I splashed another handful of cold water on my face, the droplets running down my neck and soaking into my gakuran collar. It did little to calm the frantic beating of my heart or erase the stupid, giddy smile from my reflection. Get it together, Haru. He's gone. He just said hello. But the way he'd said my name… "Haru." It echoed in the tiled silence of the bathroom.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, I decided I couldn't hide in there forever. My stomach was still growling insistently. I had to face the dining hall, late or not. I pushed the door open, stepping back into the quiet corridor, my head down as I prepared for the awkward walk to the DH.
"Took you long enough. I was starting to think you fell in."
The voice, warm and lightly teasing, came from my left. I jumped, spinning around so fast I almost lost my balance.
Leaning against the wall, just a few feet from the bathroom door, was Ren Ishikawa. He hadn't left. He'd been waiting. His arms were crossed loosely over his chest, and that same gentle smile was on his face, now looking genuinely amused by my startled reaction.
My brain short-circuited for the second time in five minutes. "S-senpai! I… I thought you…"
"Left?" he finished for me, pushing off the wall. "I was heading to dinner. Figured I'd wait. It's no fun walking in alone when you're late, right?"
He'd waited for me. Ren Ishikawa, the third-year kyudo captain, had waited for a clumsy first-year he'd met in the rain. I could only manage a nod, my words completely failing me.
"Shall we?" he asked, gesturing down the hallway towards the distant noise of the dining hall.
I fell into step beside him, my mind racing. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, yet also felt far too short. I was hyper-aware of every detail: the sound of our footsteps, his and mine, the faint, clean scent of his soap.
"So," he began, his voice casual, breaking the silence. "Homeroom sensei probably gave you the club forms today, right?"
The question pulled me from my panic. "Oh. Yeah. Yeah, he did."
"Any thoughts? About which one you'll join?" He glanced at me, his expression open and curious. "It's a big decision. Can define your whole experience here."
This was my chance. I could say it. Kyudo. I want to join kyudo. But a sudden wave of shyness washed over me. What if I was terrible at it? What if I joined just because of him and made a fool of myself? The words that came out were safer. "I… I haven't decided yet. There are a lot of choices."
He nodded understandingly. "It can be overwhelming. Well, if you're looking for something that teaches focus and discipline, you should think about the kyudo club." He said it so naturally, without a hint of pressure. "It's not just about shooting arrows. It's about form, respect, clearing your mind. It's… fun. In a quiet way."
My heart was hammering again, but this time with excitement. He was inviting me. Indirectly, but he was. "It sounds… really cool," I said, trying to sound calmer than I felt. "I'll… I'll think about it."
"You should," he said with a smile. We were almost at the large double doors of the dining hall now. The noise was much louder. I could already feel the anxiety about walking in with him creeping back. Would people stare? What would they think?
As if reading my mind, he slowed his pace just before we reached the entrance. "Hey, don't worry about being late. Happens to everyone. Just grab your food and find your friends." His tone was reassuring.
"My friends?" I mumbled, thinking of Kenji and the others.
"Yeah. The other tall guy—your brother—and the loud one with the spiky hair. They're hard to miss." He winked. He'd noticed who I sat with. He'd noticed me enough to know my social circle.
Before I could respond, he gave a little wave. "See you around, Haru. Don't think too hard about that club form." And with that, he pushed open the door and slipped inside, seamlessly merging with the crowd.
I stood there for a moment, gathering my courage. When I finally walked in, the clatter and chatter felt less intimidating. My eyes scanned the room and found our table instantly. Kenji was waving a bread roll around while telling a story, Arata was laughing loudly, and even Ryūnosuke seemed to be paying attention. Kiyoshi spotted me and nudged Kenji, who turned and waved me over enthusiastically.
"Haru! You're late! We almost ate your share!" Arata yelled as I approached.
"Sorry," I said, sliding onto the bench. "Got held up."
Kenji leaned in, his eyes sparkling. "Held up, huh? By who? You look… flustered."
I could feel my cheeks warming. "No one. Just… organizing my locker."
Arata snorted. "Liar! Your face is all red. Was it a girl? Did you finally talk to Fujita, Himari?"
I shook my head, focusing very hard on my bowl of rice. "It was no one. Really."
I caught Ryūnosuke looking at me. He didn't say anything, but his gaze was more thoughtful than usual. He knew I was lying. But for once, he didn't call me out on it.
The rest of the meal passed in a blur of their familiar banter, but my mind was elsewhere. It was back in the quiet hallway, walking next to Ren. The memory of his voice saying, "You should think about the kyudo club(Archery)," played on a loop. The decision that had felt so overwhelming hours ago now felt incredibly simple. I already knew which box I would be checking on that form. The adventure was no longer just about secret glances; it was about taking a very real, very scary step forward. And for the first time, the fear was eclipsed by a thrilling, undeniable hope.
END OF CHAP 5