After dinner and a bath, Eadlyn lay on his bed, scrolling through his phone. The group chat was alive with Ken's ridiculous memes and Riko's playful teasing, but his attention kept drifting to the one unread message at the top of his screen.
Saya: Get home safely. And... good night, Ead.
His thumb hovered over the notification, a warmth spreading through his chest that had nothing to do with the humid summer air. He hadn't expected that—hadn't expected her to reach out first. The message was simple, but the fact that she'd sent it at all made it feel like something more.
He was about to reply when another notification popped up:
Saya: If you're still awake... did you decide on a club yet?
Eadlyn sat up, suddenly more alert. He typed back quickly:
Eadlyn: Not yet. Still thinking. Why?
Her reply came almost instantly:
Saya: No reason. Just... if you need help deciding, I can show you around the clubs tomorrow during lunch.
A smile tugged at his lips. He could practically hear the unspoken words beneath her message—I want to help you. I want to spend more time with you. But she'd never say it outright. That wasn't Sayaka's way.
Eadlyn: I'd like that. Thank you, Saya-senpai.
The senpai was deliberate, and he could imagine her reaction—probably a slight flush, a quick glance away, that momentary loss of composure she tried so hard to hide. He was learning her tells, the tiny cracks in her carefully constructed facade.
Saya: Don't call me that. Just Saya is fine. Saya: And meet me by the entrance at lunch. Don't be late.
Eadlyn chuckled, typing back:
Eadlyn: Yes, boss.
The next day, Eadlyn found himself watching the clock more than usual. When the lunch bell finally rang, he was already standing by the entrance before the echoes of the chime had faded.
Sayaka was there, waiting near the shoe lockers, her posture straight as always. She turned when she heard his footsteps, her expression softening just slightly when she saw him.
"You're early," she noted, though there was no reproach in her voice.
"Eager," he admitted with a grin.
She led him through the campus, pointing out the various club rooms. She didn't just list them—she wove stories into her explanations, small details that made each club feel alive.
"The basketball club is one of the most popular," she said as they passed the gym. "They practice almost every day, and their matches draw big crowds. Ken's on the team—you've seen how energetic he is."
Eadlyn nodded. "I noticed. He's got that... relentless energy."
Sayaka smiled faintly. "Yes. It's exhausting sometimes, but it's also why people follow him."
She guided him toward the pool next. "And this is where the swimming club practices. I've been a member since first year."
Eadlyn peered through the glass doors at the shimmering water. "It looks intense."
"It is," Sayaka admitted. "But there's something about the water... it's like another world. The pressure, the silence beneath the surface—it forces you to focus."
He could hear the quiet passion in her voice, the way she spoke about it like it was more than just a sport. "That sounds... appealing, actually."
She turned to him, surprised. "You? In the swimming club?"
He laughed, shaking his head. "No, I'd probably drown. But I get what you mean about the focus. There's something similar in basketball—the way the game narrows down to just you and the ball and the basket."
Sayaka studied him for a moment, her dark eyes thoughtful. "You play?"
"A bit," he said modestly. "Enough to hold my own."
She didn't press further, but he could see the curiosity in her gaze. "You should try out for the team, then. They could use someone with your height."
Eadlyn considered it, watching the sunlight glint off the pool's surface. "Maybe I will."
They continued the tour, Sayaka pointing out the photography club's darkroom, the archery range, the science lab where students were already gathered around experiments. Each place had its own rhythm, its own energy.
As they walked, Eadlyn noticed the way people reacted to Sayaka—some with admiration, others with quiet respect, a few with something closer to awe. She carried herself with a natural authority, but it wasn't arrogant. It was earned.
"You seem to know everyone," he commented as another student greeted her with a bow.
Sayaka shrugged. "I've been here a while. And I'm on the student council."
"That explains it," he said, though he knew it was more than that. There was something about her—something that made people trust her, follow her. He was starting to understand why.
They ended up near the basketball courts, where Ken and a few other boys were already shooting hoops. Ken spotted them and waved enthusiastically.
"Ead! Sayaka-senpai! Over here!"
Sayaka hesitated, but Eadlyn gave her a small nudge. "Come on. I want to introduce you properly."
As they walked over, Eadlyn realized something—he wasn't just showing Sayaka to his friends. He was claiming his place here, in this school, in this strange new world that was starting to feel like home.
Ken grinned as they approached. "Sayaka-senpai! You actually came to watch us?"
Sayaka gave him a cool look. "I was showing Eadlyn the clubs. He's thinking of joining the basketball team."
Ken's eyes lit up. "No way! That's awesome, man! You saw him play yesterday, right, Sayaka-senpai? He's got skills!"
She nodded, though Eadlyn caught the faintest hint of a smile. "I did see. He's... competent."
Ken laughed, clapping Eadlyn on the back. "Competent? Bro, you were amazing! Sayaka-senpai, you gotta come watch our next practice. Ead's gonna blow everyone away."
Eadlyn shot Ken a look, but he was grinning. "Don't set the bar too high."
Sayaka watched them for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "I'll be there," she said finally. "To cheer you on."
The words were simple, but they settled into Eadlyn like a promise.
As the bell rang for the end of lunch, Eadlyn walked Sayaka back toward the main building. The air between them felt different now—lighter, warmer. Like they'd crossed some invisible threshold.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For today. For... everything."
Sayaka glanced at him, her dark eyes reflecting the sunlight. "You don't need to thank me. That's what senpai are for."
He smiled. "Then I'm lucky to have you."
She looked away, but not before he caught the faintest blush coloring her cheeks. "Just don't be late to practice."
Eadlyn laughed, watching as she walked ahead of him, her posture straight, her steps confident. He had a feeling this was only the beginning—of friendships, of challenges, of something he couldn't quite name yet.
But for the first time in a long time, he was excited to find out.