It started like any other brilliant plan Haruka had concocted—chaotic, overly ambitious, and entirely unapproved by anyone with common sense.
"Operation Hoodie Recon : Phase Two!" Haruka declared, crouched behind a suspiciously trimmed bush in the middle of the city square. Momo, ever the loyal Samoyed, stood at attention beside her, tail wagging like a flag of honor. Yuki, sipping an iced latte, stared down at her best friend with the resigned patience of someone used to these kinds of days.
"You named the mission again," Yuki said flatly.
"Every mission deserves a name," Haruka whispered, popping her head over the bush like a poorly-trained spy. "Otherwise it's just… wandering around."
Yuki gestured vaguely. "Which is exactly what we've been doing."
Haruka ignored her. "We have a candy wrapper. We have a dog with a nose. And we have determination. Today, we find Hoodie Guy."
Momo barked once, more excited about the idea of snacks than justice. Haruka patted his head with serious nods.
They'd been at this for hours—interviewing café staff, pestering baristas, even holding up the candy wrapper like it was a sacred relic. Yuki had taken candid photos of Haruka's "investigative work" for potential blackmail later. Momo had eaten part of a croissant that wasn't his. It was chaos.
And then, finally, they'd found the clue—a comment from a waitress at a small, hidden café.
"Oh, yeah, there's a guy like that. Kinda gloomy. Always wears a hoodie. Comes in with another guy sometimes."
Bingo.
Haruka and Yuki exchanged looks. Momo sneezed. The hunt was on.
The café was cozy. Not their usual café, but still quaint, with mismatched chairs and indie music softly echoing off wood-paneled walls. Haruka entered first, eyes scanning like a trained operative. Yuki strolled behind her, entirely unbothered. Momo trotted in, sniffed the air, and immediately started wagging—because of course he did.
And that's when Haruka saw him.
The hoodie. The posture. The air of gloom and caffeine addiction.
Her archnemesis.
Ryo Takahashi was sitting at a corner table, sipping his drink, utterly unaware he was about to be ambushed by his most persistent enemy: a very stubborn girl with a grudge.
Next to him sat—wait.
"Kaito?" Haruka blurted, blinking. "What are you doing hanging out with him?"
Kaito looked up and smiled as if nothing about this was weird. "Oh, hey, Haruka. Small world."
Haruka's brain short-circuited. "You… know each other?"
"We live together," Kaito said casually, as if that wasn't the single most shocking piece of intel she'd ever heard.
Haruka turned slowly to Yuki, horrified. "We've walked into a trap."
Yuki took a sip of her drink and smiled. "Sure feels like it."
Somehow—somehow—Haruka ends up sitting across from her archnemesis.
It happens fast. One second she's preparing to storm out, the next, Yuki's grinning like a devil, waving them over, and suddenly chairs are scraping and everyone's settling into one big, awkward café table like this was all totally normal.
It's not normal.
Haruka stiffens in her seat, clutching Momo like a fluffy security blanket. Ryo is seated directly across from her, sipping iced coffee like he didn't bribe her dog, destroy her trust in mankind, and casually ruin her day. Kaito is beside him, as charming as ever. Yuki looks far too pleased with herself.
No one speaks for a full ten seconds.
Then:
"So…" Kaito begins, breaking the tension like a spoon cracking crème brûlée. "Small world?"
Haruka glares at him. "You didn't mention your friends are criminals."
Ryo raises an eyebrow, slow and dry. "Criminal?"
"You corrupted Momo," she accuses, pointing at him like they're in court. "With candy."
Ryo deadpans. "He accepted it. That's on him."
Haruka gasps, utterly offended. "He's a baby! You manipulated him with sugar and soft words!"
"Are you… jealous?" Ryo asks flatly.
Haruka sputters. "Excuse me—"
Yuki sips her drink loudly, hiding her grin behind the straw. "This is the best thing I've ever witnessed."
Momo, seated at Haruka's feet, lets out a contented huff.
