CHAPTER 30 - 34

Chapter 30: The Brat Who Met an Angel

"I was a brat back then," Renji muttered as he leaned against his bed, staring at the ceiling.

His mind drifted back to the past—to the first time he met Amelia.


---

It was the third year of high school. Renji was seventeen, reckless, and had a reputation that made even teachers sigh in frustration. Fights were nothing new to him. He didn’t pick them, but he never backed down either.

That day, his gang got into a fight with another group. Fists flew, curses were exchanged, and Renji was in his usual zone—dodging, striking, making sure he didn’t go down first.

And then—

BAM!

Something hard struck the side of his head. He staggered, disoriented, before collapsing into a corner.

Everything blurred, and darkness took over.

When he opened his eyes, the blinding white of the infirmary greeted him. His head pounded, but the first thing he saw wasn’t the nurse.

It was her.

A blonde girl sitting by his bedside, arms crossed, eyes watching him with a mixture of irritation and concern.

Still groggy, Renji muttered, "Am I in heaven?"

The nurse scoffed. "Don’t be overdramatic."

Renji ignored her and looked at Amelia. "Then why’s an angel here?"

He swore—he swore—she blushed.

Before he could say anything else, the nurse smacked him hard on the back, making him sit up properly. "You’re awake enough to flirt, so get out of here."

Renji swung his legs off the bed, stretching. "Gladly."

But just as he made his way to the door, Amelia stepped in front of him, arms folded.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Renji raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care?"

She sighed. "Because you owe the disciplinary office a visit."

"Tch. I don’t care about that."

She didn’t move.

Annoyed, Renji reached out and lightly pushed her aside. He glanced at her for just a second—long enough to see the brief flicker of hurt cross her face—but at that time, he didn’t care.

He left.

The fight had already ended by the time he returned. Frustrated, he kicked a trash can before heading back to class.

But guilt nagged at him.

It wasn’t until later that he heard Amelia had gotten injured.

A broken arm.

And she had been crying.

For the first time in his life, something bothered him more than a lost fight.

So the next day, he made up his mind.

He would be her bodyguard.


---

She didn’t return to school for a week.

But Renji waited.

When she finally showed up, she looked annoyed to see him standing by the entrance.

"You again?"

"Yeah."

She narrowed her eyes and marched past him. He followed.

"You don’t need to follow me," she huffed.

"I want to."

She glared. "I don’t need a bodyguard."

"Too bad."

It went on like that for weeks.

She threw things at him—her pencil case, her water bottle, even an eraser once. He took it all without complaint. He bought her snacks, carried her books, even shooed away other troublemakers.

Eventually, she stopped fighting it.

And then, one day, they finally talked.

At first, it was awkward.

She’d make some sarcastic comment, he’d grunt in response.

But as the days passed, their conversations became longer.

They laughed.

They shared things.

And somehow, without realizing it, Amelia became the reason he actually cared about finishing high school.

Not college, though.

The gang drama dragged him back in, and he made some bad choices.

By the time he got out of it, Amelia had already moved forward in life.

But here she was again.

And for the first time in years, he saw her sad.

He didn’t want to see her like that ever again.


---

Renji sat up in bed, shaking the memories from his mind.

He needed advice.

Which meant talking to his parents.


---

The next morning, he found his parents in the living room. His father was reading the newspaper, and his mother was sipping coffee.

"Morning," Renji said, sitting down across from them.

His mother raised an eyebrow. "You’re up early. Something on your mind?"

Renji exhaled. "Yeah… I need some advice."

His father put down the newspaper. "Advice? From us?"

Renji nodded.

His parents exchanged a glance—one of those silent parental conversations he could never quite decipher.

His mother smirked. "Alright, let’s hear it."

Renji leaned back. "So… I went to a restaurant with a friend yesterday. Amelia."

His mother’s expression shifted slightly. "Oh?"

Renji continued, explaining everything—the waiter mistaking them for a couple, his denial, Amelia’s sudden change in mood, and the heavy feeling in his chest when he saw her sad.

