Ren got to class at the usual time.
Not early.
Not late.
Just normal.
Kai was already there.
Of course he was.
Spinning a pen in his hand like he had nothing better to do.
"You're late," Kai said.
"I'm not."
"You are to me."
"That doesn't count."
Kai shrugged. "It counts."
Ren sat down.
The seat next to him was empty.
For now.
He placed his bag down.
Took out his notebook.
Waited.
He didn't look at the door.
Not once.
Kai leaned back in his chair.
"…You're waiting."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Kai smirked. "You're not even denying it properly."
Ren ignored him.
A few more students walked in.
Noise slowly started building.
Then
The door slid open.
Ren didn't react.
Didn't look.
Didn't move.
But he knew.
Footsteps.
Light. Steady.
Same as always.
"She's here," Kai whispered.
"Shut up."
"I didn't even say her name."
"You didn't have to."
Airi walked over.
Same seat.
Same calm expression.
"Morning," she said.
"…Morning."
Kai raised his hand. "Good morning."
Airi nodded once. "Morning."
She sat down.
Not as close as yesterday.
But not far either.
Just… normal.
Ren noticed that too.
"…You brought it again," he said.
She placed the umbrella beside her desk.
"Yes."
"It's not raining."
"I know."
"Then why "
"In case it does."
Ren paused.
"…Right."
Kai leaned forward.
"Do you bring everything 'just in case'?"
"Yes."
"That's kinda smart."
"Yeah," Ren said. "It is."
Kai looked at him.
"…You agreed with her."
"Yeah."
"You never agree with me."
"That's because you're usually wrong."
"I'm not wrong."
"You are."
Airi watched them.
"…You argue a lot."
"We don't argue," Kai said.
"We do," Ren said.
"That's not arguing."
"It is."
Airi thought for a second.
"…It's loud."
Kai looked offended. "It's not loud."
Ren looked at him. "It is."
Kai paused.
"…Okay, maybe a little."
Airi nodded. "Yeah."
Ren leaned back slightly.
The classroom was filling up now.
More noise.
More people.
But it didn't feel the same as before.
Not as empty.
Not as quiet.
Not as
"…You're staring at the window again," Airi said.
Ren blinked.
"…Yeah."
"Why?"
"…It's quiet."
She looked outside too.
Same sky.
Same view.
"…It is."
Kai looked between them.
"…This is boring."
"No one asked you," Ren said.
"I'm just saying."
"Don't."
Kai sighed dramatically. "I'm being ignored in my own friend group."
"You made it like this."
"I did not."
"You did."
Airi didn't say anything.
But she didn't disagree either.
Kai slumped back in his chair.
"…Unbelievable."
Ren looked at the window again.
But this time…
He wasn't the only one.