’t change much.

But something in his eyes did.

A flicker.

Small.

Uncomfortable.

“…Why.”

Haruki smiled.

But softer now.

“…Work reasons.”

That wasn’t the full truth.

And Ren knew it.

The Café Scene Begins

They sit.

Cameras subtly positioned.

Staff pretending not to stare.

Haruki and Ren across from each other.

Haruki leans back casually.

“So,” he says lightly, “we’re supposed to act natural.”

Ren stares at him.

“…Define natural.”

Haruki laughs.

“That.”

Silence.

Then Haruki tries.

Too hard.

Too visibly.

“Ah… Ren—”

He stops.

Corrects himself.

“…Ren-kun.”

Ren looks up.

“…Yes.”

Haruki smiles.

“…Did you sleep well?”

Ren pauses.

“…Yes.”

“…Good.”

Another pause.

“…I also slept.”

Ren blinks.

“…I would hope so.”

Haruki laughs awkwardly.

“Right. Yeah.”

The cameras are rolling.

And it is painfully obvious they are not natural.

After Filming — The Problem Begins

Backstage, staff murmurs.

“This is too stiff.”

“They need chemistry.”

“They don’t look close enough.”

Haruki hears everything.

So does Ren.

Haruki sighs internally.

Then turns to Ren.

“…Hey.”

Ren looks at him.

“…What.”

Haruki hesitates.

Then, quietly:

“Let’s just… walk.”

Ren frowns slightly.

“…Walk where.”

Haruki shrugs.

“Anywhere.”

The Walk

Outside, evening air is softer.

Less controlled.

No cameras directly in their faces.

Just city noise.

They walk.

Side by side.

Not touching.

But close enough that it matters.

Ren breaks silence first.

“…This is unnecessary.”

Haruki hums.

“Probably.”

“…Then why are we doing it.”

Haruki looks ahead.

Then, honestly:

“Because it works better when we look believable.”

Ren doesn’t respond immediately.

Then quietly:

“…Do you want this.”

Haruki pauses.

That question lands differently.

He answers carefully.

“…I don’t like it.”

A beat.

Then softer:

“But I don’t want you dragged into something worse because of me.”

Ren looks at him.

Long.

Quiet.

“…You make decisions for me too easily.”

Haruki laughs weakly.

“I know.”

The Beginning of Jealousy (Unknowingly)

Later that week, Ren comes to Haruki’s class.

He has something to give him.

Simple errand.

Normal.

Haruki is surrounded by people.

As usual.

Smiling.

As usual.

But then—

Ren notices a senior talking to Haruki.

Too close.

Too familiar.

Laughing.

Haruki is laughing too.

Something in Ren’s chest tightens.

Uncomfortable.

Strange.

New.

He doesn’t understand it.

So he ignores it.

He walks closer.

“Haruki-senpai.”

Haruki turns immediately.

Expression changing instantly.

Warmer.

Softer.

Focused only on him.

“Ren.”

And the senior watches that shift.

Ren leaves quickly after handing him the item.

Too quickly.

The Lipstick Incident

Later, Ren returns again.

This time to Haruki’s classroom.

He sees Haruki at his desk—

with a faint lipstick mark on his cheek.

Ren stops walking.

Completely.

Haruki notices him immediately.

“Ren?”

Ren turns around instantly.

And leaves.

Fast.

Haruki freezes.

“…Wait.”

He stands up and follows immediately.

The Chase

“Ren! Hey—Ren!”

Ren walks faster.

Haruki catches up eventually.

Grabs his wrist lightly.

“Wait—what happened?”

Ren doesn’t look at him.

“…Nothing.”

Haruki frowns.

“That’s not true.”

Silence.

Then Ren says quietly:

“…There was a mark.”

Haruki blinks.

Then realizes.

“Oh—”

He laughs once.

Relieved.

“…It’s makeup.”

Ren looks up slightly.

“…What.”

Haruki scratches his cheek.

“One of the guys in my class is going into makeup school. He was practicing.”

Pause.

Then softer:

“…I didn’t even notice it was still there.”

Silence.

Ren’s grip loosens slightly.

“…I see.”

But his voice is tight.

Too tight.

Haruki tilts his head.

“…Does it bother you?”

Immediate answer:

“No.”

But it’s not convincing.

Not even to him.

Ren turns away quickly.

“…I have work.”

And leaves.

Haruki watches him go.

Slowly realizing something uncomfortable.

He doesn’t understand it yet.

But Ren just ran away.

And Haruki—

for the first time—

feels like he might have done something wrong without meaning to.

Ending Scene

That night, Room 403 is quiet again.

But different.

Heavier.

Ren sits on his bed.

Hands clenched.

Expression tight.

Frustrated.

Not at Haruki.

At himself.

“…Why did I leave.”

Silence.

He closes his eyes.

And admits something he doesn’t fully understand yet.

“…It didn’t bother me.”

A pause.

Then quieter:

“…So why did I feel like that.”

Across the room,

Haruki stares at the ceiling.

Thinking the same thing.

Just in a different language.

And neither of them realizes yet—

this is the first crack in something already becoming real.

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