When he finished, his parents looked at each other again.

His mother sighed. "Are you really that dense?"

Renji frowned. "Me? Dense? Why?"

His father chuckled. "Oh, son. This is painful to watch."

Renji scowled. "What do you mean?"

His mother set down her coffee. "Poor Amelia."

"Why?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"That’s why I’m here, isn’t it?"

She leaned forward, eyes sharp. "Renji, Amelia likes you."

Silence.

Renji blinked.

Then—

"What? No, no, no, we’re just friends. She even said I’m her best friend."

His mother shook her head. "Does she hold your hand and blush?"

Renji thought back. "Yeah…"

His mother smirked. "Did you know Amelia doesn’t like spicy foods?"

Renji waved a hand. "No, she does! We used to eat spicy food all the time at my favorite restaurant."

His father chuckled. "Even when your mom and I argued every day, I noticed she doesn’t like spicy food."

Renji frowned, gears turning in his head.

Oh… that’s why…

His parents facepalmed at the same time.

His mother muttered, "This boy is denser than a black hole."

His father added, "Even gravity isn’t pulling sense into his head."

Renji scowled. "Oi."

His mother sighed. "That’s why she was upset, Renji. She was happy at first when the waiter mistook you for a couple. But the moment you denied it, you probably crushed her a little."

Renji stared at the table, stunned.

Could that really be true?

Amelia… liked him?

His heart pounded.

For the first time, Renji found himself questioning something he had never thought about before.

Does she really like me?

And, more importantly—

What do I feel about her?

To be continued…

Chapter 31 : Realization and a Confession

Renji lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mother’s words echoing in his head.

"Amelia likes you."

No, that couldn’t be true. Right? She was just his best friend. But then again… every memory he had with her started to replay in his mind—the way she always showed up, the way she never let him slip away even when he was at his worst, the way her eyes softened whenever she looked at him, and, most of all, the way she always seemed to be waiting for something.

Was it him?

He sat up with a groan, running his hands through his hair. His heart was racing, and for once, it wasn’t from a fight. He pulled out his phone and hesitated before dialing her number.

The ringing felt longer than usual before Amelia finally picked up.

"Hello?" Her voice was quieter than normal.

Renji frowned. She didn’t sound like herself.

"Oi, what’s up with you? You sound dead."

"I’m fine," she replied, but he wasn’t convinced.

"You wanna go out for a bit? Let’s get some air."

"I’m busy."

Renji narrowed his eyes. That was a lie. Amelia was a terrible liar.

"I’ll just come over then."

Silence.

She didn’t tell him no, but she also didn’t say yes.

That was enough for him.

He grabbed his keys, locked up his shop, and headed straight to hers. When he arrived, the lights were off, and the sign read CLOSED. That was weird. Amelia rarely closed early.

He knocked on the door.

A moment later, the door creaked open, and there she was—standing in her pajamas, her hair slightly messy, looking exhausted.

"You actually came," she murmured.

"Of course, I did. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t?" He tried to sound lighthearted, but the way she looked at him made his chest tighten.

She let him inside without a word.

They sat across from each other in the dimly lit room.

Renji leaned back and smirked. "Man, this is a sight. Amelia, the great student council president, looking all gloomy in pajamas. Where’s that scary glare of yours?"

No reaction.

She just stared at the table, silent.

His smirk faded.

This wasn’t like her.

After a long pause, he sighed and leaned forward.

"You know… when we first moved to this town, things were rough for me. I hated my parents. They fought all the time, about everything and nothing at all. I didn’t want to be home, so I found another place to belong—the streets. At first, it was just dumb high school gang fights, but then I got in too deep. Real gangs. Real fights. Real scars."

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a faint glimpse of a tattoo near his wrist.

"See this?" he muttered.

Amelia glanced at it but said nothing.

"Even when I was gone, I couldn’t forget you," he admitted, his voice softer now.

