THE FORGOTTEN SPRING

CHAPTER 20

"THE FORGOTTEN SPRING"

by: Dark Flame Master

KAI'S POV

After dinner, I finally decided it was time to go home. Today felt… different. I did things I wouldn’t normally do like spending time with Haru and my friends, helping them study, and even laughing with them. It was strange how natural it all felt, like I wasn’t forcing myself. I’m not used to this kind of warmth.

Still, I don’t want to rush. Just because today went well doesn’t mean I can suddenly change. I have to take things slowly. I trust Haru and the others, but that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable around everyone. At least I’m improving, and that’s all that matters.

I slipped my shoes back on and turned to Haru, who was standing nearby. “Um… Haru, I’m gonna go home now.”

As soon as I said that, Haru frowned. “Wait, let me send you home. It’s too dark outside.” His reaction was so fast that I let out a small giggle. I quickly realized my mistake when Haru’s eyes widened.

“Ehh? Did you just smile?” he asked, staring at me like I’d done something unbelievable. Ah. Right. I’m not wearing my mask. I guess I got too comfortable.

“Did I? Is it weird?” I asked, trying to act casual.

Haru’s face suddenly turned red, and he looked away. “N-no, it’s not. You’re cute,” he muttered. Then, in a quieter voice, he added, “Just don’t smile like that with anyone.”

“Why would I smile at someone else?” I asked, trying to ignore the strange warmth spreading across my face.

Haru’s lips curled into a smirk. “Just smile when you’re with me.”

Why is he like this? How can he say something so embarrassing without hesitation? It’s so cringe. But at the same time, my heart is being weird. I ignored him, pretending I didn’t hear anything.

“Haru nii-chan, hon yonde! Nemuritai!" (Read me a book! I want to sleep!) Yuki whined, tugging on his sleeve. She looked up at him with big, sleepy eyes, rubbing one of them with her tiny fist. She’s really cute.

“I’m fine. I can go home by myself,” I told Haru. “Yuki-chan seems sleepy.”

“But—” Before he could argue, a deep voice cut through the air.

“Who’s this kid?” The sudden change in atmosphere made me tense.

A tall man had just stepped into the house, dressed in a sharp, well-fitted suit. His presence alone was overwhelming, like he was someone important—someone you wouldn’t want to mess with. Despite his strict appearance, Yuki had no hesitation in running up to him.

“Tou-san!” she squealed, wrapping her tiny arms around his leg. So this is Haru’s father.

He looked around the room, his eyes stopping when they landed on me. “What are you all doing here?” he asked, his voice deep and steady.

I quickly bowed a little, trying to be polite. “Ah, sorry. I’m Kai. I’m Haru’s friend. I was just about to go home.”

Haru’s father didn’t respond right away. Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he were analyzing me. Then, out of nowhere, he smirked.

“Kai… Oh, so you’re Kai.”

Huh? Why does he sound like he already knows me? Before I could ask, he turned slightly and said, “Then let me send you home. It’s dark outside.”

“Dad!” Haru said, clearly frustrated and he looked like he wanted to argue.

“What?” His father raised an eyebrow. “Are you worried? I’m just sending him home.” A teasing smile played on his lips, like he was enjoying this.

“I just saw that. Kaa-san—” (Mom—)

Before he could finish his sentence, his father grabbed my wrist. “Let’s go before Haru gets mad at me,” he said, leading me toward the door before I could even react. The door shut behind us with a quiet click.

His personality was different from what I expected. With his expensive suit and serious appearance, I assumed he’d be the strict type. But the way he teased Haru felt playful. He's just like Haru, both of them seem childish and annoying.

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The car ride was quiet at first. The only sound was the hum of the engine and the faint noise of the road beneath the tires. I felt awkward sitting there, so I just stared out the window.

"So, is Haru doing okay at school?" His father suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

I turned my head slightly, surprised by the question. "Um... yes, he is. Though... he's weird," I answered honestly.

Haru’s father let out a small chuckle, he didn't even deny it. I hesitated before asking, "B-but, um… are you Japanese?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them. What if he thinks I’m rude? Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.

To my surprise, he suddenly burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHA!" His loud voice filled the car, and I blinked in confusion. Why is he laughing? Did I say something funny?

