"Thank you for coming, Ren-kun," Haru smiled warmly as she guided her friend into her spacious living room. The room was so large, it could probably fit the entirety of Leblanc inside it.

"No problem," he replied, returning the smile. "I'm always happy to help a friend."

Haru giggled. "I know you are. It's what makes you so dependable, whether we're in the Metaverse or the real world."

"I'm really not that special. You, on the other hand..." Ren motioned towards the tray of tea and biscuits laid out on the coffee table by the couch.

Typically, when one of the group visited Haru's home, it was to receive help or advice. Soon after her father's death, she had made an open invitation for such visits, always having tea and biscuits ready when one of them asked to come over. This was beneficial in a number of ways. It helped Haru to keep her mind off of her personal tragedy and to stave off the increasing feeling of loneliness from living in this large home all by herself. Additionally, being one of the two eldest of the group, Haru felt it was her responsibility to be a reliable senpai to her friends. Ann had once described Haru as the soft, comforting touch to Makoto's stern, demanding touch, and Ren had to agree with her assessment. There was an inherent calming effect to being in Haru's presence, especially when she had all her attention focused on him.

As a matter of fact, the last time Ren had come to visit Haru for one of these chats had been when he had wanted her advice before confessing his feelings to Makoto. Her advice had been spot-on, allowing him to tell Makoto how he felt without a shred of doubt or insecurity in his mind. And she had told him she felt the same. They had been dating for a month now.

"I'm sure you could've told Mako-chan how you felt without my help."

"Probably, but not with as much confidence as you gave me."

"I'm sure it was more that silver tongue of yours that won her over than a tiny confidence boost."

"Maybe, but I still appreciate your help. It was a huge relief to be able to tell someone how I felt about her."

"I see." Haru's tone was oddly contemplative, making Ren wonder if she had something she wanted to get off her chest just as badly. He supposed she'd broach the subject herself if that were the case. It may well be the reason she invited him over today. "Oh! Please, help yourself to biscuits."

"Don't mind if I do." Ren picked one that seemed to be in the shape of a flower with a jammy heart-shaped centre. The roundness of the petals made him think of Haru, for some reason. Ren noted the intensity of Haru's staring as he brought the biscuit up to his lips. No doubt, this was one that Haru had made herself, likely as a test for her café aspirations. He opted to pretend not to notice and simply give her his honest thoughts. "This is nice," he said after swallowing half of it.

"Really?" Haru asked, unable to hide her elation. "I'm so glad."

"So you did make them yourself."

"I did," she giggled. "And the tea as well."

"Also nice. Just as long as there's no dung in this one."

"There isn't, I promise," she laughed. Her smile and especially her laugh were always a wonderful thing to witness. "But I can't promise the next one won't."

"Ha-ha, very funny."

"Who's trying to be funny?"

"...Huh?"

"..."

"!"

"Pfft!" Haru burst out laughing in a most unladylike fashion. "Ihi'm sorry, Ren-kun! I just couldn't resist teasing you a little."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll get you back, somehow."

"I look forward to it."

"So, is this why you invited me over? to taste test your little experiments?"

"...You caught me."

"You didn't have to keep it a secret. I'm always happy to taste test your stuff."

"Now that it's actually edible, you mean."

"Your words, not mine."

"Ah! You..."

"My vengeance is swift and devastating. You should know this."

"Hehe. I suppose I should."

After this, Haru sat in silence, mostly just watching Ren consume more of her tea and biscuits and provide the occasional assessment of their quality, but occasionally looking off into space thoughtfully. After a while, Ren plucked one of the biscuits from the plate and brought it up to Haru's lips. Her whole body became rigid as the sudden sensation dragged her out of her reverie. Her wide eyes met his and spotted that sly grin of his.

"Aaaaaaah," he teased until her lips parted to allow the biscuit entry. She found that it really was quite good.

"You're too much, Ren-kun," Haru mumbled after pushing the biscuit the rest of the way into her mouth and keeping her fingers in front of it to hide her face as she chewed.

"And you're too easy to mess with. Makoto's like that too. It's really easy to push her buttons and make her cheeks as red as her eyes."

"So... this is the kind of thing you do with your girlfriend, huh?"

"I-I..." It was Ren's turn to blush bright red as he realised she was right.

Haru chuckled at that. "2-1 for Okumura."

Ren chuckled in turn. "You got me."

Seeing Ren's smile, Haru felt compelled to speak again. "The truth is, I actually had an ulterior motive for inviting you over today."

"Beyond the taste test?"

"That was the unspoken pretence. Something I could fall back on in case I chickened out of saying what I really wanted to say. You said earlier that you felt like a great weight was lifted from talking to me about your feelings for Mako-chan. I can feel that weight right now, and I can't bear to hold back any longer."

Realisation began to dawn on Ren, but he hoped it was just his unchecked ego jumping to conclusions. "Haru, what-"

"The truth is, Ren-kun... that I... I..."

"..."

"I actually..."

"..."

"I... can't do this!" Haru turned and ran for the stairs. Ren had a feeling she might try to flee the conversation, and was ready to leap over the sofa and catch Haru by the wrist as she tried to flee. As soon as he did, all strength seemed to leave her legs as they gave out and she fell to the floor, Ren's hand being the only thing stopping her from faceplanting directly into the carpet.

"Please... stop..." she whimpered. "Let me go."

"I'm sorry. But I can't."

"Why?"

