Even before she said it aloud, Ryuko had known what Haruki's answer would be. She'd prepared herself for rejection but knowing and feeling were two different things. Even now, with everything expected, the sting still hit hard.

"...Sorry, Ryuko" Haruki said gently, trying to offer something, anything only for Ryuko to shake her head.

"You don't have to comfort me. I already knew... I just didn't expect it to hurt this much."

Her voice wavered at first, but she steadied herself quickly.

"Still," she said, managing a faint smile, "I've already decided this isn't the end. It's just the beginning."

Haruki blinked. "...Beginning of what?"

"A long-term battle."

He stared. "...A what?"

"A protracted war," she repeated, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Haruki felt a twinge of guilt, though he wasn't entirely sure why. "What does that even mean?"

"It means I'm not giving up," Ryuko said simply.

"I knew you'd say no. I know you've only ever seen me as a friend. Honestly, if the roles were reversed, I might've rejected me too. But..." She met his eyes. "Even if I lose today, things still changed. At the very least, you'll never look at me the same way again."

"You'll see me not just as a friend but as a girl. That's all I needed."

Haruki didn't quite know how to respond. "But if you knew I'd reject you, why even say it?"

"Because if I didn't, we'd just keep pretending. You'd go on thinking we're just friends, and maybe that would've lasted forever. But I don't want 'forever' if it means hiding how I really feel."

"...So what happens now?" he asked, still trying to understand her logic.

"Now, I wait. And keep showing up. And if one day you tell me directly that I annoy you, that you don't want to see me again and —then I'll stop."

Her voice was calm, but resolute.

"But until that day, I'm not backing down."

Haruki sighed. "You're wasting your time, Ryuko. I don't dislike you, but I only see you as a friend. That won't change just because you want it to."

"Then let's keep it like this," she said lightly. "Friends but a little more complicated."

Before he could protest again, Ryuko reached out and took his hand.

Haruki instinctively flinched but didn't pull away entirely. His heartbeat jumped.

Ryuko caught it instantly.

"You say nothing's changed. But you never used to hesitate holding my hand like when we ran through the arena earlier. What are you nervous about now?"

She leaned forward, her tone gentle, teasing.

"And tell me... did your heart skip just now?"

Haruki couldn't answer. He couldn't deny it either.

Fortunately, the Ferris wheel slowed to a stop, saving him from having to say anything.

The two of them stepped out. The breeze caught Ryuko's hair and skirt, and the soft neon glow framed her face in a way that made Haruki pause.

He looked at her. Really looked.

And whether he liked it or not, Ryuko was right he couldn't unsee her now. Not just a friend. Not just a colleague. A woman who had stood in front of him and laid everything bare.

Would he fall for her eventually? He didn't know. But in this moment, he couldn't deny that she felt different to him than she had before the ride.

She had layers he hadn't seen, and more bravery than he'd expected.

He sighed quietly.

Why did I agree to this amusement park thing again?

As they walked together toward the exit, Ryuko's mood had clearly lightened. His own, however, was still a little clouded.

"Well... I'll head back," she said, turning to him on the sidewalk. Her voice was calm, but her eyes still carried a glint of hope. "I'm going home for the holidays tomorrow. We probably won't see each other until after New Year's."

She hesitated. "If you ever need me… or just feel like talking… call. I'll answer right away."

Haruki gave a small nod.

"And don't worry about seeing me off I'll get a cab," she said with a laugh. "Didn't you say you were starving? Go eat. I've lost my charm already I'd hate for you to hate me after gaining weight from dinner."

She smiled, then turned and left.

Haruki stood there, watching her disappear into the night.

A few minutes passed.

His stomach grumbled loudly.

"...Guess I should eat," he muttered.

He ducked into a nearby hot pot place and ordered more food than he needed. For someone in a messy mood, his appetite was surprisingly unaffected.

When he finished and stepped back out into the night, his thoughts inevitably drifted again.

Games. I need a game.

And once again, that thought looped back to Ryuko.

Haruki hesitated, then pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Hey... you up for a match later tonight?"

"Yeah," Ryuko replied instantly.

"I'll ping you when I get home," he said, then hung up.

For now, he'd keep things simple.

He didn't like her that way not yet.

But he didn't hate her either.

And for now... this was enough.

Shout out to Kobefate for joining my p-atreon! your support means everything to me.

(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-atreon.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)

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