Chapter 88: Returning at home

That day had flown by, and by "pure chance," the two lovers found themselves once again in that quaint little park where they often spent small moments of happiness together.

Even Kai's heart, which had been troubled for a while, began to relax, soothed by Hina's sweet and loving demeanor.

For a moment, all the questions swirling in his mind faded away, and he decided to simply enjoy the time with Hina.

"You know… even though we haven't been a couple for long, we already have so many memories together," Kai said in a dreamy tone, his gaze lost in some distant, faraway world.

As he spoke, Hina tightened her grip on his arm just a little bit more, as if she were trying to express her joy at hearing such sweet words from her beloved.

In a way, Kai hadn't said anything tender like that to Hina for a while.

"Yeah… I've missed this kind of peace," Hina responded, her eyes scanning the neglected, dirty benches and the brownish ground that smelled of nostalgia.

Hina seemed so natural, so genuine… but with everything that had happened, Kai had begun to doubt if her behavior was sincere or she was just playing the part of the perfect girlfriend.

Though at that moment, he chose not to think about it.

In truth, Kai still hadn't fully formed his own personality, or at least, it wasn't strong enough to stand on its own yet.

Compared to Hina, who had experienced far more than him, he felt lacking.

He hadn't lived through the same intensity of life that she had, which made him feel incomplete, like an unfinished puzzle.

Perhaps it was this very lack of identity that drew Hina to him in the first place… Who knows?

As they sat there, lost in memories of their time together, moments that felt like tiny eternities passed by.

Eventually, Hina gave Kai's arm a small squeeze to bring his attention back to her.

Kai blinked and returned to the present, turning his gaze to Hina.

"S-Sorry… I was just thinking about all of our moments together, and I guess I'm also pretty tired," he said, yawning as his hand instinctively reached to rub his eyes.

Hina chuckled softly.

"Haha~ You're adorable. I guess you need to rest, don't you? Especially since tomorrow we'll have so much work to do for the festival," she said, her eyes brimming with warmth and affection as she looked at him.

Kai nodded with a small sigh.

For some strange reason, he felt at ease with Hina and didn't want to leave her side.

But alongside that comfort was a growing sense of unease, a tiny seed of anxiety starting to sprout in his chest.

"Then, let me walk you home, okay?" Hina offered, her voice gentle yet firm.

Kai nodded again, and the two started walking toward his house.

Normally, in romantic comedies, it's always the guy who walks the girl home, but this time it was the other way around.

Given the circumstances, this was the safer option.

Hina could handle herself. Kai, not so much.

There was also an unspoken understanding between them: Hina intended to stay the night with Kai.

Not just because of her affection for him, but probably because she wanted to keep him safe.

As they walked step by step, the sky grew darker, with the moon gradually taking the sun's place.

The streetlights flickered on, casting long shadows on the ground as they strolled along, deep in conversation about the upcoming festival and the logistics of organizing it.

Not once did they mention what had happened in the past few days, and not a word was said about Haruto.

There were two simple reasons for this: they didn't feel the need to, and Kai still felt like someone was watching him.

Kai and Hina continued walking side by side as the city around them began to quiet down, the occasional streetlamp casting soft pools of light along the road.

Their earlier silence had faded, and the two had slipped into a comfortable conversation.

For the first time in days, Kai felt his shoulders relax, the usual tension in his chest easing with every step they took together.

He looked over at Hina, who was speaking animatedly about the upcoming school festival.

Her face was glowing with excitement, and the infectious energy in her voice made him smile.

It was easy to see why everyone admired and feared her at the same time.

Despite everything that had happened, she still managed to light up like this, a beacon of joy amidst the chaos.

"I was thinking," Hina began, her tone casual but thoughtful, "for the festival, we should set up some booths that aren't just about food and games, but also something a little more creative. Maybe a photo booth with themes or even a small corner where people can make quick sketches of each other. You know, something that'll leave a lasting memory for everyone."

Kai blinked, slightly surprised by the idea.

"That's… actually a great idea. It would definitely make our class stand out. I mean, we've already got the standard stuff planned, but that would add something special."

Hina giggled, clearly pleased with his response.

"Exactly! I knew you'd like it. I think we could even have a little competition with the other classes. People always love a good rivalry, right?" She said with a cheerful tone.

