After Ren stood up for Yumi in front of their classmates, the tension in school eased a little. Although some still whisper behind her back, no one dares to openly bully her anymore. Yumi is grateful to Ren but feels shy about his popularity—she doesn't want to cause him any trouble because of her.
One day after class, Ren unexpectedly approaches her desk:
— "Hey, Yumi, are you free today?" (Ren)
She freezes, unsure what he's getting at.
— "Y-yes… Why?" (Yumi)
Ren smiles:
— "Let's go somewhere. I want to show you a place." (Ren)
Yumi is flustered—why is he even paying attention to her? But she can't bring herself to refuse.
They leave school together, immediately drawing the attention of other students. Yumi feels nervous, but Ren acts as if nothing unusual is happening. He talks about his favorite café nearby, where they can relax.
On the way, they run into Aka, one of the girls who used to bully Yumi. She looks at them with surprise and a mocking smirk:
— "Wow, Ren, didn't know you had such… unusual taste." (Aka)
Yumi clenches her fists, but Ren calmly replies:
— "I didn't realize you cared so much about who I hang out with. Want to join us? Or do you have other plans—like gossiping in the corner?" (Ren)
Aka flushes and quickly walks away. Yumi can't believe her ears—he's really on her side.
At the café, Ren orders hot chocolate for both of them (as it turns out, he remembered Yumi doesn't like coffee). They talk about simple things—music, books, why Yumi transferred to this school.
— "You know, I was a new kid once too." Ren unexpectedly admits.
— "It wasn't easy for me either. But then I realized—if you let fear control you, they win. But if you stay true to yourself, sooner or later, you'll find people who appreciate that." (Ren)
For the first time in a long while, Yumi feels truly understood.
When they leave, it's already getting dark. Ren walks her home, and before saying goodbye, he lightly touches her hand:
— "If you ever need anything—call me. Anytime." (Ren)
Yumi stays standing by the entrance, warmth blooming in her chest. Maybe things aren't so bad at this school after all.
The next day, Yumi notices she's looking at Ren *differently*. And when he catches her gaze and smiles—her heart races wildly.