HeartBeats - Ruka Sarashina (Kanojo, Okarishimasu)

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After the hospital visit, Ryo and I walked towards the subway station. The silence between us was comfortable, but we seemed to have a lot on our minds. I, in particular, was quieter than usual, as if I was pondering something. Ryo noticed this, but chose not to ask. He knew that when I was ready, I would speak.

As we entered the subway, we found an empty seat and sat side by side. The gentle rocking of the train and the background noise of other people's conversations created a sort of bubble of privacy for the two of us. I fidgeted a little, as if nervous, my fingers playing with the strap of his bag.

Then, I leaned towards Ryo. Without any warning, I kissed him on the lips, a soft and unexpected kiss. Ryo felt his heart race at the same time, and the surprise left him momentarily speechless. When our lips parted, I smiled shyly, blushing slightly.

"I've wanted to do this since the hospital..." - I confessed, in a low voice, almost a whisper, as if I didn't want anyone but Ryo to hear.

He blinked, still a little stunned by the unexpected gesture, but soon a discreet smile appeared on his face. - "I... wasn't expecting that."

I chuckled, looking away, as if trying to hide my embarrassment. - "I also don't know why I did it here, on the subway..." - I bit my lip for a second and then turned to him with a more serious look. - "Ryo... could you... stay a little longer at my place today?"

He nodded slowly. - "Sure, I can stay a little longer."

Ryo was silent for a moment, considering the request. It wasn't unusual for me to make this kind of suggestion, but something in the way he said it this time seemed different. Maybe it was the softer tone, the hesitation in his eyes. He seemed to want more than just the company. He seemed to want him to stay close, perhaps seeking some kind of comfort, especially after what happened at the hospital.

I smiled again, this time a smile full of relief, as if I was happy that he had agreed without hesitation. The rest of the subway ride passed in peaceful silence, both of us sharing a closeness that, although new, seemed increasingly natural.

When we arrived at the station near my house, we got off and walked together through the streets that at this time of night were relatively quiet. Ryo watched me sideways, still trying to understand what exactly was going through my head. He seemed lost in his thoughts, but not in a worrying way, it was as if he was processing everything that had happened in the last few days.

When we finally arrived at my house, I unlocked the door and invited him in. - "I.... I'm alone at home today, my mother won't be home until the afternoon..." - I said embarrassed. The familiarity of the place made Ryo feel at ease immediately.

The atmosphere was a little more charged with emotions that we didn't know how to express. - "Okay..."

I took off my shoes, inviting Ryo to do the same, and went to the kitchen, grabbing two bottles of water. I returned to the living room, handing him a bottle and then sat on the couch, indicating for him to do the same.

"Thank you for staying here." - I said finally breaking the silence.

Ryo took a sip of water and placed the bottle on the coffee table. - "No problem. But... is everything okay, Ruka? You seem a little distant."

I hesitated for a moment, looking at the label on the bottle in his hands. - "I think, after seeing your grandmother... and hearing what she said... It made me more motivated!"

Ryo watched me, noticing the serious tone in his voice. He knew Kyouka had probably said something important to me, something he didn't know yet, but he could feel the weight of it. - "Seriously?" - he asked, with a slight smile, trying to ease the tension.

I laughed softly, shaking my head. - "Yes, it is! But... I think it's worth a try."

I leaned in, resting my head on Ryo's shoulder. He stood still for a moment, not knowing exactly what to do, but then he relaxed, allowing me to stay there. That small display of affection seemed to be all I needed at that moment.

As the silence settled again, Ryo realized that, perhaps, he was beginning to understand what it meant to be in a relationship. It wasn't just about the fun times or the laughter, but also about being there in the quieter, more difficult moments, when words weren't enough.

After some time of quiet conversation, I looked into Ryo's eyes and smiled. - "Hey, how about we play a video game? It's been a while since I've done something like that with someone."

Ryo shrugged, accepting the idea. - "Why not? Just don't complain when I win." - He tried to tease, raising an eyebrow.

I laughed, clearly challenged. - "We'll see about that, then!"

They picked up the controllers and turned on the video game, choosing a fighting game to keep the competitiveness high. The friendly tension between them increased with each match, with teasing and laughing as we alternated between victories and defeats. As time passed, we were completely immersed.

After a few matches, Ryo put the controller aside and stretched. - "I guess you have more luck than skill, huh?" - he joked, even though he was slightly surprised by how well Ruka played.

