Chapter 2 — The Girl Who Appeared Again

Morning arrived much like every other day.

The soft rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains of Haruto Kisaragi's room, landing directly on his face.

"...Too bright."

He covered his eyes with one arm before reluctantly sitting up.

His alarm hadn't even gone off yet.

Strange.

He usually struggled to wake up.

Today, however...

He couldn't fall back asleep.

"...Why am I awake this early?"

He glanced at the clock.

6:05 A.M.

Still twenty-five minutes before his alarm.

He sighed.

"...Guess I'm up."

After getting dressed and eating breakfast, Haruto left home earlier than usual.

The streets were quieter than they had been yesterday.

Morning dew still clung to the leaves, while the cool breeze carried the scent of fresh rain.

He placed both hands inside his pockets as he walked toward the station.

His thoughts wandered.

More specifically...

Toward one person.

"...Miyuha."

He had only spoken with her twice.

Yet she somehow occupied his mind far more than she should.

Who was she?

Why did she seem so...

Different?

He shook his head.

"I'm overthinking."

Still...

One question refused to leave him.

Why had she looked relieved when she first saw him?

---

The train arrived on schedule.

Haruto stepped inside and stood near the window like always.

The city slowly passed by outside.

Stations came and went.

Passengers boarded.

Passengers left.

Everything remained ordinary.

Until...

The train stopped at the next station.

The doors slid open.

Several students entered.

Among them...

A familiar girl.

Silver hair.

Violet eyes.

Transparent umbrella folded neatly in one hand.

Haruto blinked.

"...Miyuha?"

She looked around the train before her eyes met his.

For a brief second...

She looked surprised.

Then...

She smiled.

Not the lonely smile from yesterday.

A genuine one.

"Good morning."

Haruto smiled back almost instinctively.

"Morning."

She walked over and stood beside him.

Neither of them spoke immediately.

The silence wasn't awkward.

It simply felt...

Comfortable.

After a few moments, Haruto finally broke it.

"I didn't know we took the same train."

"We don't."

"Huh?"

"I usually leave later."

"Then why today?"

Miyuha looked out the window.

"I woke up early."

"...Same."

Their eyes met.

Both laughed quietly.

"What are the chances?" Haruto asked.

Miyuha's smile lingered.

"...Maybe higher than you think."

Before Haruto could ask what she meant...

The train suddenly lurched forward.

A small child lost his balance.

Without hesitation...

Miyuha reached out and caught him before he fell.

"There you go."

The little boy looked up.

"...Thank you."

His mother bowed repeatedly.

"I'm so sorry."

"It's alright."

Haruto watched silently.

She reacted...

Almost before the train even moved.

As though...

She already knew.

"...Lucky reflexes," Haruto muttered.

Miyuha simply smiled.

"Maybe."

The answer felt oddly familiar.

Haruto couldn't explain why...

But the more time he spent with her...

The more questions appeared.

And somehow...

She always answered just enough...

To keep the mystery alive.

The train continued through the city.

The rhythmic sound of the rails echoed through the carriage while passengers quietly went about their morning.

Haruto leaned against the window.

"So..."

He glanced at Miyuha.

"Which school do you go to?"

She looked up from the novel she had been holding.

"Seirin Academy."

"I've heard of it."

"It's not far from yours."

"So we're neighbors but have never met?"

She smiled.

"Maybe we've just never noticed each other."

Haruto nodded.

"...Maybe."

For some reason...

That answer didn't convince him.

---

"You read novels?"

Haruto asked, pointing toward the book in her hands.

Miyuha looked down before gently closing it.

"I do."

"What kind?"

She thought for a moment.

"I like stories where people fight against fate."

Haruto chuckled.

"That's oddly specific."

"Is it?"

"I usually read mystery novels."

"Oh?"

"I like solving puzzles."

Miyuha laughed softly.

"Then you'll probably enjoy meeting me."

Haruto blinked.

"...What?"

"I mean..."

She looked away.

"I can be confusing sometimes."

"You realized that?"

"I've been told."

Haruto couldn't help laughing.

"You really are strange."

"I get that a lot."

---

The train finally reached Haruto's station.

He stepped toward the door before turning back.

"This is my stop."

"I know."

"...Right."

She quickly covered her mouth.

"I mean... you told me yesterday."

Haruto scratched his head.

"Did I?"

"You mentioned your school."

"...Guess I forgot."

The doors opened.

Haruto stepped onto the platform.

Before the train departed, he looked back.

Miyuha was still standing by the window.

She raised her hand and waved.