"You said yourself that you feel crushed by these feelings. Whatever the outcome, you have to let them out."

"No! If I do that then... everything will change. You'll hate me, and Mako-chan will..."

"Haru..." Ren gently lowered Haru down to the floor, crouching down beside her as he did, finally getting a good look at the shimmering dampness of her cheeks and the splotchy mess her makeup was fast becoming as she looked up at him from the floor. "There's nothing you could say or do that would make me or Makoto or any of the others hate you. We all lo- care about you a lot."

"You almost said 'love', but you didn't. So you've figured it out then..."

"That you... you know?"

"Please, say it."

"It's not my place to. It's yours."

"That's not fair."

"I know. But you'll feel a lot better when you do. Trust me."

"That's easy for you to say. Mako-chan felt the same way about you. If I say it, all I have to look forward to is you saying you don't feel the same way, and no matter how gently you put it, it'll feel like you hate me."

"I told you-"

"It doesn't matter what my brain knows you said. My heart won't view it the same way."

"Please, Haru. Say it. Get it off your chest. No matter what, I'll still be here when you're done. I promise." Ren gave his best reassuring smile, but he doubted it was very convincing with his own eyes starting to tear up.

Haru's lip quivered as she tried to force the words out. Ren tried to urge her again, but she held a finger to his lips. She took his hand with her other hand and held it against her wet cheek. She melted into his touch and finally relaxed enough to blurt out, "I LOVE YOU, REN-KUN!" Her eyes opened wide after finally letting it out. "I love you! I really love you and I want you to know that I'm sorry for putting you in this awful position. You shouldn't have to feel bad that you have to reject me, but I..."

Ren leaned down, wrapped his arms under her back and pulled her up to a kneeling position, his arms still wrapped tightly around her. "When did you first realise?" he asked, hoping to help her get as much of this off her chest as possible.

"When... when you would meet with me to discuss my café dream, you were so supportive and sweet. I'd always feared that my dream would be met with derision if I ever said it out loud, but you made me believe my dream was not only not stupid, but also attainable. And that it helped keep my mind off of my father's death for a while... You've always been very kind to me. But it wasn't until you cheered me on with my meeting with the board that I realised just how much you'd helped me through and how much... how much I loved you for that."

"I see... I'm very flattered, but..."

"You must think I'm an awful person, saying all this to you when I know you're already with my best friend."

"Not at all. I know what it feels like to have these feelings welling up inside you. It feels like you're going to explode if you don't let it out. You helped me to alleviate that pressure and I'd like to do the same for you. So let it all out, Haru. I'll hear out everything you have to say and I'll stay with you until you've got no more tears left to cry."

Haru pressed her grimacing face into Ren's chest, his shirt instantly turning a darker shade from the dampness. "You're so c-cool... Every time you say something like that... it just makes me love you more."

"I'm sorry."

"D-Don't be. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Ever. You're a wonderful person, Ren-kun. And Mako-chan is the luckiest girl in the world to have you choose her."

"You're amazing too, Haru. You're smart, beautiful, so incredibly strong, and the most caring person I've ever met. ...I wish I could give you the happiness you deserve, but..."

"I know. That's very... you, Ren-kun. Always putting other people first, even if it hurts you. I hate that you do that to yourself, but I'm also grateful because I never would have met you if you had put your own wellbeing first back in your hometown. Even if we can't be together, just having you in my life at all is a blessing I wouldn't give up for the world."

"I could say the same about you, Haru. And one day, you'll be that little ray of sunshine in the lives of everyone who comes to visit your café."

"..."

"...Haru?"

"Sunshine."

"Huh?"

"That's what I'll name my café: 'Sunshine'." Haru pulled back, eyes staring into Ren's with conviction. "And I'll greet every customer with a beaming smile that lets them know that, whatever they're going through, everything will be alright."

Ren chuckled. "That's very you, Haru."

"And every one of those people will feel better because you inspired me to never give up on my dream. I wish I knew how to properly thank you."

"Just keep making people happy. And put a picture of me in the back and never tell anyone who it is, not matter how much they ask."

"Hehe. You say that as if that wasn't the plan all along."

"Not to be a downer, but... speaking of plans, do you plan to tell Makoto what you've told me?"

"I... Yes. Yes, I will. I wouldn't feel like a real friend if I kept this just between us."

"Do you need help telling her? Because I can-"

Haru placed a finger over Ren's lips. "Just tell me I can do this. That's all I need."

Ren chuckled. "At this point, I don't think you need that, but... You can do this, Haru. I believe in you."

Haru nodded, biting her smiling lip as she did. "Thank you. I'll meet up with Mako-chan this afternoon and tell her everything."

"And I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines."

"I know. And I know you always will be. That's what made me fall in love with you in the first place. And I'll bet that's why Mako-chan fell for you as well."

"She did say something along those lines when I confessed. You know, I get the feeling Makoto'll understand completely. If she doesn't, I'll help smooth things over afterward. But I'm pretty confident I won't need to. After all, who could fault you for falling in love with this incredible specimen?"

Haru laughed louder and harder than Ren had ever heard her. If nothing else, he was thankful he could still make her happy in another way.

And so was she. Even if he would never love her back, Haru would continue to love Ren and appreciate everything he'd done for her. Makoto even gave her permission to.

Happy, uh... Happy Birthday, Haru?

For anyone hoping this story would go in an NTR direction, Noirtorare isn't really my thing. More power to you if it's yours, though.