She lifted her gaze, her expression unreadable.

"I used to wonder what you were doing. If you were still lecturing people. If you were still being an annoying perfectionist. If you were…" He chuckled. "…still doing stupid things."

Amelia frowned and smacked his arm.

"I knew it. You haven’t changed at all," she muttered.

Renji laughed.

"But I did think about you a lot. Like, is she okay? Is she eating properly? Does she miss me?"

A long silence stretched between them.

Then, finally, Amelia whispered, "I did miss you… even though you’re an idiot."

Renji exhaled sharply, something in his chest tightening. He shifted closer until they were barely a breath apart.

"I suck at this kind of thing," he admitted. "Reading people’s feelings, understanding my own. But I don’t want to be clueless anymore. Will you help me figure it out?"

She blinked. "What…?"

"Amelia." He met her eyes, unwavering. "Be my girlfriend."

Her eyes widened. "What?!"

"I mean it," he continued, his voice firm despite his pounding heart. "I don’t want to be just your best friend. I don’t want to see you sad. I don’t want you to think I’ll leave again. And…" He hesitated. "…I don’t want any other guy near you."

Amelia’s face turned red. "You—!" She clenched her fists. "You literally just said yesterday that we’re just friends!"

"Yeah, well, I was an idiot."

She stared at him, searching his face for any sign of a joke, but found none.

He was serious.

Her lips parted slightly, like she was about to say something, but nothing came out. Then, slowly, she nodded.

"Okay."

"Okay?" He blinked. "Wait, you mean okay as in yes?"

"I mean, yes, you idiot," she said, rolling her eyes, her face still burning.

Relief washed over him, and before he could think, he reached out, cupping her face gently.

Amelia froze.

And then—

He kissed her.

It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t desperate. It was slow, deep, and filled with everything he hadn’t been able to say.

When he pulled back, Amelia’s entire face was red.

Then—SMACK!

She slapped his arm. "You skipped a few steps, you idiot!"

Renji just laughed. "You’re really cute when you’re angry."

"Shut up, idiot!" she shot back, turning away, but her lips curled into a tiny smile.

And just like that, Renji knew—

This time, he wasn’t letting go.


CHAPTER END

Chapter 32 : The Game of Bonds

The sun had long since set, and the room was bathed in the soft glow of a gaming console's screen.

Kyoya, Misaki, and Hiro sat on the floor of Kyoya’s house, controllers in hand, ready for a night of intense gaming. Well, that was what Kyoya thought was about to happen.

"Alright, let’s make this interesting," Kyoya said, cracking his knuckles. "Loser buys snacks next time."

"That’s unfair," Misaki muttered, adjusting her wheelchair to get more comfortable. "You always win."

"Pfft. Not my fault you guys are bad," Kyoya said smugly.

"Actually, I’m decent," Hiro interjected. "It’s just that you cheat."

"Excuse me?" Kyoya gasped dramatically. "Accusing me of cheating? I am a man of honor!"

"Yeah, yeah. Last time, you ‘accidentally’ unplugged my controller when I was winning," Hiro said flatly.

"That was a coincidence!"

"A very convenient coincidence," Misaki added with narrowed eyes.

"Tch, whatever. Enough talk, let’s go," Kyoya grumbled, starting the match.


---

Round One: Misaki vs. Hiro

"Hiro, I won’t go easy on you," Misaki said, her fingers poised over the controller.

"Misaki, I’ve been waiting for this rematch. Last time, I lost because you distracted me by throwing a pencil at my face."

"That’s called strategy," she said innocently.

"No, that’s called assault," Hiro deadpanned.

"Same thing."

Kyoya burst out laughing as the match started. Hiro, laser-focused, played aggressively, while Misaki played defensively, waiting for the right moment.

"Dodge! Dodge! Dodge—NOOO!" Hiro cried as Misaki landed a devastating move.

"Hah! Victory!" Misaki cheered, pumping her fist.

"This is rigged," Hiro muttered, slumping back.