"You say that because you lost to a girl, right?" - I said, laughing at his face. For a moment, I even saw him blush.

I grimaced and stuck out my tongue. - "I clearly let you win a few times."

Ryo stood up, still laughing at the teasing, and realized that he was starting to sweat slightly. - "Is it okay if I take a shower here, if you don't mind?"

I nodded, smiling. - "Sure, feel free."

As he walked towards the bathroom, I got up too and went to the closet to get a towel for him. When I entered the hallway, I saw Ryo already starting to take off his shirt and immediately turned his back, covering his eyes with his hand.

He hadn't noticed my presence yet, I kept watching his well-worked back. The only thing that was going through my mind was... - "Wow..." - I tried to compose myself and walked towards him.

"Wait! I brought you a towel!" - I said, extending my arm behind me with the towel, not daring to look at him.

Ryo, with an amused smile on his face, took the towel from my hand. - "Thanks. You don't have to worry so much, you know? I'm not completely naked."

I still had my back turned, and laughed nervously. - "I just... I don't want to be disrespectful. Besides, don't forget, I still need to touch some part of your body like you did to me..."

"Sure, sure, the equivalent exchange." - Ryo replied, finding the situation funny, but appreciating my care.

I still kept my eyes closed as he entered the bathroom and closed the door behind him. When I heard the sound of the shower turning on, I was finally able to open my eyes and let out a sigh of relief, laughing at myself. - "Why am I so nervous? He's my boyfriend..." - he murmured, shaking his head.

While Ryo took a shower, I sat back on the couch, trying to distract myself with the game that was still on, but my mind kept going back to the proximity of the kiss on the subway and the fact that I was suddenly deeply involved with Ryo. Even with the jokes and the lightness, there was something deeper going on, and I knew it.

When Ryo finally came out of the bathroom, drying his hair with the towel, he seemed much more relaxed. - "What's wrong?" - he asked, with a carefree smile.

I looked into his eyes, completely decided on what to do. - "Ryo-chan.... Can I touch yours...." - I ended up freezing.

"Mine?..." - Ryo said, instigating me.

"Your chest!" - Only my scream echoed throughout the entire room along with the awkward silence of the moment. The only thing I could see was Ryo just nodding his head, a little embarrassed.

He took off the shirt he had just put on, showing his abs. My heart started to race. "Hm..." I approached him, Ryo is a tall man, so I was at his chest height. - "D-Do you train or something?..." - I asked nervously.

Ryo looked away while blushing. - "W-when my father worked at a fishing company, I helped him when there was heavy cargo..."

"What a blessed body..." - I said without thinking about the nonsense I had just said.

He looked into my eyes. - "Can I say the same to you?..." - He said while blushing. My heart raced even faster.

"Hmm... T-Thank you..." - I tried to focus on his body. - "I'll start..." I raised my hand and started to brush my fingers on Ryo's abdomen, going up and reaching his chest.

That's when I placed my hand on his chest, it was hard, unlike a woman's, but it was still kind of "soft". I let out a light laugh to lighten the mood. - "Now I understand why guys like breasts so much."

"Are we even now?" - Ryo said with a silly smile.

"Of course we are." - I said with the same silly smile.

As Ryo prepared for another video game game, I felt something strange. Time seemed to slow down around me, as if the whole world was losing its rhythm. When I blinked, confused, I realized that everything around me had stopped. The sound of the game stopped, the light swaying of the curtains stopped, and even Ryo's breathing seemed frozen in the air. He stood motionless, a carefree look on his face.

I looked around, feeling a chill run down my spine. It was a scene I had seen before, but as usual, I had no idea what was happening. The little bows on his head began to sway slightly, which was always a sign that something was out of the ordinary.

Suddenly, something caught her attention. On Ryo's chest, a figure began to materialize, the outline of a heart wrapped in black chains, as if it were being blocked by dense, dark shadows. The sight left her perplexed, and she approached slowly, trying to understand what it meant.

"It's his heart..." - I muttered to myself

I turned around, and there was Prelest, floating next to me, with his usual appearance, but with a more serious expression. - "Ah, I remembered you."

"I'm glad you remembered me..." - He crossed his paws and looked at Ryo's heart. - "His heart is still blocked. Trapped by fears, doubts and secrets that he hides even from himself."

I looked at Prelest, confused. - "What does that mean? Why is his heart like that?"

