If there was one thing CJ couldn't stand—
It was noise that wasn't his.
And right now?
There was too much of it.
"Wait—say that again," Cy said, laughing.
"I said," Sebastian repeated, louder this time, "you've been sitting next to him this whole time? Voluntarily?"
"Hey," Cy snapped, though she was clearly amused. "I have no choice. We're classmates."
"That sounds like a personal problem."
"It is."
CJ clicked his tongue from a few seats away.
"…They're getting along way too fast."
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching the two of them like they were some kind of suspicious activity.
Because they were.
Cy didn't just get along with people that quickly.
Not like this.
Not with someone like—
Him.
Sebastian Aurelian Valken.
Even just thinking the name felt annoying.
CJ narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Sebastian laugh again—loud, careless, like he had always belonged there.
Like he had always belonged with her.
"…Tch."
Across the room, Ezekiel stood beside him, following his gaze.
"You've been staring for a while now," he said calmly.
CJ didn't look away. "I'm observing."
"You're judging."
"Same thing."
Ezekiel exhaled quietly. "You don't even know him."
"I don't need to."
"He just transferred."
"And he's already loud."
"…You're loud."
"I'm interesting."
Ezekiel didn't respond to that.
CJ pushed himself up from his seat, stretching slightly. "Come on."
"Where?"
"I'm hungry."
Ezekiel glanced at the clock. "It's not even lunch yet."
"And?"
"You're going to eat anyway."
CJ grinned. "Now you're getting it."
He started walking toward Cy without waiting.
Ezekiel followed, slower, quieter.
As they got closer, Cy and Sebastian were still in the middle of whatever chaotic conversation they had built in less than a day.
"I'm serious," Sebastian was saying. "If you let him win arguments, that's on you."
"I don't let him win!"
"You just said you have no choice."
"That's different!"
"How?"
"Because—because—" Cy paused, then pointed at him. "You're confusing me on purpose!"
Sebastian laughed.
CJ stopped right behind them.
"…You two done?"
Cy turned immediately. "CJ!"
Sebastian glanced over, eyes briefly meeting CJ's.
And for a split second—
Something paused.
Just for a second.
Then it was gone.
"Oh," Sebastian said casually. "It's you."
CJ raised an eyebrow. "Disappointed?"
"Not really."
"Good. I'd hate to ruin your day this early."
Cy looked between them instantly.
"…Why do I feel like you're about to fight?"
"We're not," Sebastian said.
"We might," CJ added at the same time.
Cy groaned. "Great. Perfect. Exactly what I needed today."
Ezekiel stepped in quietly. "Ignore them."
"Gladly," Cy said.
CJ ignored that and tilted his head slightly.
"We're going to eat."
Cy blinked. "Right now?"
"Yeah."
"It's not lunch yet."
"And?"
"…You're unbelievable."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"It sounded like one."
Cy sighed, but there was a small smile on her face.
Because this—
This was normal.
This was what they always did.
CJ noticed that.
And without realizing it—
He liked it staying that way.
"Come on," he said again, this time a little more casually. "The three of us. Like usual."
The words slipped out naturally.
Like they always had.
Like nothing had changed.
But something had.
Cy paused.
Just for a second.
Then—
"Oh," she said suddenly, turning slightly. "Sebastian, come with us."
CJ froze.
"…What?"
Cy smiled brightly, completely unaware—or maybe completely aware—of the tension she just created.
"He's my friend now," she added. "So he's joining."
CJ stared at her.
"Since when?"
"Since today."
"That's not how that works."
"That's exactly how that works."
Sebastian let out a quiet laugh.
"I like this system."
CJ looked at him. "No one asked you."
"I'm answering anyway."
Cy clapped her hands once. "Great! It's settled."
"It's not settled."
"It is."
"It's not."
"It is."
Ezekiel sighed softly. "…We're really doing this?"
"Yes," Cy said.
"No," CJ said.
"Yes," Sebastian added.
CJ looked between the two of them, clearly outnumbered.
"…Unbelievable."
Cy grinned. "You'll survive."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
CJ opened his mouth—
Then stopped.
Because for some reason—
He didn't have an answer.
And that annoyed him more.
"…Whatever," he muttered, turning away. "Do what you want."
But he didn't walk off.
He stayed.
Which was answer enough.
Cy smiled to herself before grabbing her bag. "Let's go then."
Ezekiel followed quietly.
Sebastian walked beside Cy like it was already natural.
And CJ—
CJ walked slightly ahead.
But not too far.
Not far enough to leave.
The four of them moved through the hallway, blending into the usual noise of the school.
But something about it felt different.
Unfamiliar.
Like the balance had shifted.
Cy and Sebastian were still talking.
Still laughing.
And every now and then—
CJ would glance back.
Just briefly.
Just enough to notice.
"…He talks too much," CJ muttered.
Ezekiel glanced at him. "You're listening."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"…You are."
CJ clicked his tongue. "Shut up."
But even as he said that—
His attention drifted back again.
To Sebastian.
To the way he moved so easily.
To the way he fit in so quickly.
To the way—
For no reason at all—
Felt familiar.
CJ frowned slightly.
"…Weird."
"Hmm?" Ezekiel asked.
"Nothing."
Just a feeling.
A strange, unexplainable feeling—
Like something was slowly falling into place.
Or maybe—
Falling apart.
And CJ couldn't tell which one it was yet.
But as the four of them walked together—
Something quiet began to form.
Not quite friendship.
Not yet.
But not strangers anymore either.
And somewhere between shared steps and overlapping voices—
A new dynamic was created.
Unstable.
Unexpected.
And impossible to ignore.
Because sometimes—
It only takes one new person
to change everything.