He waved back.

The train slowly disappeared down the tracks.

"...She's definitely hiding something."

---

School felt unusually dull.

Even Sota noticed.

"You've got that look again."

"What look?"

"The 'I'm thinking about someone' look."

Haruto sighed.

"I met that girl again."

"I KNEW IT!"

Sota nearly stood on his desk.

"You two are destined!"

"Sit down."

"No."

The teacher walked into the classroom.

"Nakamura."

"...Yes, sir."

"Outside."

"...Worth it."

The class burst into laughter as Sota slowly walked out of the room.

Haruto couldn't help smiling.

---

After classes ended, Haruto left the school gates alone.

The sky was clear.

No rain.

No dark clouds.

Just a gentle afternoon breeze.

As he walked toward the station, he noticed a small crowd gathered near the crosswalk.

A little girl stood on the opposite side of the road.

She looked terrified.

Her red balloon had slipped from her hand and floated into the street.

Cars were still passing.

The child took one small step forward.

Haruto's heart skipped.

"Hey!"

Before he could react...

Someone was already there.

Miyuha gently caught the girl's shoulder.

"It's dangerous."

The child looked up at her with teary eyes.

"My balloon..."

"I know."

Miyuha smiled warmly.

"Stay here."

She waited patiently until the traffic light turned red.

Only then did she walk into the road, retrieve the balloon, and return it.

"There."

The little girl smiled brightly.

"Thank you, big sister!"

Haruto watched the entire scene.

Something about it bothered him.

Not because of what Miyuha did...

But because...

She had noticed the child before anyone else.

Almost...

As if she had been expecting it.

When she finally looked up...

Their eyes met once again.

She smiled.

"Hello again, Haruto."

"...Hello."

This was the third time they'd met.

And somehow...

Each meeting felt less like coincidence.

The little girl hugged her balloon tightly before running back to her mother.

"Thank you so much!"

Her mother bowed repeatedly.

"I only did what anyone else would've done."

Miyuha smiled modestly.

Haruto wasn't so sure about that.

Most people hadn't even noticed the child until she stepped toward the road.

Miyuha had reacted immediately.

Almost instinctively.

As though...

She knew exactly what was about to happen.

The thought lingered in Haruto's mind.

"You always notice everything, don't you?"

Miyuha looked at him.

"Hm?"

"The little girl."

"Oh..."

She glanced toward the child, now safely holding her mother's hand.

"I just happened to see her."

"Really?"

She nodded.

"Sometimes people are so busy walking that they forget to look around."

Haruto chuckled.

"I guess you're right."

For a brief moment...

Her expression softened.

"I'm glad she's okay."

The sincerity in her voice caught Haruto off guard.

She didn't sound relieved because she had helped.

She sounded relieved...

Because nothing bad had happened.

It was a strange difference.

One he couldn't quite explain.

---

"So..."

Haruto broke the silence as they continued walking toward the station.

"Do you always walk this way after school?"

"Sometimes."

"There it is again."

"What?"

"'Sometimes.'"

Miyuha tilted her head.

"Do I say that a lot?"

"More than you realize."

She covered her mouth, laughing quietly.

"I'll try to be more specific."

"Please do."

"Sometimes."

Haruto stared at her for a second before laughing.

"You did that on purpose."

"I might have."

"I can't tell if you're teasing me."

"Maybe."

"There it is again!"

Their laughter blended into the sounds of the city.

For the first time in a long while...

Haruto felt completely at ease talking to someone he had only recently met.

---

As they reached the station, Haruto noticed a small bakery near the entrance.

The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread drifted through the air.

"You hungry?"

"A little."

"Want something?"

Miyuha shook her head.

"I'm fine."

"My treat."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

Without waiting for an answer, Haruto stepped inside and returned a few minutes later carrying two melon breads.

He held one out.

"For you."

Miyuha blinked.

"...Are you sure?"

"Of course."

She accepted it carefully.

"...Thank you."

For a moment, she simply looked at the bread.

Her eyes softened.

"What's wrong?"

"...Nothing."

"You looked emotional over bread."

She laughed.

"I was just remembering something."

"What?"

She hesitated.

"...A happy memory."

Haruto smiled.

"Then I'm glad."

They sat together on a nearby bench.

Neither of them spoke much.

They simply enjoyed the cool breeze while eating.

Surprisingly...

The silence didn't feel awkward.

It felt peaceful.

---

After finishing her bread, Miyuha suddenly stood up.

"I should head home."

"So soon?"

"My train will arrive in two minutes."

Haruto looked toward the platform.

