Embracing my stalker - Chapter 7- We need to talk-1

“You’re leaving early today?”

Amaye paused when she heard the question.

She turned slowly and replied, “I have to visit the library… so…”

The older woman raised an eyebrow and hummed, “And a car is arranged for Amaye-sama’s library visit?”

Amaye’s eyes widened, face lighting up in surprise. “M-Mom! Are you spying on me?”

She shrugged with a grin. “That car’s pretty noticeable, you know. So? Who is it? Your boyfriend?”

“Just a friend. I’m going now. Bye!” Amaye rushed out before her mother could tease her any further.

She dashed down the stairs and made her way to the black car parked near their building.

Just as she reached the driver’s side, someone stepped out.

That bright smile—and his messy early-morning look—made her heart skip a beat.

Haruto walked up to her, hesitated for a second, then said, “I… uh, morning. Shall we go?”

She nodded, barely able to think. She was still stunned that Haruto had come to pick her up.

He pulled the door open for her, and she quietly slid into the car.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed the curious stares of neighbors and passersby—but she could do nothing about it. Haruto had just texted her out of the blue, saying he would come to get her.

“I could’ve taken the train,” she mumbled as she fastened her seatbelt.

Haruto, still grinning ear to ear, glanced at her. He clearly found her grumbling cute.

“I just wanted to see you as soon as I could,” he said without shame.

Her ears turned red. She still couldn’t believe how quickly the distance between them had faded.

She glanced at him. He was focused on the road, smiling softly.

“What is it?” he asked. “You seem like you’ve got something on your mind.”

Amaye let out a small sigh. “You might get angry if I say it.”

Haruto chuckled. “If it’s not about you leaving me, nothing you say can upset me.”

Her heart fluttered again. How can someone feel so close, so fast?

Which brought her to the question she couldn’t hold in any longer. “…Are you, by any chance, doing this on a dare?”

She had read enough novels and watched enough dramas to know the trope—quiet, invisible girls suddenly getting noticed by the boy they liked. It always seemed too good to be true.

But Haruto didn’t flinch. Her doubt didn’t surprise him.

His hands stayed steady on the wheel as he calmly asked, “Then why did you reach out to me, Amaye? You used that username on purpose, didn’t you? Because you knew it was my old gaming name.”

She froze.

Lowering her head, she mumbled, “I… I thought… even though you were always surrounded by people, you seemed lonely.”

Haruto gave a small nod. “You were right. I have friends, sure, but none I can open up to about personal things. Especially not my family.”

He paused.

“It’s easier to trust someone who doesn’t expect anything from you. Someone who sees you without the filter of reputation or popularity.”

Then his voice softened.

“You’ve been watching me since high school. But I never noticed. When I finally connected the dots, I realized… You knew me better than anyone else. You understood me. Cared for me. You were like a friend… a partner… even before we spoke.”

Amaye’s lips curved into a soft smile.

Yes… she had always been there. She cheered for him silently when he won the baseball match. He shared in his guilt when he got scolded for skipping class. Listening to him—his rants, his dreams, his flaws.

She didn’t just praise him when he did well. She called him out when he made excuses. She scolded him when he refused to take responsibility.

She’d been there—truly been there—for it all.

Haruto added, “And that diligence…that loyalty, it touched me, Amaye. I really couldn’t tell what your feelings are towards me, but I know for sure that I don’t want to be separated from you. Under any circumstances.”

He held her hand, which was on her lap, and added, “I want to be with you forever.”

Amaye kept looking at him, her eyes glistening.

Several emotions stirred inside her chest but she couldn’t utter a single word.

Soon, they reached university and Haruto parked the car before getting out.

He opened the door for Amaye and just as the girl was about to get out, they heard a familiar voice,

“Haru…-kun?”

Haruto didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

But still, he turned to look at the group of several boys and girls standing there, and in the middle stood the one girl whose face he didn’t want to see in the early morning.

Seeing Amaye and Haruto together, Yumeko’s mind turned blank.

The students around her turned silent, waiting for the drama to unfold.

Haruto sighed before he whispered something in her ear.

Amaye blushed slightly before nodding and making her way towards the building.

That sight annoyed Yumeko to no end as she waited Haruto’s good explanation for all this.

Haruto closed the door and approached the group.

His gaze held no shame or regret as he stood before Yumeko and told her, “We need to talk.”

*****

A/N:- Thanks for reading.