Prelest sighed, as if he was tired of explaining the same problem over and over again. - "Ryo still can't deal with his own feelings. He's locked inside himself, fighting against the chains of the past and the barriers he created himself." - Prelest pointed to the blocked heart. - "These shadows represent everything he carries, his fears, his guilt, what he still can't or won't accept."

I frowned, feeling uncomfortable with the idea. - "But... he's trying, isn't he? We're trying... to understand our feelings. He's doing this for us, isn't he?"

Prelest fixed her with a hard look. - "Do you think just trying is enough? Love isn't something that can be solved with just a kiss or a date at the aquarium. In order for these chains to disappear, Ryo needs to face what's inside him. He needs to understand what he really feels, and that goes beyond you, Ruka. It goes much deeper."

I looked at Ryo's heart once more, the black shadows looking as impenetrable as before. A feeling of helplessness began to invade me, as if I were faced with something I could not solve. - "So... what can I do? How can I help him free himself from this?"

Prelest tilted her head thoughtfully. - "You are already helping. But he needs to want to be helped too. He needs to allow himself to feel, without fear of what will come next." - The spirit observed her more carefully. - "You also have a role in this, but don't think that you are the only solution. Ryo needs to free himself on his own too."

I was silent for a few seconds, feeling the gravity of the situation. - "What if he can't? What if he never opens up?"

Prelest floated a little closer, softening her tone. - "Then he will never be able to love fully. But you are here for a reason, Ruka. Maybe you are the key to starting this process... or maybe it is more than that. Well, only time will tell."

I looked at Ryo, frozen in time, and a sense of responsibility fell over me. I wanted to help, I wanted to be by his side, but the chains that held Ryo's heart were too dark and heavy for me to break them alone. Even so, I was determined to try.

"I won't give up on him!... Not at all!" - I said firmly, looking at Prelest. - "Whatever it is, I'll stay by Ryo's side."

Prelest gave an ironic smile. "It's good to hear that from you..." He turned around, slowly disappearing into thin air.

I approached one of the chains, taking a better look, one of them was more fragile. - "What if I..." - when I picked up the chain, I felt a lightness to the touch. I pulled the chain, breaking one of them. - "I see that you want to change too, Ryo-chan..."

"Time will come back soon. Get ready." - With these words, Prelest disappeared, and the sound of the world began to return. The game started making noise again, the curtains shook slightly, and Ryo was still looking at Ruka, not realizing that something had happened.

Ruka, still a little shaken, took a deep breath and looked at him. I smiled broadly and pointed to the video game. - "Ready for another round? Or are you going to admit that I'm better than you?"

Ryo laughed, picking up the controller again. - "Not in your dreams. Let's see who's really in charge here."

That day, we played video games all day. Unfortunately, he had to go to work that night. I feel like those two dates I had were the best dates of my life.

A day later...

The next morning, I woke up with the sun coming through the curtains in my room. I blinked a few times, trying to get rid of the sleep that still weighed on his eyelids. The previous day seemed like a blur in his mind, full of strange events, from time stopping to the conversation with Ruka and the mysterious encounter with Prelest. But today, I had a routine to follow at college.

I stretched, my muscles still a little tense. I knew Ruka was trying to get closer, but I felt something loosening up from yesterday. I couldn't stop thinking about it. As I stood up, my mind wandered to what Prelest had said. - "You need to understand what you feel."

Sighing, I went to my closet and started getting dressed. First, a simple black t-shirt, then my usual jeans. I grabbed the gray sweatshirt I always wore on colder days, since fall was starting to show its face.

In the mirror, I looked at my reflection, noticing the small scar on the corner of my chin. A reminder of the past that I would rather forget. As I combed my black hair, im lost myself in thoughts about Ruka and how things were developing between them.

Ruka was impulsive, full of energy, and sometimes she made me feel pressured. However, there was something about her that attracted me, an authenticity that I admired, even if it was hard to admit to myself.

Grabbing my backpack, I checked to make sure I had everything: notebooks, pens, and my cell phone. I took one last look around the room before leaving, closing the door.

The fresh morning air helped me feel more awake, but the feeling that something important was at stake persisted. I needed to find out, once and for all, what I felt for Ruka and how it connected to the mysteries surrounding me.

I walked towards the college, finding myself trapped in my thoughts again. Since it was an important day, I decided to pick up my book to review a few things.

Entering the college gates, I read some while walking frivolously, without caring about what was in front of me. Until I ended up bumping into someone.

Someone bumped into me very hard, almost dropping the papers I was carrying in my hands.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" - said a female voice, a little irritated.