"You’re just bad," Misaki teased.

"I swear if I lose again, I’m deleting my save file," Hiro mumbled.

"Such drama," Kyoya commented.


---

Round Two: Kyoya vs. Misaki

"Oh, this is gonna be fun," Kyoya smirked.

"You’re way too confident."

"Of course! I was born for this."

The match began, and Kyoya immediately started attacking. Misaki dodged every move perfectly, keeping up with him like a seasoned pro.

Hiro watched, amused.

"Wait a second," Hiro muttered to himself. "Why does this feel different?"

He noticed something—Kyoya was focused, but not just on the game. He was sneaking glances at Misaki whenever she smiled or made an excited noise. And Misaki, who usually acted indifferent, was smiling a lot tonight.

Then it hit him.

"Oh… they’re totally into each other," Hiro realized.

As if on cue, Kyoya and Misaki started bickering in a way that felt way too much like flirting.

"Stop running away and fight me!" Kyoya complained.

"Why would I fight when I can just let you make mistakes?" Misaki replied smugly.

"That’s dirty!"

"That’s smart."

"Misaki, have I told you how much I dislike you?"

"Yes, but you keep coming back."

Hiro chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "These two are so obvious."


---

Final Round: Hiro vs. Kyoya

"Hiro, if you lose again, I swear—" Kyoya started.

"Relax, this time I’m serious," Hiro said, cracking his fingers.

The match started, and Hiro immediately launched a surprise attack.

"OHHH, HIDDEN TALENT?!" Kyoya gasped.

"I’ve been training."

"TRAITOR!"

Misaki watched with amusement as the two fought intensely, their characters clashing in a fast-paced battle.

"Come on, Hiro! Beat him!" Misaki cheered.

"Wait, what? You’re on his side now?!" Kyoya shouted.

"It’s more fun this way," she grinned.

"You betrayed me!"

Hiro, taking advantage of the distraction, landed the finishing blow.

"YES!" Hiro yelled in triumph.

Kyoya fell back dramatically. "This is the worst day of my life."

"The worst day was when you ate expired noodles and had food poisoning for two days," Misaki corrected.

"Okay, second worst," Kyoya mumbled.

Misaki giggled, and Hiro shook his head.

"Man, I was worried for nothing," Hiro thought to himself. "These two are so meant for each other."

And even though Kyoya and Misaki hadn’t confessed yet, Hiro knew.

CHAPTER END

Chapter 33: The Ace and the Underdog

Hiro’s POV

"Alright, let’s move into our groups!"

The teacher’s voice rang through the classroom, and just like that, our usual trio got split apart.

Kyoya ended up with two other guys and two girls, while Misaki—thanks to Kyoya’s influence—got placed in an all-girls group. As for me…

I glanced at my own team: one guy, three girls.

Among them was Yuna—the school’s basketball ace, a campus crush, and an overall legend. She was tall, had an almost model-like aura, and that sharp gaze that could cut through glass. She wasn’t just popular, she was also confident—maybe a little too confident.

And unfortunately, she and I weren’t exactly hitting it off.


---

Tension in the Group

"So, does anyone have ideas for our promotional video?" I asked, hoping to start a discussion.

"We should highlight the sports facilities," Yuna said immediately, flipping her hair. "It’s one of the best things about our school."

"That’s true," another girl nodded.

"I was thinking we could also showcase the academic side," I suggested. "Like how our teachers and clubs help students succeed—"

"Boring," Yuna cut in. "No one wants to see that. If you want students to come here, you show them what makes us cool."

I frowned. "Academics are important too."

"We’re making a video, not writing an essay," she replied, folding her arms.

"That doesn’t mean we should ignore—"

"Look, just let me handle the concept," she interrupted again. "You can just... I don’t know, hold the camera or something."

The way she dismissed me so easily made my jaw tighten. I wasn’t the most outspoken guy, but being treated like I was useless? That pissed me off.

