episode 18
1133 Words
The idea of “group study” sounded good—at least when someone said it out loud in class. But the moment school ended and everyone actually gathered, it became very clear that studying was not the main goal. “We should go to someone’s house,” one of Aru’s friends suggested. “Not mine,” another said immediately. “Same.” “Definitely not mine.” “Then where?” A short silence followed—before all eyes slowly turned to Aru.
“…No,” he said instantly.
“We didn’t even say anything,” one of them replied.
“You were about to.”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely.”
Another friend pointed at him. “You have space.”
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
“…I don’t.”
Rei, standing beside him, spoke quietly. “…You do.”
Aru turned slowly. “…You’re not helping.”
“…I’m being accurate.”
“…Stop.”
In the end, somehow—without a clear agreement—it was decided.
Aru’s house.
Walking there felt longer than usual. Not because of distance—but because of the noise. His friends were louder outside school, less controlled, more relaxed. “What if his house is super strict?” one of them whispered loudly. “Then we’ll behave,” another replied. “…You?” “No.” “Exactly.”
Aru sighed slightly. “…Just don’t do anything weird.” “We’re always normal,” one of them said. “…That’s the problem.” Rei walked beside him, hands relaxed, expression unchanged. “…They’ll be fine,” he said quietly. “…You don’t know them,” Aru replied. “…I’ve seen enough.” “…That’s worse.”
They reached his house.
Aru paused for a second before opening the door.
“…Remember,” he said quietly, “don’t be loud.”
They nodded.
For about three seconds.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
Clean. Quiet. Controlled.
“Woah,” one of them whispered. “It’s so… neat.” “Too neat,” another added. “Don’t touch anything,” Aru said. “We weren’t going to.” “…You were thinking about it.” “Maybe.”
His mother appeared from the hallway.
The room instantly straightened.
“…You brought friends,” she said calmly.
“Yes,” Aru replied.
She looked at each of them briefly. Not judging—just observing.
“…We’re here to study,” one of the girls said quickly.
“…Good,” his mother replied. “Keep it that way.”
Then she turned and left.
Silence.
“…That was scary,” one of them whispered.
“…I told you,” Aru muttered.
“…We’ll behave,” another said.
“…Please do.”
They settled in Aru’s room.
Books opened.
Pens ready.
And for about—
Five minutes—
It actually looked like a real study session.
Then—
“So who understands this?” someone asked.
“No one,” another replied.
“Great.”
“Let’s skip it.”
“Agreed.”
“…We’re not skipping it,” Aru said.
“Yes, we are.”
“No, we’re not.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Rei, sitting beside him, picked up the book. “…It’s not difficult.”
Everyone looked at him.
“…Explain then,” one of them challenged.
Rei nodded once and started explaining—simple, clear, calm.
“…Oh,” one of them said after a moment. “That actually makes sense.”
“…Yeah,” another added.
Aru glanced at him. “…Show off.”
“…You asked for help.”
“I didn’t.”
“…You needed it.”
“…Maybe.”
Time passed in a mix of actual studying and random distractions. Snacks appeared somehow. Conversations drifted away and came back. Laughter had to be controlled every few minutes to avoid being heard outside.
At one point, one of the girls leaned toward Aru. “Your house is so quiet.” “…It’s always like this.” “You don’t get bored?” “…No.” “I would.” “…You get bored everywhere.” “That’s true.”
On the other side, another friend whispered to Rei. “How do you deal with him?” “…He’s manageable,” Rei replied. “…That’s your review?” “…Yes.” “Wow.” Aru looked over. “…What are you saying?” “Nothing,” they both replied at the same time. “…Suspicious.”
Later, as things calmed slightly, most of the group got distracted again—phones, random talks, someone lying on the floor for no reason.
Aru and Rei ended up actually studying.
Quietly.
Side by side.
“…You skipped a step,” Rei said.
“I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“…Oh.”
“…Fix it.”
“…Okay.”
A small pause.
“…This is better,” Aru said quietly.
“…What is?” Rei asked.
“…This.”
“…Studying?”
“…No.”
Rei didn’t respond.
But he didn’t ask again either.
Eventually, evening started settling in.
“We should go,” one of them said.
“Yeah, before we get kicked out,” another added.
“You didn’t get kicked out,” Aru replied.
“Yet.”
“…Go.”
They packed up slowly, still talking, still laughing.
“Same place tomorrow?” one of them asked.
“No,” Aru said immediately.
“Yes,” they replied.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“…We’ll see,” Rei said calmly.
Aru looked at him. “…Stop doing that.”
“…It works.”
“…For them.”
“…Exactly.”
At the door, they all said their goodbyes.
“Bye, Aru.”
“Bye.”
“Bye, Rei.”
“…Bye.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“…Yeah.”
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Real silence.
The kind that filled the house again.
Aru leaned back slightly against the wall.
“…That was loud.”
“…It was,” Rei replied.
“…You stayed.”
“…I said I would.”
“…You could’ve left.”
“…I didn’t want to.”
A small pause.
“…Good,” Aru said.
Rei nodded once.
“…Yeah.”
They stood there for a moment longer.
No rush.
No need to move immediately.
Then—
“I’ll go,” Rei said.
“…Okay.”
They walked to the door again.
This time—
Just the two of them.
“…See you,” Rei said.
“…Tomorrow,” Aru replied.
Rei nodded.
Then left.
The house became quiet again.
But something about it didn’t feel exactly the same as before.
Not louder.
Not different.
Just—
Less empty.
- Writer
