NOVEL NEXT Chapter 203: Empathetic Mari
Haruto sat in the quiet school library, the warm afternoon sun spilling through the windows, casting soft golden hues over the wooden shelves.
Outside, momiji leaves fluttered to the ground, painting the scenery in rich reds and oranges.
He absentmindedly turned a page in the fairytale book Ayaka had given him, though his mind drifted elsewhere.
Lately, he had been keeping close to her, making sure Ren didn't pull something stupid before their scheduled fight.
He recalled the conversation with Daiki when he first mentioned facing Ren in the underground ring.
"Finally, something fun's happening since that wimp died," Daiki smirked, glancing at Haruto, who still had a bandage on his nose. "What was his name again? Ah, yeah… Kota."
Daiki turned back to Ren, eyes gleaming with amusement. "So you finally grew a spine, huh?"
Ren, standing nearby with a bandage still taped across his nose, had clenched his fists, his face twisted in anger.
"He stole that bitch from me," Ren spat, his voice low and venomous.
Daiki laughed, shaking his head. "Ayaka? Wasn't she just one of your toys?"
His gaze flicked to Haruto, smirking. "Damn, you really have a thing for stealing other men's women, huh?"
Haruto shrugged. "You can't steal what was never theirs to begin with." His voice was calm, but his smirk was razor-sharp.
"She isn't yours anymore, Ren. She's mine. And you? You're just her pathetic ex."
Ren's eyes burned with rage, veins popping at his temple. But before he could spit another insult, Haruto took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate.
"But," Haruto continued his grin widening, "I'm glad I get to beat the shit out of you in the ring. Don't die too fast, alright? I want to enjoy it."
Ren's fury boiled over. He shoved Haruto hard, jabbing a finger against his chest. "Don't get cocky. Just because I don't fight often doesn't mean I can't."
Haruto noticed the slight tremble in his other hand. A bluff.
"I'm waiting, then." His smirk deepened, watching Ren's face twist with barely contained rage.
Now, sitting in the library, Haruto couldn't help but chuckle at the memory. He shook his head, flipping another page of the book.
"What a douche," he muttered under his breath, smirking to himself.
Haruto's reading was interrupted when a fist slammed onto his book, pressing against the open page.
The fingers were painted a striking blue. He glanced up, meeting Mari's furious gaze.
"I see," she said coldly, eyes filled with anger and betrayal. "You're busy with another girl while I'm still grieving alone."
"Mari…"
Haruto's face turned nervous as he didn't expect her to be here since she was busy with studies as she wanted to enter a prestigious college.
"I'm sorry. I've been busy lately, I needed to—"
"To be with your family or your new girl?" she snapped, crossing her arms.
"I know you've been lying to me. I thought you were smart, but clearly, you're not."
Haruto's jaw tensed.
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"You were with Ayaka the other night, weren't you?"
Her words hit him like a sudden blow. He stood up, reaching for her hand, only for Mari to slap it away.
"You must've forgotten," she said, voice rising.
"But I put a tracker app on your phone! You never even checked mine once!" Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"What if I was in danger?! Don't you care about me?!"
The quiet library was no longer silent. Students whispered among themselves, throwing judgmental glances their way. Haruto could feel the weight of their stares.
He took a deep breath and gently grasped Mari's hand. "Let's talk somewhere else."
"I don't want to!" she pulled away.
"You—you—" Her voice trembled. "I know you have other girls, but the least you could do is get my consent first if you want to add another one to your collection of sexy harem!"
The students inside then gasped, even the librarian who observed them shook her head in disbelief.
'Damn these people, at least pretend not to hear anything!' he thought as the sweat started to come out from his temple.
Especially when he could see her composure finally cracked as tears spilled down her cheeks.
Haruto sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders, his touch firm yet careful.
"Mari, listen to me. I'm sorry. Ayaka was in real danger—I couldn't leave her."
He ran his hands soothingly down her arms, but it did nothing to calm her.
"You liar," she choked out. "You really expect me to believe—"
A voice from behind startled them both.
"Haruto, what's going on?"
Ayaka.
The second Mari heard her, she pushed Haruto aside and stormed forward, hand raised to strike.
But as soon as her eyes landed on Ayaka's bruised face, she froze.
The rage drained from Mari's expression. Her breath hitched, her tears slowing.
She turned back to Haruto. "You… you weren't lying?"
Haruto nodded. "Let's talk outside, okay?" He took Mari's hand and gestured for Ayaka to follow.
The hallway was quiet, a rare sanctuary in the bustling school where students rarely passed.
Mari walked alongside Ayaka, her eyes repeatedly darting to the bruises that marred Ayaka's face.
Despite Ayaka's attempts to hide the damage with makeup, the evidence of whatever had happened was still painfully visible.
Mari's expression was a mix of concern and simmering anger. "Are you okay? Who did this to you?"
It was complicated for Mari. Ayaka had always been her rival—in beauty, in academics, in everything.
If it weren't for the scandals surrounding Ayaka, she might have been the one sitting in the student council president's seat, the one everyone admired.
Mari had always felt a pang of insecurity around her, especially when it came to Haruto.
She feared he might choose Ayaka over her, and that fear had gnawed at her more than she cared to admit.
But seeing Ayaka like this—bruised, vulnerable, and clearly hurting—Mari couldn't hold onto her resentment.
As a woman, she felt a surge of empathy and protectiveness.
Ayaka hesitated, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "It was… Ren," she admitted quietly.