[ POV - Lucy ]
I was sitting on the bus, video calling my parents like usual.
"Be careful, honey."
"Make sure you take care of yourself while you're alone."
The endless stream of concern repeated so often that I could almost recite it by heart. A little annoying, maybe, but also comforting in its own way.
"I'm almost at the meeting spot with Ren. I'll hang up now."
I ended the call and leaned my head against the window, watching the city scenery slide past in reverse. A familiar image came to mind,Ren.
He was the boy I used to play with when I was five. Back then, we couldn't even read properly, yet he was already buried in comic books. Just the other day, my parents showed me a recent photo of him. Honestly, he looked like the biggest bookworm ever.
When the bus stopped, I got off… but didn't see Ren anywhere. I tried calling, but no one picked up. Annoyance bubbled up inside me.
Then… two shady-looking guys suddenly approached, staring while muttering crude comments.
Luckily, a guy showed up just in time and chased them off.
I was a bit wary while talking to him, but when he said he was Ren's friend, I decided to go along with it. I didn't really have a choice.
A little while later, Ren finally appeared… looking way more "ugh" than I expected. He was such a mess, like he had just crawled out of a trash heap.
Hiro,the guy who helped me earlier,was neat, polite, and honestly pretty handsome. Compared to him, Ren… yeah, the contrast was hard to ignore.
After saying goodbye to Hiro, Ren and I headed to the apartment my parents had arranged.
My first impression of Ren after more than ten years apart… wasn't so bad, actually. Right, Ren?
"Haha… sorry, I ran into a bit of trouble on the way."
When we arrived, Ren asked to take a quick shower and rest. Then he left almost right after. I guess his books were still more important than his childhood friend. I was going to ask him to help me unpack, but… maybe next time.
After cleaning up and showering, I relaxed on the sofa, snacking and watching TV. That feeling of freedom,so nice.
---
Monday morning, I woke up early for a jog,an old habit that was now part of this new life.
While running, I spotted a familiar figure ahead. As I got closer, I realized it was Hiro. We greeted each other and jogged together for a bit, then stopped for a short chat before parting ways.
At school, I introduced myself to the class. Ren, of course, was buried in a book and didn't even bother to look up.
I noticed Hiro in the room and smiled softly at him.
---
At lunch, I was bombarded with curious classmates asking questions,some of them a little too enthusiastic. It was exhausting.
Just when I was starting to wonder where I could escape to, Hiro showed up and invited me to the literature club to take a break. I nodded and followed him.
It would be fine. Hiro seemed like someone I could trust.
---
At the literature club, Hiro and I had lunch together and talked. Being with him was surprisingly relaxing, especially compared to the constant attention I got earlier. I didn't expect to feel so comfortable with someone I'd just met the day before.
During our conversation, Hiro suggested I try joining a club. After a bit of thought, I decided to go with the archery club.
After school, I headed over. Things went more smoothly than I expected,the senior girl there welcomed me warmly and accepted my application right away.
When I got home, I showered and had a light dinner. I thought about texting Hiro to let him know I'd joined the club… but for some reason, I hesitated for a while before hitting send. I didn't even know why.
---
The next morning, we had P.E. While warming up, I noticed Hiro facing off against two guys,one of them was Ren, and the other, if I remembered correctly, was Shun.
No one expected Hiro to beat them so easily and score that clean goal. I had to admit,it was seriously impressive.
---
At lunch break, I visited the archery club to try things out for real. After adjusting my stance and focusing, I released the string… and the arrow hit dead center.
"Nice shot, Lucy."
I jumped a little,Hiro's voice. He had snuck up behind me.
He teased me a bit, but not in a mean way. Actually… it was kinda cute.
---
In art class, I was reluctantly made the model for Shun, the guy sitting next to me. Sitting still for so long was honestly boring and made my whole body ache. I just hoped the result would be worth it.
While zoning out, I felt someone watching me. I turned and saw Hiro. I squinted at him, confused, but he just smiled in return.
At the end of class, Shun handed me the drawing he made. One look, and I couldn't help but frown. The expression he drew on me felt mocking. It was seriously irritating.
"Lucy, over here."
It was Hiro's voice again.
I walked over, still visibly annoyed. But then he handed me another drawing,this one made my heart skip a beat.
It was me. But so real, so gentle, the colors beautifully blended. Every line felt thoughtful, capturing the moment perfectly.
"You drew me earlier? But… why?"
"I knew Shun wouldn't do a good job. And holding that pose for so long must've been tiring. I didn't want your effort to go to waste."
Another skipped heartbeat. My face grew hot,I turned away quickly.
"Ugh… who told you to do that anyway… but… since you put in the effort… thanks, I guess? Can I keep it?"
"Of course."
"Thanks."
I hugged the drawing close and returned to my seat. A strange feeling bloomed in my chest, warm, fluttery… but not unpleasant.