Still, I held my tongue. Fine. If she wants to be in charge, let’s see how that goes.


---

The Disaster Scene

The next day, we started shooting.

Yuna was determined to capture a flashy basketball shot for the opening scene. Her idea? A slow-motion clip of her making an impossible three-pointer, with the camera moving around her dramatically.

"I’m telling you, this is going to look awesome," she said, dribbling confidently.

"Only if we do it right," I muttered.

We spent an hour trying. An hour.

Take after take, something went wrong. The camera angles were off, the ball kept bouncing the wrong way, and worst of all—Yuna kept messing up her shot under pressure.

I could see the frustration on her face, but she was too stubborn to admit it.

"Okay, maybe we should try something else—" I started.

"No! I got this!" Yuna snapped.

And then, as if the universe wanted to prove her wrong—

She jumped for another shot.

The ball bounced off the hoop, ricocheted off the backboard…

And then came flying straight at my face.

SMACK!

I staggered back, clutching my nose.

"Hiro?! Oh crap, are you okay?!" one of the girls gasped.

Meanwhile, Yuna?

She was laughing.

"Pffft—okay, that was kinda funny," she admitted, covering her mouth.

I glared at her. "Oh, you think this is funny?"

"I mean… yeah?" she snorted.

I sighed deeply. This girl is impossible.


---

The Turning Point

Not long after, disaster struck again.

Yuna wanted a dynamic shot from a high angle, so she insisted on filming from a rickety stack of gym mats.

"This is a bad idea," I warned.

"Relax, I have great balance."

I folded my arms. "Do you? Because from here, it looks like you’re already wobbling."

"Shut up, I—WOAH!"

She slipped.

I reacted instantly, lunging forward just in time to grab her wrist.

For a split second, everything slowed down.

She was inches away from hitting the hard gym floor, her eyes wide with shock. And me? I was straining to keep my balance while holding onto her.

Then—

THUD!

We both crashed to the ground, her landing partly on top of me.

Silence.

Then—

"Ow," Yuna groaned.

"Told you it was a bad idea," I muttered, still dazed.

She shifted, and I realized how close we were. Her face was just inches from mine, her long hair falling over my shoulder.

And for the first time, Yuna actually looked… flustered.

"Uh…" she started.

"So," I coughed. "Are you gonna get off me, or are we just staying like this forever?"

She immediately scrambled off, her ears turning red.

"Shut up," she grumbled.

I smirked.


---

Acknowledgment

After that, something changed.

Yuna still had her usual confidence, but she actually listened to my ideas.

"Alright, Hiro. You come up with the next shot," she said.

"Wait, you’re letting me decide?"

"Tch. Don’t make it weird," she muttered. "You saved me earlier, so… I guess you’re not totally useless."

That was probably the closest thing to a thank you I was ever going to get.

"Wow. Such high praise," I said dryly.

"Take it or leave it," she shot back, smirking.

And just like that, our dynamic had shifted.


---

Walking Home

When it was finally time to leave, I insisted on walking her home.

"What, you think I need protection or something?" she teased.

"No, I just figured you’d get lost without someone with a functional sense of direction," I shot back.

She snorted. "You really like messing with me, huh?"

"It’s the only way to survive."

We walked side by side, and for once, there was no arguing—just comfortable silence.

Then, out of nowhere, Yuna slapped me on the back—hard.

"Ow—what the hell?!" I yelped.

She grinned. "That’s for catching me earlier."

"That makes no sense!"

"It does to me," she giggled.

I shook my head, watching her laugh.

She was annoying, stubborn, and way too full of herself—

But maybe she wasn’t so bad after all.


CHAPTER END


Chapter 34 : A Song from the Past

Kyoya leaned against the classroom desk with a playful grin. "Hey, I heard there's a new karaoke place nearby. You guys wanna go? My treat."

Hiro’s eyes lit up immediately. "For real?! Don’t say that unless you mean it, man."

"Of course I mean it," Kyoya smirked. "We’ll sing, have fun, and make some memories. What do you say?"

