The tension from the game slowly faded into soft laughter and tired smiles. The air in the room felt lighter now — as if everyone had silently agreed to let go of the heavy thoughts from earlier.
"Let's just watch something now," Ren said, stretching his arms lazily.
"Yeah," Seraphine agreed, grabbing the remote. "A movie sounds good."
The group shifted to the lounge. The faint blue light from the TV painted the walls as Seraphine scrolled through the movie list.
"Ugh," she complained suddenly, "watching a movie without snacks feels illegal."
Elara laughed lightly. "Then we should fix that. Arashi, you and Ayane go grab something to eat—and don't forget the ice cream, okay?"
Arashi gave a short nod. "Alright, got it."
Ayane hesitated, glancing away. "Um… is it necessary that I come too?"
Arashi looked at her calmly. "It's fine if you don't want to."
She bit her lip slightly, then said, "No, I'll come. I'll help carry the stuff," her voice a little hurried, almost nervous.
Arashi smiled faintly. "Thanks a lot."
They stepped outside into the cool night. The streets were quiet except for the distant hum of insects and the soft wind brushing past.
After a few minutes of walking, a strange rustling sound echoed from a nearby alley.
Ayane froze instantly. "W-what was that?"
Arashi turned his head slightly. "Probably just a cat. Don't worry."
She nodded quickly, though her eyes kept darting toward the shadows.
They kept walking, the streetlights above them flickering softly — until they turned the next corner.
Two stray dogs appeared ahead, slowly walking toward them.
Ayane's breath hitched. Her body tensed, and before she could stop herself, she grabbed Arashi's arm tightly from behind.
Arashi paused, a bit surprised, then stepped slightly in front of her — his tone calm and steady.
"It's okay," he said quietly. "They won't do anything."
Arashi glanced at the two dogs ahead, their eyes glinting faintly under the streetlight. Ayane's grip on his arm tightened slightly.
He spoke softly, his tone calm and steady.
"Don't run, okay? If you do, they'll sense you're scared. No matter how close they come, just don't react."
Ayane nodded nervously, her heartbeat loud in her ears. The two of them stood still, barely breathing, as the dogs walked closer — their paws clicking lightly on the pavement.
For a few tense seconds, it felt like time slowed down.
The dogs passed by quietly, barely giving them a glance before disappearing into the dark street ahead.
Ayane finally exhaled in relief.
Arashi looked at her and spoke gently, "Ayane… should we go now? You've been holding my arm this whole time."
Her eyes widened as she looked down, realizing her hand was still wrapped around his arm. "O-Oh! I—I'm sorry!" she stammered, quickly letting go, her cheeks burning red. "Let's go…"
As they started walking again, Ayane's gaze shifted toward Arashi.
He didn't even blush… not even a little.
How can someone stay that calm? she wondered, glancing at his composed face.
Meanwhile, Arashi's thoughts were the complete opposite.
Don't react. Don't blush. Just keep a straight face… or she'll think I'm weird.
He kept his expression steady, pretending to focus on the road ahead.
A few minutes later, they reached the small convenience store. Warm light spilled from the windows, painting the street in a cozy glow.
Inside, they grabbed snacks, ice cream, and drinks. Arashi was at the counter, calculating the total when he noticed Ayane standing near the freezer section, staring quietly at something.
It was a small box of strawberry mochi ice cream — her eyes lingered on it a little longer than usual, like she wanted to buy it but was too shy to ask.
Without saying a word, Arashi picked up the box and placed it on the counter.
"Add this too," he told the cashier casually.
Ayane blinked, surprised. "Wha—"
Before she could say anything, the cashier scanned it and packed it along with the rest.
Ayane stared at Arashi, disbelief flickering in her eyes. How did he even notice that?
Her chest felt warm, her heartbeat quickening as she looked away — cheeks still faintly pink.
The cashier scanned the last few items and read the total aloud.
"That'll be 4,640 yen," he said politely.
Arashi reached into his wallet and handed over the bills. But before the cashier could take them, Ayane stepped forward.
"Wait—" she said quickly. "Let me pay too. Everyone asked both of us to bring the snacks, so it's only fair."
Arashi shook his head slightly, a calm smile on his face. "It's okay. I'll just take the money from them later."
"But… do you even have that much cash with you?" she asked, tilting her head.
He chuckled softly. "I'm the kind of guy who saves money for moments like this. So don't worry."
Ayane blinked, then looked down, a small smile tugging at her lips.
He's… actually kind of reliable, she thought.
Her heart gave a small flutter — the kind that came from being quietly impressed.
They stepped out of the store, the night air cool and gentle against their faces. The street was mostly empty, their footsteps echoing softly as they walked side by side.
Ayane's thoughts wandered, her gaze fixed on the pavement.
What should I even do now?
I've gotten so attached to Arashi…
Whatever I feel for him — I've never felt this way for anyone before. And it's only been a week…
Does he feel the same? Or am I just overthinking?
A few steps ahead, Arashi was lost in his own thoughts too.