"...You're right."

"You should head home too."

"I will."

She took a few steps before stopping.

Without turning around, she asked quietly,

"Haruto..."

"Yeah?"

"Are you happy?"

The unexpected question caught him off guard.

"...Happy?"

She nodded gently.

"With your life."

Haruto looked toward the evening sky.

"I've never really thought about it."

"Then..."

She smiled.

"I hope you'll find an answer someday."

Before he could ask why she had said that...

The train arrived.

The doors opened.

Miyuha stepped inside.

As the train began moving, she looked through the window.

She smiled.

Not because she was leaving.

But because...

For some reason...

Seeing Haruto standing there seemed to bring her comfort.

Haruto watched until the train disappeared into the distance.

"...Happy, huh..."

He whispered the question to himself.

For the first time...

He wasn't sure how to answer.

Haruto stood motionless as the train disappeared beyond the curve of the tracks.

"...Happy..."

He repeated the word under his breath.

Such a simple question.

Yet he couldn't answer it.

Was he happy?

His life wasn't bad.

He had a caring mother, good grades, and a close friend who never failed to make him laugh.

But...

Was merely having a peaceful life the same as being happy?

"...Maybe I'm thinking too much."

He let out a small laugh before beginning the walk home.

The streets were quieter than usual.

Shops were preparing to close, and the orange glow of the sunset slowly faded into the blue of evening.

As he crossed a bridge over the river, his phone buzzed.

**Sota**

> *Still alive?*

Haruto smiled.

> *Barely.*

A reply came almost instantly.

> *Did you meet the mysterious girl again?*

Haruto hesitated for a second.

> *Yeah.*

Three dots appeared.

Then...

> *BROOOOOOOOO.*

Haruto couldn't help but laugh.

> *Calm down.*

> *What's her name?*

> *Miyuha.*

Another pause.

> *Sounds pretty.*

Haruto stared at the message.

"...Pretty?"

Without realizing it...

He pictured Miyuha's gentle smile.

Her silver hair swaying in the breeze.

The way her violet eyes seemed to carry emotions she never spoke aloud.

"...Yeah."

He quietly admitted to himself.

"She is."

---

That evening...

Dinner was unusually peaceful.

His mother noticed him smiling to himself.

"What happened?"

"Hm?"

"You've been smiling since you got home."

"Have I?"

She nodded knowingly.

"Did something good happen at school?"

"...Kind of."

"Oh?"

"I met someone."

His mother raised an eyebrow.

"A friend?"

"I... don't know yet."

She smiled warmly.

"Sometimes the best friendships begin unexpectedly."

Haruto nodded.

"...Maybe."

He never mentioned Miyuha's mysterious behavior.

Or the strange feeling she left behind.

Somehow...

He wanted to keep those moments to himself.

At least for now.

---

Later that night...

Haruto sat at his desk, trying to finish his homework.

He read the same sentence three times.

None of it stayed in his head.

Instead...

He found himself thinking about everything Miyuha had said.

*"I'm glad she's okay."*

*"I hope you'll find an answer someday."*

*"Sometimes..."*

Every conversation with her felt normal...

Yet strangely meaningful.

It was as if every word she chose carried a hidden meaning.

One he couldn't quite understand.

He sighed before closing his notebook.

"This isn't getting done tonight."

Walking over to his window, he looked out across the sleeping city.

The stars had begun to appear one by one.

For the first time in years...

He felt excited about tomorrow.

Not because of school.

Not because of exams.

But because...

There was a chance he might meet Miyuha again.

---

Meanwhile...

On the opposite side of the city...

Miyuha stood alone on the platform of a quiet train station.

The last train of the evening had already departed.

She remained there for a few moments, gazing at the empty tracks.

A gentle breeze lifted her silver hair.

She closed her eyes.

"...Today went well."

A small smile formed on her lips.

"It happened just as I hoped."

She looked up at the night sky.

The moon shone brightly above the city.

"...Good night, Haruto."

Her voice was barely louder than the wind.

Then she quietly turned and walked away.

Hidden within her bag was a small notebook.

Its pages were filled with dates...

Names...

And handwritten notes.

She gently touched the cover.

"...Not yet."

She whispered to herself.

"It's still too early."

Without another word, she disappeared into the quiet streets.

Completely unaware...

Haruto was already becoming the most important person in her world.

And Haruto...

Still believed he had simply met a mysterious girl by chance.

Neither of them knew that every meeting...

Every conversation...

Every smile...

Was slowly leading them toward a future neither of them could yet see.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***