episode 12
1302 Words
Morning came like any other day—but not exactly the same. Aru noticed it the moment he stepped outside. Nothing had changed, and yet something had. The sky looked normal, the streets were the same, the sounds of people going about their day hadn’t shifted at all. But inside, there was a small pause that hadn’t been there before. Not heavy. Not dramatic. Just… noticeable. He adjusted his bag on his shoulder and started walking, not rushing, not slowing down. Just moving.
At school, everything followed routine. Friends gathered, voices overlapped, someone laughed too loudly, someone complained about homework. “Aru!” one of his friends waved him over. “You’re late again.” “I’m not,” he replied casually. “You are. We’ve been here for like… two minutes.” “That doesn’t count.” They laughed, pulling him into their circle like always. And just like that, things felt normal again. Or at least, close enough.
“You look less scary today,” another friend teased. “Was I scary yesterday?” “Very. I thought you were going to fight someone.” “You always think that,” Aru said, shaking his head slightly. “Because it’s true.” More laughter. It was easy. It was familiar. And for a moment, he didn’t think about anything else.
But habits don’t disappear that easily.
His eyes moved without asking permission.
And there—
Rei stood near the corridor.
Same place.
Same posture.
Same calm expression.
But this time, something was different.
Because Rei looked at him first.
Not long. Not obvious. Just a brief glance.
Then he looked away.
Aru blinked slightly.
“…So he’s not ignoring me.”
That thought came quickly, and just as quickly, he pushed it aside. “Whatever,” he muttered under his breath, focusing back on his friends. He didn’t need to overthink it. Today was normal. It was going to stay normal.
Classes passed like usual. Teachers explained things half the class didn’t fully listen to, notebooks filled slowly, and time moved in that familiar school rhythm. Aru answered when asked, joked when needed, stayed present. But every now and then, he noticed it again.
Rei.
Not staring.
Not avoiding.
Just… there.
It wasn’t uncomfortable. It wasn’t even awkward in a big way. It was just slightly off. Like a song playing at the wrong speed.
When lunch break came, Aru stayed seated this time.
He didn’t get up immediately.
Didn’t say “I’ll be back.”
Didn’t move at all.
“You’re not going?” one of his friends asked. “…Going where?” “Don’t act like you don’t know.” “I don’t.” She gave him a look. “Right.” Another friend leaned in slightly. “Tree guy?” “He has a name,” Aru replied. “Yeah, but this is more fun.” Aru shook his head. “I’m eating here today.” “Ohhh?” they all reacted at once. “What happened?” “Nothing happened.” “Something definitely happened.” “Nothing happened,” he repeated, taking a bite of his food to end the conversation.
They didn’t push too much. They never did.
But they noticed.
Outside, under the tree, Rei waited.
Not because he had to.
Not because it was a rule.
Just because it had become normal.
He sat there for a few minutes, watching students pass by, listening to distant voices, the usual background noise of school life. Then he checked the time.
“…He’s late.”
Another minute passed.
“…Or maybe not coming.”
That thought didn’t stay long. He stood up calmly, brushing off his uniform slightly.
“…Then I’ll go.”
Back in the classroom, Aru had just finished eating when—
“Hey.”
A voice.
Familiar.
Calm.
Right behind him.
Aru turned.
Rei stood there.
Not distant.
Not cold.
Just normal.
“…Hey,” Aru replied.
His friends immediately went quiet. Not awkwardly—just curious.
Rei glanced at them briefly, then back at Aru. “Can I borrow you for a minute?” One of the girls smirked slightly. “Borrow?” “Yes,” Rei said simply. “Return policy?” she added. “…I’ll bring him back,” Rei replied without missing a beat.
That got a small laugh.
Aru stood up. “…Okay.”
They walked out together.
No rush.
No tension.
Just side by side.
They stopped near the corridor window.
Silence for a second.
Not long.
Not heavy.
Just enough.
“…You didn’t come,” Rei said.
“…Yeah.”
“…Busy?”
“…Not really.”
Rei nodded slightly. “Okay.”
Another small pause.
Then—
“…About yesterday,” Rei said.
Aru looked at him, but didn’t interrupt.
“…I wasn’t ignoring you,” Rei continued. “I just didn’t feel like talking much.”
“…That’s it?”
“…That’s it.”
Aru thought about that for a second.
“…You could’ve said that.”
“…You could’ve asked without getting annoyed.”
That made Aru pause.
“…Fair.”
No argument.
No tension rising.
Just… a simple exchange.
Rei leaned slightly against the wall. “So… we’re good?” he asked.
Aru shrugged lightly. “…We were never bad.”
“…You said I did something wrong.”
“…I say a lot of things.”
Rei gave a small nod. “…That’s true.”
Aru let out a quiet breath. “…So yeah. We’re fine.”
Rei looked at him for a second.
Then nodded once.
“…Okay.”
And just like that—
It was over.
Not dramatic.
Not intense.
Just… fixed.
“See? That was quick,” Aru said as they started walking back.
“…You made it longer than needed,” Rei replied.
“Me?” “Yes.” “You’re the one who didn’t talk.” “You didn’t ask properly.” “There’s a proper way to ask now?” “Yes.” “Teach me then.” “No.”
Aru laughed slightly. “Wow.”
They reached the classroom.
Aru’s friends immediately looked at them.
“Well?” one of them asked.
“Well what?” Aru replied.
“Are you alive?” “Barely.” “Did he kidnap you?” “Yes.” “Rude,” Rei said calmly.
That made everyone laugh again.
And just like that—
Everything slipped back into place.
After school, they walked together again.
Like always.
Same path.
Same pace.
No need to ask.
“So,” Aru said, “you’re just going to stand at the tree every day even if I don’t come?” “Probably.” “That’s weird.” “You came today.” “Not there.” “…Close enough.”
Aru shook his head. “You’re strange.” “You talk too much.” “That’s not an insult.” “It is.” “No, it’s not.” “Okay.” “…Okay?”
A small silence followed.
Not awkward.
Just calm.
The kind that didn’t need to be filled.
They reached the crossing.
Stopped.
Same as always.
“…See you tomorrow,” Rei said this time.
Aru noticed the difference.
Just slightly.
“…Yeah,” he replied.
That night, nothing felt heavy.
No overthinking.
No long thoughts.
Just a normal day ending like any other.
Aru lay on his bed, scrolling through nothing in particular, then stopped for a second.
“…That was easy.”
He wasn’t talking about the day.
Just that one thing.
“…Good.”
Across the city, Rei sat by his window, looking outside.
“…He didn’t overreact today.”
A small pause.
“…Better.”
Everything was back to normal.
Or at least—
Close enough to feel like it.
- Writer