Kai laughed lightly, his initial shyness starting to melt away.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. And you know… I was a bit worried about the festival, like I wasn't sure what role I could play in all of it. But talking to you about it now, it feels like it's going to be a lot of fun. You make it sound so easy."

"Well, that's because it is easy," Hina said with a wink. "Especially when we're doing it together. You and I can take charge of the creative stuff, and I'm sure that other people will handle the logistics. I don't think we're the only people who'll organize a festival with hundreds of students. But im sure that It'll be a blast."

Kai couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth fill him.

There was something about the way Hina approached everything, always with confidence and assurance.

All the fears he had from her we momentarily disappeared.

In front of him, there wasn't the brutal murderer who was stabbing a dead body multiple times while laughing like a maniac, but there was the girl he initially fell in love with.

Being with her made him feel like maybe he could handle things too, like maybe he wasn't as lost as he often felt.

The two continued walking, their conversation flowing naturally now.

They talked about the festival schedule, how they'd divide up tasks, and even made jokes about how much of a disaster it would be if someone else instead of them was put in charge of anything.

Hina was truly confident about the festival.

As they turned a corner, the familiar sight of Kai's house came into view.

The dimly lit street, lined with trees, was as quiet as ever.

It should've felt calming, but as they approached the front door, a strange sensation began to settle in the pit of Kai's stomach.

The feeling was faint, like a whisper of unease he couldn't quite place.

They stopped at the gate, and Hina turned to face him with a soft smile on her lips.

"So… mind if I sleep at your place tonight? We could finish planning everything for the festival, and maybe watch a movie or something?"

Kai hesitated for just a moment, but the smile that broke across his face was genuine.

"Of course. You're always welcome here, Hina." He said with a very soft tone.

Her face lit up in a way that made Kai's chest feel warm.

Without warning, she spun on her heel and broke into a light run, heading back in the direction they came from.

"Great! I'll be back in a flash. Just gotta grab a change of clothes," she called over her shoulder.

Kai chuckled softly, shaking his head as he watched her disappear around the corner.

He couldn't help but admire her energy, the way she seemed to radiate life.

For a moment, the uneasy feeling in his gut faded, replaced by the simple pleasure of knowing she'd be back soon.

Then , he stopped for a moment and thought about the whole day.

"Can't every single day be like this for the rest of my life?" He said while stretching his arms and yawning.

A glimpse of normality was enough to bring hope to his heart again.

He then moved toward the front door, keys in hand, but just as he reached out to unlock it, a sound from within the house made him freeze.

It was faint, barely noticeable, but it came from inside.

A soft thud, like something or someone moving about.

Kai's breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened.

He stood perfectly still, listening, his ears straining to catch another sound.

For a moment, there was nothing, just the steady hum of the refrigerator in the distance.

And then… there it was again.

A creak, followed by another quiet thud, this time louder, coming from upstairs.

Kai's heart began to race.

He knew the house was supposed to be empty.

His parents were out of town, and he wasn't expecting anyone.

Slowly, he stepped back from the door, his hand dropping away from the key still in the lock.

His mind raced with possibilities.

An open window, maybe something had fallen? Who knows.

But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

He stayed on the threshold, too hesitant to step inside.

The night had been so peaceful just moments ago, but now the stillness felt suffocating, like something was watching him from within the shadows of the house. His eyes darted around, scanning the dimly lit yard for any sign of movement.

He swallowed hard, taking another step back as the unease grew stronger.

Should he wait for Hina? Call the police? He wasn't sure.

All he knew was that something was off.

He could feel it deep in his bones.

The strange noises continued, subtle but persistent, like a quiet warning that kept him frozen in place.

Kai's fingers tightened around his phone, and he hesitated, wondering if he should text Hina or try to investigate on his own.

But before he could make up his mind, another sound came from inside.

This time, it was a loud, unmistakable crash.

His pulse quickened, and he took another step back, his breath coming in shallow bursts as he stared at the closed door.

There was no mistaking it now.

Someone was clearly inside the house…

And Kai knew that he couldn't depend on Hina forever.

He had to act like a "man".

So, he slowly picked his house keys from his pocket and slowly opened the door…