The café Reina had chosen wasn't one of those loud, student-filled haunts. No chatter about homework, no screeching chairs, no over-caffeinated teenagers taking selfies in front of the pastry counter. This place was tucked away on a narrow, lantern-lit side street, the kind you wouldn't find unless you were looking for it.
Renji arrived five minutes early, leaning casually against the wall outside. The air smelled faintly of roasted beans, warm bread, and the crispness of an early evening breeze. He'd timed his arrival so he could watch her walk in.
When Reina appeared, it was like the rest of the street dimmed a little. She wore a soft cream sweater that clung just enough to make him notice, paired with dark jeans that emphasized her legs without shouting for attention. Her hair, normally tied back at school, was loose tonight, soft waves catching the streetlight.
"Early?" she said as she reached him, one eyebrow lifting in playful surprise. "That's a first."
