The snow outside was heavy, thick white flakes falling endlessly from the night sky. The streets were quiet, streetlights casting a soft, hazy glow through the cold mist.
Every step made a soft crunch against the snow-covered pavement. It was freezing — the kind of cold that slipped right through your jacket and pricked at your bones.
Junpei and Ruka ended up at a small, quiet café nearby. The place was half-empty, the windows fogged up from the warmth inside clashing with the bitter cold out.
The cozy atmosphere should’ve felt nice, but honestly, Junpei was a nervous wreck. His stomach was doing somersaults, his hands trembling even as he held a cup of hot tea he hadn't even touched.
Across from him, Ruka sat by the window, arms crossed, eyes staring out at the snow like she was miles away. Her face was calm, a little distant, like always. But Junpei knew — he could tell she was acting tough.
He took a deep breath, his voice coming out softer than he intended.
“Ruka… so... how are you?”
She blinked, turning her gaze to him like she’d just remembered he was there.
“So far, I’m fine.” Her voice was flat, but it wasn’t cold. Just… tired.
Junpei forced a crooked smile.
“You sure? You’re always so chill about everything. Honestly… it kinda scares me.”
That caught her off guard. Her brows furrowed as she tilted her head.
“Why does it scare you?”
Junpei hesitated, looking down at the drink in his hands. The heat from the cup did nothing to stop how icy his fingers felt.
“Because I don’t know what you’re really thinking. Or feeling. And I don’t know where I stand with you. Kinda… freaks me out.” His voice dropped toward the end, almost a mumble.
Ruka stared at him for a moment before speaking. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ noᴠelfire.net
“Why does any of that matter to you?” she asked quietly.
She paused, her eyes turning away again. “Whatever I feel or think… it’s got nothing to do with you.”
It hit like a slap in the face, and Junpei’s heart sank for a second. He knew she was tough, but hearing it out loud still stung. He laughed awkwardly, trying to cover up the sting.
“Yeah… yeah, you’re right. I’m probably overthinking this.” He forced a chuckle, but it sounded weak even to his own ears.
Ruka sighed softly. “Thanks for asking, though.”
It was a tiny gesture, but Junpei latched onto it like a lifeline. He let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck, gathering every ounce of nerve he had. His hands were sweating despite the cold.
“Look… I don’t know how you really feel about me. But I… I’m gonna tell you how I feel.”
Ruka blinked in surprise, turning to face him fully now. She didn’t interrupt.
Junpei cleared his throat, his heart pounding like a jackhammer.
“I like you. Not like a crush or a joke. I actually like you. I know, it sounds stupid — 9 years age gap, and we’ve only known each other for like, what? Three days? It’s nuts. But… I’m serious. About you. About this.”
Ruka didn’t say a word. She just watched him.
Junpei bit his lip and went on.
“I know what happened was reckless. But I’m not gonna run away from it. Whatever happens — if there’s a consequence, or you want to forget about it, or you… you decide anything at all. I’ll take responsibility. I’ll respect what you decide. I just… I just don’t want you to keep everything bottled up . It sucks seeing you pretending like nothing happened when I know you’re carrying something heavy.”
His words came out a little rough at the end, his voice cracking slightly. He felt ridiculous and exposed, but it was too late to stop now.
“So… please... You don’t have to tell me now, but… someday. I wanna hear it from you. Anything. Everything.”
The room felt dead silent except for the soft hum of the heater. Junpei’s hands were ice cold, his throat dry. He couldn’t read Ruka’s face at all.
Until finally, Ruka exhaled, her shoulders sagging a little like a weight was pulling them down.
“Actually… I’m scared too.”
Junpei’s eyes widened.
Ruka stared at the window, watching the snow fall, her voice soft but clear.
“I made a big mistake. The kind of thing I always thought I was too smart or too careful to ever do. And now, it’s like… I don’t know how to deal with it. I’m not ready for what might happen.”
Her fingers clutched the edge of her scarf like she was holding onto it for dear life.
“I tried acting tough because I didn’t want to look pathetic. But honestly… I’m lost. And it’s terrifying.”
Junpei’s chest tightened hearing her say it. He reached out instinctively, setting his hand on the table between them — not touching her, but close enough she’d know he was there.
“You’re not pathetic. You’re human. Everyone screws up sometimes. What matters is what you do after.”
Ruka gave a tiny, almost sad smile at that.
“Thank you, Junpei. For saying that. It… helped. More than you know.”
Junpei grinned, relief washing over him.
“Don’t sweat it. And hey… it’s okay if you can’t reply to my feelings right now. I mean, normally people take months for stuff , right? I’m the idiot who fell in love at first sight, like I’m living in some cheap drama.”
Ruka laughed softly. It wasn’t a loud laugh, but it was real. “You really are weird.”
“Yeah, I get that a lot.”
The clock on the wall showed it was getting late. Ruka stood, grabbing her coat.
“I should go home now. Thanks for the talk.”
Junpei stood too, quickly bowing his head.
“Thank you for listening to my nonsense. And… be safe, okay? I’ll wait for your decision. No rush.”
Ruka hesitated for a second, then smiled at him — a small, gentle smile that made his heart skip a beat.
She walked out into the snow, her figure slowly fading into the white haze. But Junpei didn’t leave.
Instead, he quietly followed behind, a good distance away. Not to be creepy, but just to make sure she made it safely. He watched her walk through the empty streets, her breath misting in the air.
At one point, Ruka stopped by a vending machine and glanced over her shoulder. She spotted him — of course she did. He froze in place, looking like a deer in headlights.
Ruka just smiled to herself, turned back, and kept walking.
Junpei grinned like an idiot and kept following from a safe distance, his heart a little lighter despite the freezing cold.
Little did he know… she’d noticed every step.