After Lunch, The Teachers Finally Released Them With A Reminder To Stay Within The Grounds. The Moment The Words "Free Time" Were Said, The Group Scattered Like Birds Let Out Of A Cage.
Chika Was Already Pulling Miyu's Arm. "Let's Explore The Courtyard! I Bet There's A Hidden Garden Or A Secret Tunnel Or—"
"There's Probably Just A Bench," Miyu Said, Though She Let Herself Be Dragged Along.
Kaito Stretched With A Yawn. "I'm Voting Nap."
"You'd Sleep Through A Fire Drill," Mahito Shot Back.
Vicky Threw An Arm Over Ren's Shoulder. "So, What's The Plan, Mr. Quiet? Going To Meditate By A Tree?"
Ren Shifted His Tray Into The Bin. "Sounds Better Than Following You Around."
"Cold," Vicky Groaned Dramatically.
The Group Split Naturally—Some Heading Toward The Courtyard, Others To The Game Room Near The Lodge. Ren Drifted A Little Apart, Letting The Noise Fade Behind Him.
He Didn't Expect Miyu To Circle Back After A Minute, Slipping Away From Chika's Tug With A Small Excuse About "Getting Some Air."
"You're Not Napping Too?" She Asked, Falling Into Step Beside Him.
Ren Shook His Head. "I Don't Trust Kaito Not To Snore Loud Enough To Shake The Walls."
That Earned A Soft Laugh From Her. The Path Ahead Was Quiet, Pebbles Crunching Underfoot, The Sun Casting Warm Stripes Across The Stone Walkway.
It Wasn't Planned, And Neither Pointed It Out—But Somehow, Free Time Had Become Theirs.
—
The Courtyard Opened Into A Small Pathway Lined With Low Stone Walls And A Few Stray Flowers Still Clinging To Color. The World Felt Softer Here—The Shouts From The Dining Hall Faded, Leaving Only The Crunch Of Steps And The Crisp Afternoon Air.
Ren Kicked A Small Pebble Ahead, Watching It Bounce Twice Before Landing In A Patch Of Grass. "So… This Counts As Exploring, Right?"
Miyu Smiled Lightly. "If Your Goal Is To Discover Gravel, Then Yes."
"Better Than Chika's Map Skills."
That Drew A Soft Laugh From Her, Shoulders Shaking. "Don't Let Her Hear You Say That. She'll Draft You As Navigator."
"Then We're Doomed," Ren Said.
Their Pace Slowed Without Them Noticing. The Silence Between Wasn't Heavy—It Carried A Quiet Warmth, Like The Kind That Settled In Late Afternoons At Home. Miyu's Hand Brushed The Wall As She Walked, Fingers Light Over The Cool Stone.
Ren Watched Out Of The Corner Of His Eye Before Saying, Almost To Himself, "It's Calmer Like This."
She Tilted Her Head Toward Him. "You Don't Like The Noise?"
"I Don't Hate It," He Answered. "But… Sometimes It's Nice When Things Don't Feel So Loud."
Her Expression Softened, The Kind Of Look That Wasn't Pity But Understanding. "I Know What You Mean."
For A Moment, Neither Spoke. Just The Sound Of Pebbles, The Afternoon Stretching Quiet Around Them.
Then—
"Ren!" Vicky's Voice Tore Through The Calm.
Both Looked Up To See Their Friends Tumbling Out Of The Dining Hall—Chika Leading The Charge, Kaito Stumbling After Her, Mahito Laughing Too Loudly At Something No One Else Heard.
"There You Are!" Chika Pointed. "Plotting A Secret Escape Route Without Us?"
Ren Closed His Eyes Briefly, Already Hearing The Teasing Lining Up. "And There Goes The Quiet."
Miyu Covered Her Smile With Her Hand, Trying To Hide It. "I Warned You."
The Group Descended Like A Small Storm, Filling The Courtyard With New Noise. Whatever Peace Had Been Here Was Gone, But The Warmth Of That Short Walk Still Lingered—Unshaken, Even Beneath The Chaos.
—
The Courtyard, Which Had Been Quiet Moments Ago, Now Felt Like A Festival. Chika Bounced Forward First, Practically Shoving Herself Between Ren And Miyu.
"Ohhh, Look At This. Two People Casually Walking Side By Side. How Suspicious."
Ren Groaned. "It Was A Path. People Walk On Paths."
"Together?" Chika Grinned, Eyes Darting Between Them. "Mmhm. Totally Innocent."
Vicky Clapped Him On The Shoulder Hard Enough To Make Him Stumble. "My Guy, You've Leveled Up. First Group Projects, Now Courtyard Dates. At This Rate You'll Be Married Before Graduation."
Mahito Almost Dropped His Drink Laughing. "Save Us An Invitation. I'll Bring Snacks."
Kaito, Still Half-Asleep But Never Missing A Chance To Add Fuel, Pointed At Ren. "If This Is A Date, You're Doing A Bad Job. You Didn't Even Offer To Carry Her Bag."
Ren's Jaw Tightened. "She Doesn't Need Me To Carry Anything."
Miyu, To Everyone's Surprise, Nodded Calmly. "He's Right."
The Group Fell Silent For Half A Second, Processing The Unexpected Team-Up—Before Exploding.
"Wowww, Defending Him Now?" Chika Nearly Screeched.
"Dangerous Territory!" Mahito Yelled.
"Confirmed Alliance," Vicky Declared, Pretending To Write Notes In The Air.
