Hikari barely had time to process what had just happened before the unmistakable voice of his father rang out from behind the gate.
"Hikari, what's all the commotion?"
The sound made him stiffen on the spot. A cold shiver ran down his spine, as if he had been caught red-handed doing something forbidden. He wasn't, of course—at least, not in any way that should be suspicious. But knowing his father, things were about to get complicated.
The weight of the situation hit him instantly. His father had called him by name, right in front of Mitsumi. How would she react to that? Would she put the pieces together? He had just been given the perfect opportunity to make a fresh impression on her, to exist as just another student in her eyes, but now his father had shattered that illusion in a single breath.
A deep sigh escaped his lips. There was no getting out of this now.
"Um..." he muttered, shifting on his feet, feeling the weight of both Mitsumi's curious gaze and his father's expectant one.
His head turned ever so slowly, like the hesitant creak of an old door hinge. His eyes, which had been fixed on the metal fence enclosing his house, now locked onto his father, who stood behind the steel bars of the front gate.
There was a brief moment of silence before his father's expression changed. At first, he looked mildly concerned—almost confused—but then, like a switch had been flipped, his entire face lit up with an expression that could only be described as... eerie.
Hikari swallowed hard. His father was smiling. Not a normal, warm smile, but something between a grin and a smirk, with a knowing glint in his eyes that sent a chill down his son's spine. Something about it just felt off.
"Son, come here."
Every instinct in Hikari's body screamed at him to run, but his legs disobeyed. Slowly, hesitantly, he approached the gate, every step heavier than the last. He knew his father well enough to recognize that tone. It was the voice of a man who had already decided on a conclusion—one that would be impossible to argue against.
As soon as Hikari was close enough, his father's hand shot out, grabbing him by the ear with an iron grip and pulling him forward.
"You didn't tell me about this girl, huh?" His father's voice was thick with amusement. "She looks just like your mother did when she was young. Beautiful and innocent." His smile widened as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper laced with mock seriousness.
"You've got my full support, son. But first, you must introduce her to your parents, right? We should get to know her, just as you do the same. That's how these things work."
Hikari felt his soul leaving his body.
No, no, no! This was all wrong! His father had completely misunderstood the situation, twisting reality into something ridiculous. But how could he possibly explain when his ear was currently being stretched to its limit?
"D-Dad, listen, it's not what you think!" he stammered, wincing as he struggled to escape his father's grasp.
"Oh? There's nothing to explain. I've seen everything with my own eyes!" His father declared dramatically, as if he had uncovered some grand secret.
Dejectedly sighing, Hikari knew that arguing was pointless. Once his father latched onto an idea, prying it from his mind was like trying to unbend reinforced steel. His heart pounded furiously in his chest. He needed to get out of this situation before it escalated even further.
His father finally released his grip, only to give him a firm push towards the street. "Anyway, you'll be late for school! Off you go."
Before Hikari could get another word in, the gate slammed shut behind him. Through the bars, his father gave him a triumphant thumbs-up, his expression brimming with unearned pride.
What kind of expression is that?!
Defeated, Hikari sighed deeply and turned to Mitsumi, who had been watching the entire exchange with an unreadable expression. He avoided looking directly at her, too afraid of what she might say.
"Let's go, Mitsumi," he said, reaching out absentmindedly and taking her hand.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying, "Oh, okay."
They walked a few steps before she spoke again, her voice light with curiosity. "By the way, what's your name?"
Oh, right. He had never introduced himself.
"Kurayami Hikari," he muttered, glancing at her briefly.
A small smile graced her lips. "That's a nice name."
Something inside him shifted at her words. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but it was there—a warmth, a strange flutter in his chest. No one had ever complimented his name before.
It wasn't particularly special, and he had never given it much thought. But the way she said it made it feel different, like it carried some kind of weight he had never realized before.
He looked away quickly, feeling his face heat up. Why was she looking at him like that? Why did her words have this effect on him? He didn't understand it, and quite frankly, he didn't want to.
"Thanks," he muttered, forcing himself to focus on the road ahead.
As they walked side by side, his mind wandered back to something his father had told him years ago. It had been a casual conversation at the time, nothing more than one of his dad's silly, offhanded remarks. But now, for some reason, it echoed in his mind with unsettling clarity.
When the time comes, I want you to propose to the one you truly love on that very bridge.
His eyes widened in horror at his own thoughts. What was wrong with him? That was just one of his father's ridiculous jokes! There was no reason for it to pop into his head now.
But no matter how hard he tried to shake it off, the words lingered, refusing to be ignored. And with each step he took, he became more aware of the fact that the girl walking beside him—this stranger he had only just met—was at the center of his thoughts.
A lot had happened in just a single day. The Love Bridge. The Shadow Manipulator. Mitsumi standing at his gate, waiting for him. It all felt surreal, like something out of a dream.
But being lost in thought came with its own dangers.
Hikari barely had time to react when his foot suddenly caught on an uneven crack in the pavement. His body lurched forward, balance completely thrown off. Before he knew it, he was falling face-first towards the ground.
A sharp gasp came from Mitsumi beside him, but before she could reach out, he hit the pavement with a dull thud. Pain shot through his palms and knees as they scraped against the rough surface. He winced, gritting his teeth against the sting.
"Hikari! Are you okay?" Mitsumi crouched beside him, her voice laced with concern.
Embarrassment flooded through him. Great. Just great. First his father, now this. Could this day get any worse?
"I-I'm fine," he muttered, pushing himself up and dusting off his uniform.
Mitsumi didn't look convinced. "Are you sure? You're bleeding a little."
He glanced down at his palms. Sure enough, a thin layer of blood was beginning to well up from the scrapes. He sighed. "It's nothing."
She frowned but didn't press the issue. Instead, she pulled a small handkerchief from her pocket and gently dabbed at his palms. The sudden warmth of her touch sent an unfamiliar shiver down his spine.
Hikari swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way his heart had suddenly decided to race. Today was turning out to be a lot more eventful than he had anticipated.
"Can you get up?" Mitsumi asked, offering her hand. Without further ado, Hikari took it before he checked the time.
"Let's go," He said, mildly panicking as he tugged at Mitsumi. They were going to be late for school.