Lunch bell.
Noise flooded the hallway instantly.
Jake hooked an arm around Raxian's shoulder out of habit.
"Cafeteria formation."
"Go without me," Raxian said.
Jake blinked. "What?"
"I'm not hungry."
Bruce physically grabbed Jake by the collar of his jacket.
"Let him breathe."
Jake twisted around. "You're not ditching us for rooftop girl, right?"
Raxian didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
Bruce dragged Jake down the hall while he continued protesting loudly.
Raxian exhaled once the noise faded.
He felt… heavy.
He stopped by the vending machine.
Pressed a random button.
Cold can dropped with a metallic thud.
He didn't even check what it was.
His feet moved without much thought.
Up the stairwell.
Past the warning sign no one respected.
To the rooftop door.
Gray sky stretched above the city.
Clouds low.
Wind sharper than usual.
She was there.
Of course she was.
Sitting on the bench near the ledge.
Back straight.
Beanie low.
A small, neat bento box open on her lap.
Rice shaped carefully.
Vegetables arranged with intention.
She didn't seem bothered by the cold, or the wind, or the isolation.
He stood in the doorway longer than he meant to.
Wondering if this counted as intrusion.
If she preferred it that way—alone.
She turned her head slightly.
Already aware of him.
"You're not with them today?"
Same tone as always.
Observant.
Not accusing.
He stepped onto the rooftop.
"Needed space."
She nodded once.
Like that was a reasonable answer.
Because it was.
He hesitated, then walked over.
Sat down on the bench beside her.
Not too close.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The city hummed below.
Distant.
Muted.
Up here, it was just wind.
He hadn't realized how loud everything else had been.
Until it wasn't.
He took a sip of his drink.
It tasted like citrus.
Or maybe he just imagined that.
A drop of rain landed on the metal railing.
Then another.
Light.
Almost hesitant.
The sky blurred slightly as the drizzle settled in.
She didn't move, didn't rush to pack up, didn't shield her food.
Just kept eating.
Rice dampened slightly at the edges.
Her hair darkened where the rain caught it.
"You're going to get soaked," he muttered.
"It's fine."
Of course it was.
He watched the rain bead on the rooftop surface.
Watched it cling to the sleeve of her jacket.
"You like it up here?" he asked.
She finished chewing before answering.
"Yes."
A beat.
"Quieter."
He understood that immediately.
"No one expects anything up here," she added.
That landed.
He nodded faintly.
Took another sip.
The rain picked up just enough to feel cinematic.
Gray sky.
Muted city.
Two silhouettes on a rooftop bench.
She closed her bento box carefully once she finished.
Wiped her hands with a small cloth she'd brought.
Precise.
Then she stood.
Adjusted her backpack.
"You're lighter today," she said, almost absently.
He frowned slightly. "Am I?"
"Yes."
No elaboration.
She walked toward the stairwell.
Didn't wait for him, didn't look back.
The rooftop felt different once she left.
Still quiet.
But not empty.
Raxian remained seated for another minute.
Rain cool against his hands.
For the first time in days—
The weight didn't feel crushing.
Just present.
And manageable.
He took one last sip.
Then stood.