Alya struggled down the hallway, arms wrapped around a heavy box, her steps uneven.
"Ugh, why is this thing so freaking heavy?" she muttered, wobbling.
Outta nowhere, Chris stepped up from behind. No words. No theatrics. He just took the box from her hands like it weighed nothing.
"W-What?" Alya blinked, caught off guard.
"Which room?" he asked, still not meeting her eyes.
"Uh… Chemistry room," she replied, flustered.
Chris gave a small nod, walked off, dropped the box in place, and left. No flex, no smile. Just… quiet help.
–––
After school, the halls buzzed with noise—students laughing, running, shouting like they'd been set free.
Chris walked alone.
No old gang trailing him. No girls clinging to his sleeves. Just him, cutting through the noise like a ghost.
Some girls still glanced his way, whispering behind their hands. But he didn't notice. Or maybe… he didn't care.
Outside, snow fell soft and slow. Chris found his way to a nearby park and dropped onto a swing, the chains creaking under his weight. Snowflakes settled in his white hair, melting on his lashes.
Then came the footsteps. His old gang—same cocky swagger, same smug grins.
"Changed your mind, or still playing the lone wolf?" one of them called.
Chris looked up, eyes cold. "Fuck off, you jerks," he said flatly.
They laughed. "Whatever. Stay lost, bro. We do us."
They left, and silence returned. Chris gripped the swing tighter.
"What even is my life anymore?" he muttered, dragging a hand down his face.
Crunch. Footsteps in snow.
"Here. Butterscotch," Haruta said, holding out a dripping cone.
Chris blinked. "Huh?"
"Eat it or it's gonna melt," Haruta shrugged.
Chris stared at the cone. "Why?"
Haruta didn't meet his gaze. "I know you've changed. Now all that's left is to prove it."
He shoved the cone into Chris's hand and walked off.
Chris looked down. Melting fast.
"…Thanks," he whispered, just loud enough for the wind to hear.
–––
Scene shift.
Rei and Sera walked down the snowy street, breath curling into the cold air.
"Maybe he's telling the truth," Sera murmured.
"Yeah. Maybe," Rei replied, hands in his pockets, snow crunching beneath them.
"…But I'm not trusting him. Not until he proves he's worth it."
Snow kept falling—soft, slow, and silent.
Like forgiveness, still figuring itself out.
—To be continued.
~Rei