"I'm Japanese—well, half to be exact," he finally said after calming down. "I grew up in America for most of my life, then I met her—their mother. She was just so cute and pretty. She hated me at first, but over time, she finally gave in to my charms. That’s why I decided to stay here in Japan."

"I-is that so?" I mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed. He really is a lot like Haru. Both of them talk too much. They are both kinda annoying. I only asked if he was Japanese, and now I know a whole love story that I never even wanted to hear.

"By the way, Haru confessed to you, right?"

My body stiffened. My face instantly heated up, and I turned to look at him, wide-eyed. How does he know that? Is he mad? I stayed silent, unsure of what to say. He must have noticed my reaction because he laughed again. "Hahahaha, don’t be embarrassed."

"H-how do you know that?" I finally managed to ask. When I looked at him, his playful expression was gone. His face was serious now, and his hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. The shift in his mood made me uneasy.

"Well," he said, his voice calmer now, "let’s just say Haru is crazy about you."

His grip on the wheel tightened even more, and I swallowed. "What do you mean?" I know Haru is weird. I know he's a p*****t. But... I can’t help but want to understand him more. He said he doesn't have any secrets anymore but he still won't tell me how he met me when we were kids.

"Just be good to him. If you don’t like him, then turn him down properly." His voice was firm, his eyes looking straight ahead. "I don’t want to see Haru killing himself, you see. He’s an important part of our family. We love him so much."

I froze. Kill? Isn’t that exaggerating? Why would Haru do something like that? I already rejected him once, and he just brushed it off like it was nothing.

"What do you mean kill?" I asked hesitantly, lowering my gaze. For a moment, the car was silent. Then—

"Pfft… HAHAHA!" He suddenly burst into laughter again. "Did I scare you?"

I looked up, and before I could respond, he spoke again. "Look, we’re already at your house."

I turned my head and saw that we had indeed arrived. I hadn’t even noticed how much time had passed.

"Take care, Kai," Haru’s father said as I stepped out of the car.

I didn’t say anything back, just raised a hand in a small wave before closing the door behind me.

As I walked toward the house, I heard my mom’s voice. "Who was that?"

"It’s Haru’s father. He gave me a ride home," I answered, stepping inside.

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I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t fall asleep. My mind kept replaying the conversation with Haru’s father.

"I don’t want to see Haru killing himself."

I turned on my side, gripping the blanket tightly. What did he mean by that? Was he serious? Or was he just messing with me? Haru wouldn’t… do something like that, right?

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. But it wouldn’t leave. I sighed and turned onto my other side, hoping a different position would help. Why did he have to say it like that? I mean, I already knew Haru liked me, but hearing it from his own father made it feel… different.

I closed my eyes, but instead of clearing my mind, an image of Haru appeared. Specifically, Haru wearing glasses. The way his glasses sat perfectly on his nose, how they slightly slid down when he focused, how he pushed them up with a slight pout—

“He really looked good with glasses earlier,” I muttered to myself before I could stop the words from slipping out.

The moment I realized what I said, I immediately sat up, my face burning.

“Agh… Why am I thinking like this?!” I groaned, gripping my hair in frustration.

So what if Haru looked good in glasses? It doesn’t mean anything! Cyrus also wears glasses all the time, and it never bothered me like this. So why… Why is it different from Haru?

I flopped back onto my bed, staring at the ceiling again. My heart was beating too fast, and I hated it.

"Haru likes me…" I muttered, almost as if I was trying to confirm it with myself.

The memories of him helping me flashed through my mind—his warm smile, the way he always tried to make me comfortable, how he never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do. Except for the fact that he k-kiss me.

My chest tightened, and my face grew even hotter.

"Agh… No! What the hell?!" I shouted, grabbing my pillow and pressing it against my face. "It’s all his father’s fault! Saying all those things and putting weird ideas in my head!"

After a few seconds, I moved the pillow away from my face because I couldn’t breathe. I exhaled, trying to calm myself down.

"Do I like Haru?" I whispered, the words feeling strange on my tongue.

The moment I said it, I immediately shook my head. "No, no, no. What am I saying? He’s just a friend. A friend."

I turned on my side again, pulling the blanket over my head. But even as I tried to convince myself, my heart wouldn’t stop beating fast.