"Slow down, Momo—Momo! This isn't a race!" Haruka jogged after the fluffball, leash stretched to its limit as the Samoyed bounded ahead like a cloud with a mission.
"At this point, I think you're the one being walked," Yuki commented, sipping a cold drink as she strolled behind. Her camera hung around her neck, and a playful smirk danced on her lips. "You sure this isn't cardio disguised as pet care?"
Haruka puffed out her cheeks. "We agreed that you were supposed to help me with this."
"I am helping. I'm providing moral support. And hydration." She rattled the ice in her cup.
They turned the corner, and Momo suddenly came to a dead stop.
Haruka nearly tripped. "What the—Momo?"
Yuki peered past her friend—and blinked.
A few steps ahead, standing in front of a vending machine, was a familiar hoodie-clad figure. His black mask was tugged slightly down, just enough to sip from a can of iced coffee. Hair tousled, expression unreadable.
The elusive Hoodie Guy.
"Oh," Yuki said, her grin spreading wickedly. "What do we have here?"
Haruka froze. "No way…"
Ryo, oblivious at first, turned—and paused.
His eyes flicked from Yuki to Haruka… to Momo.
Haruka's heart leapt straight to her throat.
Yuki leaned in, whispering, "This is fate, Haru. Don't mess it up."
"I literally don't know how to exist right now."
Momo, unfazed, trotted forward.
And Ryo? He instinctively took a step back.
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Wait… is he scared of Momo?"
Haruka's eyes widened. "No way."
Momo sat obediently in front of Ryo, tail wagging, tongue out. A model citizen.
Ryo stared at the dog like it might explode.
Then, very carefully, he reached into his jacket pocket and… produced a wrapped candy.
He tossed it—lightly—about a meter away from him.
Momo chased it happily.
Haruka blinked. Did he just bribe her dog to stay away?
Yuki's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.
"Nice… uh, throw," Haruka mumbled, stepping closer. "We meet again."
Ryo sighed softly, sipping his coffee. "Didn't think I'd need protective gear for a walk."
"Are you… afraid of dogs?" Yuki asked, delighted.
Ryo didn't answer. His eyes flicked to Haruka, then away. "Not particularly."
Momo chose that moment to return, dropping the candy wrapper at Ryo's feet like a trophy.
Haruka gasped. "Momo! That's littering!"
Yuki leaned down and said in a stage whisper, "I'm impressed. Momo might be the first being to break Hoodie Guy's perimeter."
Ryo took a long, pained sip of coffee.
Haruka bent down to pick up Momo, cheeks glowing pink. "Sorry. He usually doesn't act this chaotic around strangers."
Ryo gave a flat look. "I'm not a stranger to him?"
Haruka froze. "Well—I mean—you know—since we've met twice now… well this is the first for Momo, but.." Her face started turning red as she speaks.
Yuki clapped her hands once. "It's official then. Friends!"
Ryo raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, maybe not friends, but you've been upgraded from 'mystery guy' to 'slightly less mysterious guy who bribes dogs.'"
Haruka tried to laugh, but it came out as a squeak.
Silence hung for a beat too long before Momo suddenly lunged toward Ryo again—tail wagging, clearly ready to win him over.
Ryo sidestepped like a ninja, slipping behind the vending machine.
Haruka groaned. "Momo, no! He doesn't like—wait—come back!"
Yuki pulled out her camera. "This is art."
"Don't you dare!"
"Too late."
As Haruka tried to wrangle Momo and Ryo did his best to keep a 5-foot radius, Yuki grinned to herself. This wasn't just an accidental meeting. This was the universe throwing chaos and awkwardness into a blender—and she was loving it.
"Are you always like this, or is it just when I'm around?" Ryo asked dryly.
Haruka looked up, breathless from chasing Momo. "Define 'like this.'"
"Like a sitcom in motion."
She pouted. "That's… kind of rude."
"I meant it with admiration."
"You don't sound very admiring."
"That's just my tone."
Yuki let out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, the banter. This is peak slow-burn material."
"Slow what?" Haruka asked.
"Nothing," Yuki said quickly, grinning. "Just a photography term."
Ryo glanced at Haruka again, just a flicker of curiosity crossing his face. "So… what are you doing around here?"
Haruka pointed vaguely down the street. "Yuki's place is nearby. We usually go on evening walks with Momo."
Ryo nodded. "Right."
More silence.
Momo began gnawing on a stick with the intensity of a wolf.
Haruka smiled awkwardly. "He's… busy."
"I noticed."
"Still scared of him?"
"Still not admitting it."
Yuki stepped between them. "Alright, Haru, let's not keep Hoodie Guy from his mysterious errands. We've invaded his personal bubble enough."
"Wait, I—" Haruka blinked. "Yeah. Right. Sorry."
She tugged Momo's leash gently. The dog groaned dramatically before rising, stick in tow.
Ryo watched them for a second longer, then turned back toward the vending machine, his posture already signaling the end of the encounter.
"See you around," Haruka said, barely above a whisper, her voice a little unsure.
Ryo paused, his gaze still fixed on the machine in front of him, before he shot her one last look. "I hope not," he replied dryly.
As they walked away, Yuki leaned closer to Haruka, a grin spreading across her face. "You owe me dinner. That was fate-level chaos."
Haruka gave her a mock glare, puffing out her cheeks. "I did not appreciate that at all," she pouted, crossing her arms.
Yuki chuckled, unphased. "Oh, come on. You've got to admit, that was a show."
Haruka let out a small sigh, feeling the weight of the awkward tension still hanging in the air. "I don't know if that was comforting or terrifying," she murmured, her thoughts still caught between Ryo's cryptic words and the unexpected turn of events.
"Probably both," Yuki teased, nudging her playfully. "But hey, that's the fun part, right? Embrace the chaos."
Haruka couldn't help but smile despite herself, even if it was more out of uncertainty than excitement. It felt like stepping into the unknown, and for once, that didn't seem so bad.