"I can't believe this," Haruka mutters, glancing between Ryo and Kaito. "How do you two even know each other?"
Kaito shrugs. "Housemates."
Haruka's jaw drops. "Housemates?!"
Ryo nods, completely nonchalant. "Since forever."
Haruka turns to Yuki in a panic. "This is definitely a trap."
Yuki leans back, totally relaxed. "Oh yeah. And I'm loving it."
Haruka sinks into her seat, brain short-circuiting. Momo lays his head on her foot like a fluffy little traitor.
This case just got a whole lot more complicated.
Haruka tried to focus. Really, she did. But it was hard to plan her next strategic move when her mortal enemy sat across from her with a face that refused to show emotion and a voice as dry as the Sahara.
Ryo, for his part, didn't seem the least bit affected by her presence. In fact, he looked bored—like this was just another Tuesday. He leaned back in his chair, sipping his iced coffee without once meeting her eyes. Which, infuriatingly, made her want him to look.
"So," Yuki began with an innocent tone that was anything but, "isn't it weird how fate brings people together?"
Kaito nodded along, amused. "Right? One day you're buying canned coffee, the next you're part of an accidental stakeout."
Haruka blinked. "Wait—you knew we were looking for him?"
"I had a hunch." Kaito grinned. "Yuki's camera was out. Momo was alert. You were muttering about candy like a detective on the edge."
"I am a detective on the edge," she grumbled.
"Sure," Ryo said, monotone. "Except your dog defected to the enemy camp."
Haruka turned dramatically to Momo. "We'll talk about this betrayal later."
Momo gave a lazy tail thump in response.
"And just so we're clear," she turned back to Ryo, voice clipped, "I haven't forgotten what you did."
Ryo tilted his head. "What did I do again? Exist?"
"You bribed my dog. You teased me. You… you're just so smug."
Yuki snorted.
Ryo finally met Haruka's eyes. "You're overthinking it."
"I don't overthink!" she snapped.
"You do. Loudly."
Kaito looked between them, smiling faintly. "This is kind of adorable."
Haruka's ears turned pink. "It's not! This is war."
"Sure," Ryo replied, looking away.
Yuki leaned into Haruka's side and whispered, "You're so mad at him you didn't even finish your croissant."
Haruka scowled. "My appetite is gone. He took it."
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "You're blaming me for your pastry grief now?"
"Yes."
Kaito chuckled softly. "You two are either enemies or halfway to dating."
Haruka and Ryo turned to him at the same time, both horrified.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
Yuki burst out laughing. "That's the most in-sync I've ever seen you two."
Haruka stood up suddenly, cheeks puffed. "I'm leaving."
"You haven't paid," Ryo said calmly.
She hesitated.
Kaito waved a hand. "I'll cover it."
Ryo looked at him. "You always do."
"That's because you never bring your wallet."
Ryo shrugged.
Yuki and Haruka headed for the door, Momo trotting after them.
But just before stepping out, Haruka turned back. Ryo had already looked away, talking to Kaito again, completely unbothered.
She narrowed her eyes. "This isn't over."
"Didn't think it was," he replied without looking.
Haruka huffed and marched out.
Outside, she knelt down beside Momo, stroking his fluffy head.
"You're supposed to be my loyal sidekick, not theirs."
Momo yawned, utterly unrepentant.
We're going to detox you from candy influence, you hear me?"
Momo sneezed.
Then she stood up with purpose—only to smack her forehead on the doorframe.
Thud.
"Ow—!"
Ryo, still inside, didn't even flinch. He just raised an eyebrow, deadpan. "You sure you're not the one who got bribed?"
"I'm fine!" she squeaked, one eye twitching as she tried to walk it off with dignity.
Yuki leaned in, whispering with a smirk, "Haru… I think the candy's winning."
Haruka puffed her cheeks, clutching Momo like a plushie shield. "This isn't over," she mumbled.
And with that, she marched off in the wrong direction—Yuki had to tug her back by the sleeve.