Chapter 1: The Hidden Truths

  Chihiro hated surprises — especially the kind that left her blindsided.

  Today, fate seemed to have the cruelest one yet.

  Kana’s text had been short, almost mechanical:

  > "Chi, can you meet me at Café Sole at 5? I need to talk."

  Normally, Chi would brush off Kana’s serious tone. That was just Kana being Kana — quiet, guarded.

  But something about this message unsettled her.

  Pushing through the cafe door, Chi immediately spotted Kana tucked away at the window seat. She looked... guilty. Like someone waiting for a trial.

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  Chi hesitated before walking over, her usual bubbly energy dampened by unease.

  Kana fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, avoiding eye contact. Then, in a voice so soft Chi barely caught it, she said:

  > "Chi... I've been dating Ren. For about seven months now."

  For a moment, Chi’s brain refused to process the words.

  Ren? Their Ren?

  She blinked, certain she misheard. "What?" she asked, voice sharper than intended.

  Kana’s lips pressed together. She nodded.

  It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. A part of Chi wanted to scream, to demand why her best friend had hidden something so big — for seven months.

  Instead, all she could manage was a choked, broken laugh.

  Kana winced. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I was scared... I didn't know how you'd react."

  Chi stared at her, her expression a messy blend of shock, hurt, and anger. Finally, she forced a bitter smile.

  > "Well, now you know."

  Kana instinctively reached out across the table, but Chi flinched away like she'd been burned.

  The guilt etched itself deeper into Kana's face.

  > "I didn’t mean to hurt you," she said desperately. "I was just... afraid it would ruin what we have. I’m really, really sorry, Chi."

  Chi inhaled sharply. Her voice came out disturbingly calm:

  > "I don't want to talk about this right now."

  Standing, she slung her bag over her shoulder. Kana scrambled up after her, wringing her hands.

  > "Are you... upset?"

  Chi turned just enough to glance at her over her shoulder, eyes colder than Kana had ever seen.

  > "What do you think?"

  Without waiting for a response, she pushed through the door, the bell above chiming her exit.

  Kana sat back down, the weight of the moment crushing her. She pulled out her phone with trembling fingers and sent a message to Ren:

  > "I told her.

  She’s upset.

  She left."