I turned around, a little surprised, and saw a girl I didn't immediately recognize. She had long blonde hair with red streaks at the ends that stood out strikingly. Her gaze was sharp, and she seemed a little impatient, as if she was always ready to give a quick answer. She quickly bent down to pick up a bag that had fallen when she bumped into him.

"Sorry, I didn't see you..." - I replied, trying to sound polite, even though her mood was already a little shaken by her worries.

The girl stood up with a short sigh, adjusting her bag on her shoulder as she looked him up and down. - "It's okay, it happens." - She glanced over, perhaps assessing how sincere he seemed.

"I'm Mami. Mami Nanami." - She said, suddenly, with a slightly softer tone, but still with an indifferent attitude, as if wanting to show that she didn't care much about the situation. - "Are you new here? I don't remember seeing you before."

"Ryo Murata..." - I replied, still surprised by the change in tone. - "I've been here for a while, I just... try not to get into trouble."

Mami gave a small smile, almost cynical. - "Really? Well, it seems that bumping into people isn't on your list of problems, at least." - She crossed her arms and looked around, perhaps observing the flow of people around or just waiting for me to say something else.

Still processing the unexpected encounter, I felt a slight tension in the air. Something in Mami's posture seemed challenging, as if she were testing me in some way. She clearly had a strong presence, someone who was not easy to ignore.

"So, Ryo... are you going to class or just wandering around?" - Mami asked, tilting her head slightly, her blonde hair shining in the sunlight, with the red streaks drawing attention.

"Actually, I was going to class." - I said a little distractedly, still trying to understand who exactly this girl was and why I felt that this meeting was not by chance.

"Good to know. Who knows, maybe we won't bump into each other again, without literally in this case." - She smiled enigmatically before giving a quick wink and walking away, leaving me there, still trying to digest what had just happened.

As Mami walked away, Ryo couldn't help but feel that there was something more to that girl. That's when I remembered, she was my friend's ex-girlfriend.

"Hello, police! We have a con man trying to hook up with one of our friends' ex-girlfriends." - When I turned around, it was one of my friends from college. His name is Yoshiaki Kibe.

"Hey, Kibe." - I felt someone pulling my back. Without reacting, I looked to see who it was. Without much surprise, it was my other friend. Kazuya Kinoshita.

"Um... Hey, Kazuya... What's up?" - I asked a little nervously, since Kazuya's strange expression confused me.

"You're not going to betray our friendship, are you?" - He said in a tearful and angry way. A very confused expression.

"No?... Look, I only realized it was your ex because you showed me a picture of you with her." - I answered, trying to explain myself.

Kazuya finally let me go, a little shaken by the situation. - "It was only a month... A month and I was thrown in the trash!" - He was an idiot, but it was kind of sad to see that he still hadn't gotten over her.

I put my hand on his shoulder. - "Don't worry, think about it with me... Maybe you two just didn't have the right chemistry, it could have been much worse." - My words didn't seem to have that much effect.

A girl with glasses walked between us. Her hair was brown and tied in two braids at the back, not to mention the glasses that showed off her face. Kazuya seemed to be fascinated by the girl. Without hesitation, I asked. - "Do you know her?"

"I think I've seen that girl before..." - Kibe said while using his cell phone. - "Listen here, brother! You have to forget about Mami, she's too much for your little truck."

And that's how my morning at college went, Kazuya depressed because of a woman, Kibe talking nonsense while "trying" to help Kazuya and just observing everything.

Meanwhile at college...

Mami walked with her friends, she seemed distracted. - "Mommy, who was that boy?" - said the girl with brown hair and two ponytails.

"Yeah, he was pretty handsome, right? He's pretty famous in my class." - Said the girl with purple hair.

Mami seemed to want to ignore the girls' flirting. - "Hm.... Yeah, he's kind of cute..."

"Maybe I should ask him out." - Said the girl with orange hair.

"I heard he has a girlfriend." - Said the girl with purple hair.

Mami, who was in front of her friends, stopped walking. She turned around with a blank look in her eyes. - "He, what?...".

This answer made the girls tremble a little. - "Th-That's what they say.... I don't know if it's true."

Still with a blank look, Mami looked back into space, thoughtful. - "Hm... Let's go..."

A few hours later...

After a long day at college, Kazuya, Kibe and I were walking along the busy avenue of the campus, discussing where we would eat. The sun was already setting, casting an orange light on the streets, while the students around us made plans for the evening. The mood was light, and the three friends were eager to relax after so many hours of classes.

