The corridors buzzed with the pre-lunch chaos—shoes squeaking, laughter echoing, and occasional scolding from a teacher who had long given up on order.
Ryu sat alone on the back stairs, chewing the edge of her pen, pretending to study. In truth, she hadn't been able to focus since... that day in the rain. Since Rey had looked right through her and said she was childish.
"Excuse me," a small voice piped up beside her, snapping her out of thought.
Two kids stood at the bottom of the stairs. A girl with two messy braids and bright eyes. A boy with ink-smudged fingers and a teasing grin.
"Can we sit here?" the girl asked politely, holding her lunchbox like it held secrets.
Ryu smiled, shifting over. "Sure."
The girl plopped down beside her. The boy sat two steps below and pulled out a paper plane. It soared—badly—and crashed at Ryu's feet.
"Sorry," he said. "Still working on the angle."
Ryu handed it back with a soft laugh. "Needs a sharper crease."
"You know paper planes?"
"I used to compete with my dad," she said without thinking, then looked away. That door had long shut.
The girl nudged her. "I'm Anika. That's Aarav. We're in Class 5 and 7. Are you in 11th?"
"Yeah. Ryu."
"Like... Ryu Ryu?" Anika blinked. "Our brother talks about you a lot."
Ryu froze.
Brother?
"Wait—your brother's in this school?"
Aarav smirked. "Unfortunately. Big grump. Quiet. Topper. Always acting like a secret agent."
Ryu's stomach twisted. "...What's his name?"
Before either could answer, a sharp voice called from the hallway.
"Anika. Aarav. Didn't I tell you not to leave your class during break?"
Rey.
He was already striding toward them, eyes locked on his siblings—but they briefly flicked to Ryu. And paused.
Ryu stared at him, then at the kids.
"You're—"
"Told you she didn't know," Aarav whispered to his sister with a grin.
"...your siblings," she finished.
Anika beamed. "Surprise!"
Rey sighed, running a hand through his damp hair. "What are you two doing here?"
"Making new friends," Anika said sweetly, holding Ryu's hand.
For a second, Rey's expression flickered. Something softer passed through.
"They're great," Ryu murmured, voice quieter. "Better company than most."
Rey looked at her properly then. Eyes less guarded, but still not fully open.
"You okay?" she asked, almost afraid to.
He didn't answer. Just nodded toward the bell that had just rung.
"Lunch's over."
As the siblings scurried away, Anika looked over her shoulder and whispered, "You're invited to his birthday, by the way. 2nd April. Come."
Ryu sat there, stunned.
That date.
The boy.
The paper plane.
The way he looked when he thought no one was watching.
Everything suddenly felt less like coincidence and more like fate rearranging itself.
And in her heart, something stirred—something that hadn't moved in a while.
Not trust.
Not yet.
But maybe... the beginning of it.