Ren Tried To Walk Ahead, But Chika Matched His Pace, Smirking. "Don't Worry, We'll Only Tease You Forever."
"Generous," Ren Deadpanned.
Even Miyu Let Out A Small Laugh At That, Which Only Made The Others Louder.
"See?!" Vicky Threw His Hands Up. "She Laughs At His Jokes Now! This Is Serious Development!"
Mahito Pointed Between Them Like He Was Narrating A Drama. "From Strangers To Partners To… What Comes Next? Find Out In Tomorrow's Episode!"
Kaito Finally Cracked A Smile, Muttering, "I Hope It's A Short Episode. I Want To Nap."
The Chaos Didn't Stop As They Continued Walking, Teasing Bouncing Around Like A Ball No One Wanted To Drop. But Beneath The Noise, Ren Caught Miyu's Slightly Tilted Smile—Not Embarrassed, Not Flustered. Just… Amused.
And That, Somehow, Felt Louder To Him Than All Their Jokes Combined.
—
The Group Didn't Slow Down. If Anything, Their Energy Snowballed The Longer They Stayed Together.
Chika Kept Skipping Ahead, Turning Around To Walk Backward So She Could Keep Talking. "Imagine If They Actually Got Put On Cleaning Duty Together. The Romance Potential Would Be Unstoppable."
Ren Sighed. "The Dust Would Die From Secondhand Embarrassment."
Miyu Shook Her Head, But The Smile She Tried To Hide At The Corner Of Her Mouth Gave Her Away.
Vicky Noticed Immediately. "There! She Smiled Again. Ren, My Man, You're Two For Two Today!"
Mahito Gasped Dramatically. "That's Basically A Record For Him. Somebody Write This In The History Books."
Ren Tried To Shake Them Off By Speeding Up His Pace, But Kaito Steered Him Right Back Toward The Group. "Don't Even Try. You're Trapped."
"Feels Like Prison," Ren Muttered.
"A Very Cute Prison," Chika Corrected.
Even Miyu Covered Her Face At That One, Her Shoulders Shaking With Silent Laughter.
The Teasing Carried Them All The Way Toward The Central Courtyard Fountain, Where The Noise Finally Began To Thin Out. A Few Other Groups Were Scattered Around—Some Lounging On Benches, Others Already Heading Back Toward The Lodges. The Afternoon Light Was Shifting Lower, Dipping The Stone Walkways Into A Softer Shade.
Kaito Finally Plopped Onto The Edge Of The Fountain. "Alright, I'm Done. Wake Me When Food Happens."
"You Can't Sleep Here," Mahito Said, Tossing A Pebble At Him.
"Watch Me," Kaito Mumbled, Already Half-Closing His Eyes.
Chika Rolled Hers, Then Pointed Toward The Dining Hall Doors In The Distance. "Fine. Let's Just Go In Early And Camp The Tables. Best Spots Don't Save Themselves."
Vicky Stretched With A Groan. "Good Idea. My Stomach's Been Growling Since Lunch Ended."
The Group Slowly Gathered, Their Energy Dimming Into Something More Manageable. Teasing Still Sparked Here And There, But Softer Now, Like The Warm Glow Before Sunset.
Ren Walked A Little Behind, Letting The Noise Pull Ahead Of Him. Beside Him, Miyu Did The Same—Neither Pointing It Out, Neither Needing To.
It Wasn't Silence, But It Was The Closest They'd Get With This Group.
And Somehow, It Was Enough.
—
The Group Drifted Ahead, Voices Fading Into A Bundle Of Teasing And Complaints About Hunger. Chika's Bright Laugh, Mahito's Mock Shouts, Vicky's Endless Commentary—They All Blended Into A Noise That Filled The Path.
Ren And Miyu Walked Just A Step Or Two Behind. Not Far Enough To Be Separate, But Enough That The World Felt Quieter Between Them.
Ren Tilted His Head Slightly Toward Her. "You're Handling The Teasing Better Than I Am."
Miyu's Eyes Shifted To Him, The Corners Lifting. "I Don't Think That's True. I Just Don't Let Them See It."
He Smirked. "So You're Better At Acting."
"Or You're Worse At Hiding."
That Earned A Small Huff Of Laughter From Him, Quick And Genuine.
For A Few Steps, Neither Said Anything More. The Stone Path Curved Toward The Dining Hall, Its Windows Lit Warmly Against The Evening.
Ren Finally Spoke Again, Quiet Enough That It Might've Been Lost If She Weren't Listening. "Still… It Wasn't Bad. The Walk."
Her Fingers Brushed Lightly Against The Fabric Of Her Sleeve, A Habit She Did When Thinking. "No. It Wasn't."
The Group Ahead Shouted Something—Chika Had Probably Spotted A Cat Or A Loose Poster On The Wall—But It Didn't Break The Thin Thread Between Them.
Miyu Glanced Forward, Then Back At Him. "They'll Keep Teasing."
"Yeah," He Said Simply. "But… I Don't Mind."
Her Steps Slowed Just Enough For Her Voice To Fall Softer. "Neither Do I."
The Words Hung In The Air, Warm As The Light Spilling From The Dining Hall Windows.
Ren Didn't Answer Right Away. He Didn't Need To. His Slight Smile, The Relaxed Way He Exhaled, Was Answer Enough.
And For The Short Distance Left, They Walked In A Quiet That Felt Entirely Their Own.
To Be Continued....