"Let's go to that restaurant that opened near here!" - Kibe suggested, always excited about the idea of food. - "I heard the portions there are gigantic."

Kazuya, walking next to me, nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. Besides, the college kids are also going there, it'll be cool."

I was a little quiet, I just agreed with a nod, although my mind was still wandering to personal matters, especially about everything that had happened with Ruka recently. Our relationship was in an awkward phase, and I was still trying to figure out her own feelings towards her.

As we walked towards the restaurant, laughing and chatting about trivialities, a familiar figure appeared at the corner of the street. It was Ruka, walking towards me with a determined smile on her face.

"Ryo-chan!" she called, waving one hand as she quickly approached.

I stopped abruptly, my expression changing to a mixture of surprise and slight discomfort. Kazuya and Kibe also stopped, exchanging glances with each other.

"R-Ruka?" I asked, somewhat confused as to what she was doing there. I hadn't spoken to her since the night before, and honestly, I didn't expect her to suddenly appear like this.

"I was looking for you, but you weren't in college anymore..." she said, stopping right in front of me and completely ignoring Kazuya and Kibe's curious looks. - "I thought you might want to spend some time with me..."

Kibe arched an eyebrow and elbowed Kazuya lightly, clearly noticing the tension in the air. - "So, Ryo? Who's that?" - he asked, somewhat provocatively. - "It's Ryo, tell me, who's she?" - Kazuya said

Feeling the weight of my friends' gaze, I tried to think of a quick answer. - "This is Ruka..." - I said, somewhat hesitantly. - "She's... well, we're kind of... dating."

"Oh, really?" - Kibe smiled mischievously. - "I see, I see..."

Ruka, noticing my hesitation, came closer, grabbing my arm possessively, which made me stiffen slightly. - "Yes, we're more than friends..." - she said, wasting no time in making things clear, ignoring the fact that the situation was getting a little awkward.

I sighed internally, feeling trapped. I was still dealing with the confusing feelings I had for Ruka, and now she was there, in front of my friends, making things seem simpler than they really were.

Kibe, always the most playful, laughed at the situation. - "Shall we go, then?"

Ruka smiled, pleased with the suggestion. - "Okay, let's all go together!"

Kazuya, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. - "Of course... the more people, the better." - He looked at Ryo with an understanding expression, as if he knew that things weren't so simple for his friend.

As the four of them continued walking together, I tried to hide my discomfort. Ruka's presence was undoubtedly intense, and I knew that Kazuya and Kibe's curious looks wouldn't stop any time soon.

After we arrived at the place, Kibe pushed Ruka and me into the elevator. - "You guys take the elevator, we'll take the stairs." - he said, trying to help me somehow.

Ruka and I were silent for a few seconds, until she grabbed my hand. I looked into her bright, sparkling eyes - "Aren't you even going to say 'good morning' to me?"

I gathered the courage to look Ruka in the face with her blue eyes. - "G-good morning, Ruka... You look especially beautiful today..." - I ended up rolling my eyes as I said those last words.

Ruka blushed when she heard those words come out so suddenly and sincerely. She ended up looking away too, and we both looked at the floor, both embarrassed like two innocent children.

I held her trembling hand tightly and said: "You're giving me strength... Thank you for being so amazing, Ruka-chan." - I said, gaining courage again.

She looked at me quickly. - "You... Finally gave me a nickname!" - Her smile widened completely.

"I confess I was embarrassed to say that... But that's what I'm feeling right now, you make me feel that way." - I approached her and kissed her on the cheek.

Before she could even react, the elevator door opened. Kibe and Kazuya ended up seeing this scene. Kibe let out a light laugh. - "Calm down guys, we just came to have lunch, do this at home."

We both turned red, not knowing where to put our faces. - "S-shut up, man..."

Kazuya pointed to the back of the hall. - "It's over there, lovebirds!" - The boy said mocking us.

As we walked hand in hand, I started to feel a chill, something was wrong. When Kibe opened the door...

"Look, guys, I was finally able to bring Ryo, and look, his girlfriend came as a bonus... What's with this heavy atmosphere, guys?" - Kibe was trying to make a joke that ended up failing, but that wasn't the problem.

When I entered the room, there were some people from college, but I ended up recognizing one of them. It was her, the girl with blonde hair...

It was Mami Nanami. Kazuya's ex-girlfriend. - "Hmm... What's up, Ryo..."

End of chapter 6