I still need to figure out who that dream girl was…
Did I already meet her? Her hair was black, falling just below her shoulders… and she was only a little shorter than me.
He glanced at Ayane. She happened to look at him at the same moment. Their eyes met for a brief second before she quickly turned her face away, pretending to look at the shops across the street.
Arashi exhaled quietly. No… it can't be her.
Ayane's hair is yellow… her eyes are different too. Even my cousins don't match the girl I saw in my dream.
After a moment of silence, Arashi spoke.
"Ayane… what did you think after hearing my story?"
Ayane took a second to think before answering. "Honestly? I found it really interesting… and kind of unique too. It didn't feel like some random story — it felt real."
She paused, then asked softly, "But why did you reject that girl back then? Was there… someone else you liked?"
Arashi stayed quiet for a moment, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The faint sound of their footsteps mixed with the night breeze.
Then he finally spoke, his voice low and thoughtful.
"No there wasn't anyone I liked … I've never really loved anyone. But I've never hated anyone either."
Ayane looked at him silently, listening.
"When I was younger," he continued, "I used to find relationships… strange. I didn't understand why people made such a big deal out of them. But as you grow up, things start making sense. The same things that used to feel weird before. You begin to understand them."
Ayane nodded slowly. She could sense the honesty in his tone — calm, deep, and a little distant.
Still, she saw this as a chance.
"So…" she began softly, trying to sound casual, "does that mean you still don't have a girlfriend?"
Arashi glanced at her and gave a faint, relaxed smile.
"Nope. Still don't."
He chuckled lightly. "I mean, who would even like me? I'm not that special anyway. So, that's that."
Ayane's heart gave a strange, mixed reaction — warm and heavy at the same time.
It made her happy to know that Arashi wasn't seeing anyone, but it also hurt hearing the way he thought about himself.
He doesn't even see his own worth, she thought. He doesn't know how good he actually is.
But when he said he'd never loved anyone… something inside her sank quietly.
So that means… he doesn't feel the same way about me. Not yet, at least.
She looked down, her hands gently gripping the edge of her sleeve.
Still… I won't give up that easily.
By the time they reached home, the others were already waiting. Lyanna stood near the door and smiled when she saw them.
"Oh, finally! You two took your time," she said playfully, taking the bags.
"Yeah," Arashi replied with a small smile. "We just ran into a few street dogs."
Lyanna laughed and carried the bags to the lounge. Everyone gathered around as the snacks were placed on the table.
"Alright," Seraphine said, "movie time! But first, Ayane — tell us, what kind of movies do you like?"
Ayane blinked, caught off guard. "Oh, um… I don't really watch movies that much," she admitted. "So whatever you guys think is good, I'm fine with that."
Ren leaned back on the couch with a grin. "Then let's pick something."
"Hey, wait a sec — we didn't even ask you, Arashi. What do you want to watch?"
Arashi looked up from the snack bowl he was holding. "Hmm? Oh, anything's fine. Whatever you guys want to watch, I'll go with that."
Lyanna smirked lightly. "You've really changed, you know that?"
Arashi tilted his head a little. "Changed? How so?"
Lyanna leaned forward. "Before, you were totally different. You never gave straight answers to anyone. You had this… attitude — like you didn't care what anyone thought. But now, you seem calmer. It's like that version of you isn't there anymore."
For a moment, silence filled the room except for the quiet sound of the TV.
Arashi smiled faintly. "Maybe… because I'm trying to change myself," he said softly. "I want to become the best version of me — or at least, someone better than who I used to be."
Aurelia nodded thoughtfully. "That's actually… kinda nice. Not everyone realizes that early."
Then, with a teasing grin, she added, "Alright then, Mr. 'Best Version,' tell us your favorite series or movie."
Arashi chuckled under his breath. "I don't really watch a lot of movies. I'm more into anime."
Seraphine's eyes brightened. "Ooh, interesting! Then tell us — your top four?"
Arashi leaned back slightly, thinking for a moment. "Hmm… probably Dragon Ball, Classroom of the Elite, Re:Zero, and Attack on Titan."
Aurelia's said. "They must be good even though I don't watch anime I should give them a try."
The group chuckled softly, the room now filled with light conversation and a cozy atmosphere. The earlier tension of the night had vanished — replaced by quiet laughter, warm smiles, and the flickering light of the TV reflecting in their eyes.
"Let's try a horror movie this time," Ren said with a sly grin.
Seraphine rolled her eyes. "You always say that—and then you're the first one to scream."
Ren frowned. "That was one time!"
Lyanna giggled. "Sure, sure. One time."
They finally picked a movie called No One Is There, famous for its jump scares. The lights went out, the room fell silent, and the eerie glow from the TV flickered across their faces.
"You know," Aurelia said, clutching a pillow, "whenever you watch a horror movie, the ghost stays in your head for a few days."
Everyone nodded—except Arashi. He sat perfectly calm, eyes on the screen, his face unreadable.
Halfway through the movie, a ghost suddenly appeared right in front of the camera, screaming.
Ayane gasped and instinctively grabbed Arashi's arm tightly.
