Bit By Bit, The Lounge Began To Empty. Teachers Popped Their Heads In Twice To Remind Everyone Of Curfew, And Eventually Even The Loudest Voices Gave In, Stretching And Yawning As They Gathered Their Things.
Ren And Miyu Left With The Last Small Group Of Third Years, The Hall Behind Them Still Carrying A Faint Buzz Of Laughter. The Corridor Was Quieter, Lit Only By A Line Of Ceiling Lamps That Cast A Soft Yellow Glow On The Wooden Floors.
For A While, Neither Said Anything. Their Footsteps Fell Into The Same Rhythm Without Trying.
Miyu Hugged Her Sweater A Little Closer Around Her. "It's Strange," She Said Quietly, Almost To Herself. "Even After A Day This Noisy… I Don't Feel Tired. Not In A Bad Way, At Least."
Ren Looked Ahead, His Expression As Flat As Ever, But His Voice Came Out Softer. "You'll Probably Feel It Tomorrow Morning."
She Smiled At That, A Small Laugh Escaping. "Maybe. Still… It's Different, Being Around Everyone Like This."
He Nodded Once, As If He Understood Exactly What She Meant Without Needing More Words.
They Reached The Point Where The Hall Split—One Way Leading Toward The Boys' Dorms, The Other Toward The Girls'. Students Around Them Peeled Off With Quick Goodnights, Until It Was Just The Two Of Them Left Standing At The Turn.
For A Moment, Neither Moved.
Miyu Tilted Her Head Slightly, Her Voice Light. "See You Tomorrow, Then."
Ren Met Her Eyes Briefly, The Corners Of His Mouth Lifting Almost—But Not Quite—Into A Smile. "Yeah. Goodnight."
She Turned First, Her Steps Soft Against The Wooden Floor. Ren Watched Until Her Figure Disappeared Around The Corner, The Quiet Of The Hall Closing In Around Him.
Only Then Did He Head Toward His Own Room, The Echo Of Her Words—And Her Smile—Lingering Longer Than The Noise Of The Day.
—
The Boys' Room Was Anything But Peaceful.
Kaito Had Claimed The Edge Of One Bed, Loudly Declaring Himself "The King Of Pillow Territory," Only To Be Immediately Attacked By Mahito, Who Threw A Blanket Over His Head. Vicky Took Advantage Of The Distraction To Steal His Pillow, Laughing So Hard He Nearly Fell Off His Own Bed.
Ren Sat Near The Window, Watching The Scene With The Kind Of Expression That Suggested He Was Neither Amused Nor Interested. Yet The Slight Shift Of His Shoulders, The Way His eyes Narrowed Just A Little—Anyone Who Knew Him Well Enough Might Guess He Was Holding Back A Smile.
"Ren, Don't Just Sit There!" Kaito's Voice Came Out From Beneath The Blanket. "Help Me Defeat These Villains!"
"I'll Pass," Ren Said Flatly.
"You Betrayer!" Mahito Shouted, Collapsing Dramatically Across His Bed.
Vicky Pointed At Ren With Mock Seriousness. "See? That's The Look Of Someone Who's Plotting A Darker Revenge Later."
Ren Didn't Answer—Which Only Made Them Laugh Louder.
—
The Girls' Room Was No Quieter.
Chika Was Still On A High From Earlier, Retelling The Story Of Mahito Losing At Cards With Exaggerated Hand Motions That Made The Other Two Roommates Nearly Fall Off Their Beds Laughing. Miyu Sat By Her Desk, Brushing Out Her Hair, Her Expression Calm—But Her Shoulders Shook Every Time Chika Added Another Ridiculous Detail.
"You Should've Seen His Face!" Chika Burst Out Again. "Like Someone Stole His Lunch For The Third Day In A Row!"
"Don't Make It Sound Worse Than It Was," One Of The Other Girls Said, Still Snorting With Laughter.
Miyu Pressed A Hand To Her Mouth, Trying To Quiet Her Smile. But Her Eyes Shone In A Way That Didn't Happen Often Back At School. Warm. Unrestrained.
"Honestly," She Said Softly Once The Laughter Died Down A Little, "This Trip Really Is… Different."