Hiro nodded excitedly, but Misaki hesitated.

Karaoke… Singing…

She hadn't sung in years.

A strange weight settled in her chest. The last time she sang, she was still a child idol, standing under bright stage lights, her voice carrying through massive arenas. It had been everything to her—until the accident stole it all away.

Even now, she wasn’t sure if her voice was the same. What if I sound different? What if I can’t sing like I used to?

"I don't know," Misaki said softly.

Kyoya raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? You embarrassed because you don’t know how to sing?"

Hiro snorted. "Oh no, Misaki! Are you one of those people who can’t even carry a tune?"

Misaki’s eye twitched.

"Of course not!" she huffed, standing up. "Fine! I’m coming!"

Kyoya and Hiro exchanged knowing grins.


---

At the Karaoke Room

The three of them entered a cozy karaoke booth, decorated with neon lights and a large screen. Kyoya immediately grabbed the songbook.

"Alright, I’ll go first," he declared, scrolling through the options. "Prepare to be amazed."

The music started, and Kyoya took the microphone with surprising confidence.

Misaki expected him to be terrible. She was even ready to tease him. But the moment he started singing—

His voice was smooth, his tone perfectly matching the song. He didn’t just sing, he performed, his voice effortlessly carrying the melody.

Hiro and Misaki exchanged glances, both genuinely impressed.

"Damn," Hiro muttered. "He’s actually good."

Kyoya finished with a dramatic bow, making both of them clap. "Thank you, thank you," he said with a smug grin.

"You’ve been practicing, haven’t you?" Misaki accused.

"Maybe," Kyoya admitted. "Alright, your turn, Misaki."

He handed her the microphone.

But the moment her fingers touched it—

A sudden flash filled her mind.

She wasn’t in a small karaoke booth anymore. She was on a grand stage, flooded by blinding lights, thousands of fans cheering her name.

Her breath hitched.

Her hands trembled.

"Misaki?"

Kyoya’s voice cut through the illusion, pulling her back to reality. She blinked, realizing both Hiro and Kyoya were staring at her with concern.

"Are you okay?" Hiro asked.

Misaki swallowed hard and nodded. "Yeah... I’m fine."

She looked at the microphone again.

She had two choices: walk away from it, or face it.

Slowly, she tightened her grip around the mic.

And then—she sang.

Her voice was soft at first, hesitant. But as the song progressed, something inside her shifted. She closed her eyes, and this time, when she saw the stage in her mind, it didn’t terrify her.

Her voice grew stronger, flowing beautifully through the melody. It was angelic, mesmerizing. Even Kyoya and Hiro, who were prepared to tease her, fell into stunned silence.

When she finished the song, she opened her eyes.

Kyoya and Hiro were on their feet, giving her a standing ovation.

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Hiro gawked. "MISAKI, YOU SOUND LIKE A PROFESSIONAL SINGER!"

Kyoya smirked. "Looks like we’ve been blessed by an angel."

Misaki blinked, then let out a small, genuine laugh. She hadn’t realized how much she missed this—the feeling of singing freely.

"Alright, alright," she said, a little embarrassed. "Hiro, it’s your turn."

Hiro snatched the mic confidently. "Prepare yourselves for greatness!"

The music started.

And then—

It was a disaster.

His voice was completely off-key, missing every note. His enthusiasm was admirable, but his singing was an absolute mess.

Kyoya and Misaki burst out laughing, trying to hold back tears.

"I think my ears are bleeding," Kyoya wheezed.

"I take back what I said about being blessed," Misaki added, still giggling.

Hiro finished with a proud grin. "See? I totally killed it."

"You killed something, alright," Kyoya snorted.

Despite all the teasing, the three of them had a great time.

By the time they walked home, the night air was crisp, and their laughter echoed through the streets.

Misaki looked up at the sky, feeling a warmth in her chest.

For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t afraid of her voice anymore.


CHAPTER END

Chapter end