Chapter 5
The night was quiet.
Akira stepped into his living room, the faint glow of the city lights slipping through the window. The house felt empty as always… silent… cold.
He walked to his room and lay down on his bed.
"…I should sleep," he muttered.
But then he picked up his phone.
"…One last time."
---
A notification blinked on the screen.
Group Chat — Friends
Yuki had sent a message.
Akira's eyes focused instantly.
---
Yuki:
"I want to tell something."
---
Akira's heartbeat slowed… then slightly increased.
Is she going to say it…?
No… that's impossible…
Or… maybe…
---
He typed quickly.
Akira:
"What?"
---
A few seconds passed.
They felt longer than they should.
---
Yuki:
"I'm not free on Monday. I have something important to do."
---
Silence.
Akira stared at the screen.
His expression didn't change much…
But something inside him dropped.
I see…
---
He typed calmly.
Akira:
"Okay. Never mind."
---
Another message appeared immediately.
---
Yuki:
"But wait… we can go on Saturday instead."
---
Akira blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
A small, genuine smile appeared.
"…Saturday," he whispered.
---
Akira:
"Okay. As you wish."
---
Right then—
Another notification popped up.
---
Renji:
"Looks like your 'study session' is getting closer 😏"
---
Yuki:
"This is not a date. We're just going to study."
---
Renji:
"Oh really? Then I'll come too. The more, the better 😁"
---
Akira immediately sat up.
---
Akira:
"No."
---
A pause in the chat.
---
Yuki:
"But why, Akira? This isn't a date, right?"
---
Akira stared at the screen for a moment.
Then typed carefully.
---
Akira:
"Yeah… you're right.
But Renji is annoying. He'll disturb our study."
---
A few seconds later—
---
Yuki:
"…Understood."
---
Renji:
"Wow… you just insulted me 😐"
---
Yuki:
"Renji, I'm sorry… but maybe next time."
---
A pause.
---
Renji:
"…It's okay."
---
The chat went silent.
---
Akira slowly placed his phone beside him.
His eyes moved to the ceiling.
"…Saturday," he repeated quietly.
For once—
His mind wasn't filled with darkness.
---
🌅 Next Morning — School
The classroom buzzed with the usual noise.
Students talking.
Laughing.
Living normal lives.
---
Akira sat at his desk, unusually quiet.
Renji walked in and dropped his bag.
"So… Saturday, huh?" he said with a smirk.
Akira didn't look at him. "…Don't start."
Renji laughed. "You were fast to reject me yesterday."
"You would have ruined it."
"Ouch."
---
Before Renji could reply—
A soft voice interrupted.
---
"Good morning."
---
Yuki stood beside them.
---
"…Morning," Akira said.
But this time—
His voice was softer than usual.
---
Yuki smiled. "So… Saturday is confirmed."
Akira nodded. "…Yeah."
Renji leaned back in his chair. "Have fun, you two."
Akira shot him a glance.
"Stay out of it."
---
Yuki giggled softly.
And for a brief moment—
Everything felt normal.
---
🧠 Akira's Thoughts
As the teacher entered the class and the lesson began—
Akira stared at his notebook.
But he wasn't reading.
He wasn't listening.
---
Saturday…
Why does it matter so much?
---
He knew the answer.
But he didn't say it.
Even to himself.
---
His eyes slowly shifted toward Yuki.
She was focused on her work.Chapter 5: Messages at Midnight
The night was quiet.
Akira stepped into his living room, the faint glow of the city lights slipping through the window. The house felt empty as always… silent… cold.
He walked to his room and lay down on his bed.
"…I should sleep," he muttered.
But then he picked up his phone.
"…One last time."
---
A notification blinked on the screen.
Group Chat — Friends
Yuki had sent a message.
Akira's eyes focused instantly.
---
Yuki:
"I want to tell something."
---
Akira's heartbeat slowed… then slightly increased.
Is she going to say it…?
No… that's impossible…
Or… maybe…
---
He typed quickly.
Akira:
"What?"
---
A few seconds passed.
They felt longer than they should.
---
Yuki:
"I'm not free on Monday. I have something important to do."
---
Silence.
Akira stared at the screen.
His expression didn't change much…
But something inside him dropped.
I see…
---
He typed calmly.
Akira:
"Okay. Never mind."
---
Another message appeared immediately.
---
Yuki:
"But wait… we can go on Saturday instead."
---
Akira blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
A small, genuine smile appeared.
"…Saturday," he whispered.
---
Akira:
"Okay. As you wish."
---
Right then—
Another notification popped up.
---
Renji:
"Looks like your 'study session' is getting closer 😏"
---
Yuki:
"This is not a date. We're just going to study."
---
Renji:
"Oh really? Then I'll come too. The more, the better 😁"
---
Akira immediately sat up.
---
Akira:
"No."
---
A pause in the chat.
---
Yuki:
"But why, Akira? This isn't a date, right?"
---
Akira stared at the screen for a moment.
Then typed carefully.
---
Akira:
"Yeah… you're right.
But Renji is annoying. He'll disturb our study."
---
A few seconds later—
---
Yuki:
"…Understood."
---
Renji:
"Wow… you just insulted me 😐"
---
Yuki:
"Renji, I'm sorry… but maybe next time."
---
A pause.
---
Renji:
"…It's okay."
---
The chat went silent.
---
Akira slowly placed his phone beside him.
His eyes moved to the ceiling.
"…Saturday," he repeated quietly.
For once—
His mind wasn't filled with darkness.
---
🌅 Next Morning — School
The classroom buzzed with the usual noise.
Students talking.
Laughing.
Living normal lives.
---
Akira sat at his desk, unusually quiet.
Renji walked in and dropped his bag.
"So… Saturday, huh?" he said with a smirk.
Akira didn't look at him. "…Don't start."
Renji laughed. "You were fast to reject me yesterday."
"You would have ruined it."
"Ouch."
---
Before Renji could reply—
A soft voice interrupted.
---
"Good morning."
---
Yuki stood beside them.
---
"…Morning," Akira said.
But this time—
His voice was softer than usual.
---
Yuki smiled. "So… Saturday is confirmed."
Akira nodded. "…Yeah."
Renji leaned back in his chair. "Have fun, you two."
Akira shot him a glance.
"Stay out of it."
---
Yuki giggled softly.
And for a brief moment—
Everything felt normal.
---
🧠 Akira's Thoughts
As the teacher entered the class and the lesson began—
Akira stared at his notebook.
But he wasn't reading.
He wasn't listening.
---
Saturday…
Why does it matter so much?
---
He
But he didn't say it.
Even to himself.
---
His eyes slowly shifted toward Yuki.
She was focused on her work.
Calm.
Peaceful.
---
Different from his world.
---
This feeling…
It's dangerous.
---
But for the first time—
Akira didn't push it away.
---
🌑 End of Chapter
Saturday was coming.
A simple day.
A normal plan.
A quiet meeting.
---
But in Akira's world—
Nothing was ever that simple.
Calm.
Peaceful.
---
Different from his world.
---
This feeling…
It's dangerous.
---
But for the first time—
Akira didn't push it away.
---