The Room Fell Quiet For A Moment, But Not An Uncomfortable One. Just The Kind Of Pause That Hung Between Friends Who All Felt The Same Way, Even If They Didn't Say It Out Loud.
—
The Noise In Both Rooms Gradually Settled. Pillows Fell Back Into Their Places, Laughter Eased Into Quiet Murmurs, And Eventually Teachers' Footsteps In The Hall Reminded Everyone That Curfew Wasn't Just A Suggestion.
In The Boys' Room, Kaito Collapsed On His Bed With A Groan. "Fine, Fine. Truce Until Morning."
Mahito Tossed His Blanket Over Him Like A Net. "You Won't Survive The Rematch."
Vicky Snickered From His Corner. "Ren's Probably Secretly Rooting For Me Anyway."
Ren Didn't Answer, Just Turned Off The Lamp Beside Him. His Quiet Was Enough To Make The Others Laugh Again Before They Finally Settled Down.
—
In The Girls' Room, Chika Let Out One Last Burst Of Laughter Before Rolling Onto Her Bed, Hair Scattered Across Her Pillow. "Okay, No More Talking Or I'll Never Stop."
Miyu Set Her Brush Aside, Switching Off The Desk Light. The Room Dimmed, Only A Soft Glow From The Hallway Seeping In Through The Gap At The Door. Her Roommates Whispered A Few Last Words Before Falling Quiet, The Sound Of Their Breathing Evening Out One By One.
Miyu Slipped Beneath Her Blanket, Her Eyes Lingering On The Ceiling For A Long Moment. That Same Warmth From Earlier Clung To Her, Refusing To Fade.
—
Back In His Own Room, Ren Picked Up His Phone. The Screen Lit His Face As He Found A Message Waiting.
[Riko]: Still Awake?
[Ren]: Yeah.
[Riko]: Knew It. So, Did You Talk To Anyone Today?
[Ren]: Yeah.
[Riko]: Really? With Who?
[Ren]: Some Classmates.
[Riko]: How Many Words Did You Say?
[Ren]: A Lot.
[Riko]: Define "A Lot." Two?
[Ren]: More.
[Ren]: More Than That.
[Riko]: Wow. Did They Run Away After Hearing You?
[Ren]: No.
[Riko]: Then What? Did You Impress Someone?
[Ren]: Stop.
[Riko]: That Means Yes. You're Terrible At Hiding Things.
Ren Let Out A Small Breath Through His Nose. He Could Practically Hear Her Smirk Through The Screen.
—
At The Same Time, Miyu's Phone Buzzed.
[Yui]: How Was It?
[Miyu]: It Was Fine.
[Yui]: Fine Doesn't Count. Was It Fun?
[Miyu]: …Yeah.
[Yui]: I Knew It. You're Smiling Right Now.
[Miyu]: I'm Not.
[Yui]: You Are.
[Miyu]: Stop Guessing.
[Yui]: Not Guessing. I Can Tell.
Before Miyu Could Reply, Another Notification Appeared.
[Idiot]: Oi. Don't Forget To Bring Back Souvenirs. Not That You'll Have Time, With All Your Secret Romance Plotting.
Miyu Pressed Her Face Into Her Pillow, Groaning.
[Miyu] : Stop Texting Me.
[Idiot]: So, Did Anything "Special" Happen Today?
[Miyu]: No.
[Idiot]: That's Exactly What Someone Would Say If Something Did.
[Miyu]: You're Annoying.
[Idiot]: And You're Avoiding The Question.
[Miyu]: Because There's Nothing To Tell.
[Yui]: Lies. You Type Slowly When You're Hiding Something.
[Miyu]: I'm Not Hiding Anything)
[Yui]: See? She's Defending Herself. Definitely Hiding Something.
[Miyu]: Goodnight.
[Yui]: She Ran Away, Confirmed.
[Idiot]: Case Closed.
She Could Almost Hear His Laughter From The Other Side Of The House.
—
Both Ren And Miyu Lay Awake A Little Longer, Screens Fading Dark Beside Them. The Laughter Of The Day Had Gone Quiet, But In Its Place Was Something Softer—The Kind Of Silence That Carried A Warm Weight.
Sleep Came Slowly, Pulling Them Toward The Next Morning.
— × —
To Be Continued....