The room was dark; no one noticed, but Arashi definitely felt it.
"Are you scared?" he asked quietly. "Don't worry. It's just a movie."
Ayane looked at him, amazed that he wasn't even flinching. How is he not scared at all? she thought.
But Arashi leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "Um… could you let go now? It kinda hurts."
Her eyes widened. She immediately released his arm. "S-sorry…" she said softly, turning her eyes back to the screen.
Inside, Arashi was thinking something entirely different.
Don't show fear… if I panic, my aura drops. Gotta farm aura. Stay calm.
In reality, his heart was racing just as fast as hers.
When the movie finally ended, the screen faded to black.
Ren stretched with a yawn. "Everyone screamed at least once, but Arashi—you didn't even flinch! What are you made of?"
Arashi gave a small shrug. "It wasn't that scary."
But deep down, he knew how hard it had been to stay composed.
The clock read 2:47 a.m.
Lyanna rubbed her eyes. "So, do we do something else or just sleep now?"
Arashi and Ren exchanged glances and said together, "We're fine with whatever you all decide."
Seraphine groaned. "You two aren't even sleepy? We're half-dead here, and you still look fresh!"
Ren laughed. "We're used to it. Every weekend, Arashi and I stay up till five playing games. So this feels normal."
The others stared at them like they were aliens.
Lyanna gave a sleepy smile. "You two are insane…"
Aurelia sighed. "No wonder you both look like walking corpses on Mondays."
Seraphine smiled faintly. "I guess I'll never understand how you two survive on that little sleep."
Ren grinned. "Skill issue."
Everyone burst out laughing. The room felt warm and peaceful again, even with the night stretched deep around them.
After the girls left, the house fell quiet. The sound of rain outside filled the silence — soft, steady, and oddly calming.
Arashi and Ren walked into their room, the faint light from the window casting pale reflections on the walls. Ren dropped onto his bed, phone in hand, while Arashi sat by the window, watching raindrops slide down the glass.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Ren finally broke the silence.
"Hey, Arashi," he said casually, "be honest with me… I think you've started to like Ayane too, haven't you?"
Arashi turned his head, his expression calm but unreadable. "No, man. I'd never do that. You like her — she's yours. I could never take someone you have feelings for."
Ren sat up slightly, studying him. "That's… fair, I guess. But, Arashi," he said, voice softening, "I think she likes you."
Arashi blinked, a little surprised. "What? No way."
Ren leaned back, smirking faintly. "Oh, it's obvious. The way she looks at you, the way she gets shy when you talk — it's written all over her face. You just don't notice it."
Arashi fell silent for a moment, his gaze lowering to the floor. "Even if that's true… don't worry. I'll make her believe I'm not the right one — that you're a better choice."
Ren frowned. "Why would you do that?"
"Because you deserve her more," Arashi replied quietly. "And I… I don't think I'm someone she should fall for."
Ren didn't respond right away. The sound of rain filled the space between them again — gentle but endless.
Then Arashi spoke again, his tone shifting. "But you know what's weird, Ren? That dream girl I told you about… I think I'm starting to like her."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You've only seen her twice — in your dreams."
Arashi nodded slowly, looking out the window. "Yeah. But I don't know why… something about her feels real. Like she's not in just a dream. I can't explain it — it's just this strange feeling that keeps getting stronger."
Ren crossed his arms, thinking. "Then maybe you should find her. If she's real, figure out who she is — how to meet her. Ask her what she wants from you."
Arashi smiled faintly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah… maybe you're right."
The rain outside grew heavier, thunder rumbling far in the distance. Both of them fell quiet again — two friends sitting in the soft glow of the night, caught between dreams and reality.
Ren leaned back against the wall, his eyes half-closed. "So… when do you think she'll come again? That dream girl of yours."
Arashi thought for a moment, then sighed softly. "Hmm… I don't really know. I think—" he paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, I forgot. Anyway, whenever she shows up again, I'll tell you right away."
Ren chuckled quietly. "If she's real, Arashi… you should find her. Ask her how you can meet her in the real world — and whatever she tells you, do it."
Arashi smiled faintly. "Yeah… you're right."
Just then, the sound of rain began to echo outside — soft at first, then steady. The faint smell of wet soil drifted through the open window.
Ren stretched his arms and grinned. "Hey, it's raining. Perfect weather for a rank push! Come on, let's play."
Arashi laughed. "Alright. Let's do it."
Both of them lay back on their beds, phones in hand, the glow from the screens lighting up their faces as the rain fell harder outside.
Between the sound of raindrops and the rapid tapping on screens, Arashi spoke softly, almost as if to himself.
"Hey, Ren…"
"Yeah?"
Arashi smiled a little. "Don't worry about Ayane. I'll make sure she ends up with you. I promise."
Ren looked up from his phone, surprised, but before he could say anything, Arashi's focus was already on the match — his expression calm and unreadable as always.
Outside, the thunder rumbled faintly, and inside, two friends laughed and fought side by side — unaware of how much the world around them was about to change.