episode 21
1294 Words
If there was one thing Aru’s friends were good at—it was creating situations. Not helpful ones. Not necessary ones. Just… situations. And today, for some reason, they were unusually quiet in the morning. No loud jokes. No teasing. No random comments. Just… silence. Aru noticed immediately. “…Why are you all acting normal?” he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. “We’re always normal,” one of them replied. “…No, you’re not.” “That’s rude.” “…That’s accurate.” “Wow.” “…Answer the question.” “What question?” “…Why are you quiet?” “We’re not quiet.” “…You are.” “Maybe we’re just tired.” “…All of you?” “Yes.” “…At the same time?” “Yes.” “…Suspicious.” “You think too much.” “…I don’t think enough, that’s the problem.”
Rei, sitting beside him, didn’t react much—but he had already noticed too. “…They’re planning something,” he said calmly. “…Exactly,” Aru replied. “We are not planning anything,” one of the girls said immediately. “…You answered too fast.” “Because you’re accusing us.” “…Because you’re guilty.” “We’re not.” “…You are.” “We’re not.” “…You are.” “Stop.” “…Fine.” “Good.” “…Still suspicious.” “Ignore him,” another said. “We are.”
Classes went on like usual. Too usual. No interruptions. No teasing from the back. No random comments directed at Aru or Rei. It felt… wrong. “…I don’t like this,” Aru muttered during the second period. “…It’s peaceful,” Rei replied. “…It’s fake.” “…Probably.” “…Definitely.” “…Then wait.” “…For what?” “…For it to happen.” “…I don’t like waiting.” “…You don’t have a choice.” “…Unfortunate.”
By lunch break, the tension built—not in a dramatic way, just a quiet expectation that something was coming. Aru sat with his usual group. Rei sat nearby like always. Still normal. Still calm. Still nothing.
Then—
“Hey,” one of the boys said casually, “teacher asked for help after school.” “…What?” Aru asked. “Yeah, something about arranging books.” “…Why me?” “You sit in front.” “…That’s not a reason.” “It is.” “…No, it’s not.” “It is.” “…I don’t believe you.” “Ask him yourself.” “…I will.” “Do it.” “…I will.” “Okay.”
Rei looked at them. “…He didn’t mention it in class.” “Maybe he forgot,” the boy replied quickly. “…He doesn’t forget,” Rei said. “Maybe today he did.” “…Unlikely.” “Still possible.” “…Barely.” “Just go after school.” “…We’ll see,” Aru said.
After school ended, most students started leaving like usual. Noise slowly faded. Bags zipped. Chairs moved. The classroom emptied.
“…You’re actually going?” Rei asked.
“…Just to check,” Aru replied. “…If it’s fake, I’m leaving.”
“…It’s probably fake.”
“…I know.”
“…Then why go?”
“…Because if it’s real, I’ll get in trouble.”
“…Fair.”
Aru hesitated for a second.
“…Come with me.”
Rei paused.
“…Why?”
“…Because they’re suspicious.”
“…That’s always true.”
“…Still.”
“…Alright.”
They walked back toward the classroom.
The hallway was quieter now. Most people had already left. Only a few voices echoed from far away.
Aru pushed the classroom door open.
Empty.
“…See?” he said.
“…Wait,” Rei replied, stepping in.
They both walked inside.
“…No one’s here,” Aru said.
“…Exactly,” Rei replied.
Then—
Click.
The door shut behind them.
And locked.
Aru turned instantly.
“…Did you lock that?”
“…No.”
A pause.
Then from outside—
“…Oops.”
“…My bad.”
“…Not really.”
“…Have fun!”
Footsteps running away.
Silence.
Aru stared at the door.
Then at Rei.
Then back at the door.
“…I’m going to destroy them.”
“…Later,” Rei said calmly.
“…No, now.”
“…Door’s locked.”
“…I’ll break it.”
“…You won’t.”
“…I might.”
“…You won’t.”
“…You’re very confident.”
“…I’m right.”
Aru exhaled slowly.
“…They trapped us.”
“…Yes.”
“…On purpose.”
“…Obviously.”
“…Stop saying obviously.”
“…Then stop stating obvious things.”
“…This is your fault.”
“…How?”
“…You came with me.”
“…You asked.”
“…You said yes.”
“…You asked.”
“…Stop repeating that.”
“…Then stop blaming me.”
“…Fine.”
They stood there.
Quiet classroom.
Late afternoon light coming through the windows.
No noise outside anymore.
Just—
Silence.
“…So,” Aru said after a moment, “…what now?”
“…We wait.”
“…For how long?”
“…Until someone comes.”
“…What if no one comes?”
“…Someone will.”
“…You’re very sure.”
“…Yes.”
“…Why?”
“…Because they won’t leave us here forever.”
“…They might.”
“…They won’t.”
“…They might.”
“…They won’t.”
“…We’ll see.”
Aru walked over and sat on one of the desks.
“…This is stupid.”
“…It is.”
“…They’re stupid.”
“…They are.”
A small pause.
Then—
“…You’re not annoyed?” Aru asked.
“…A little.”
“…That’s it?”
“…That’s enough.”
“…You’re too calm.”
“…You’re too loud.”
“…I’m not loud.”
“…You are.”
“…Only sometimes.”
“…Now.”
“…Okay, now.”
Time passed.
Not long.
But long enough to notice it.
Aru leaned back slightly, looking toward the window.
“…It’s quiet.”
“…It is.”
“…Too quiet.”
“…You said that before.”
“…I’m saying it again.”
“…Noted.”
Another pause.
Then—
“…Do you mind?” Aru asked suddenly.
Rei looked at him.
“…What?”
Aru hesitated for a second.
“…Being stuck here. With me.”
Rei didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“…No.”
Aru blinked once.
“…Just no?”
“…Just no.”
“…That’s your full answer?”
“…Yes.”
Aru looked away slightly.
“…Good.”
A few seconds later—
“…Do you?” Rei asked.
Aru paused.
“…No.”
A small silence followed.
Not awkward.
Not heavy.
Just… there.
From outside, faint footsteps finally approached.
Voices.
“…I think they’re still inside.”
“…Open it.”
“…Okay.”
Click.
The door opened.
Their friends stood there—trying very hard not to laugh.
“…Oops,” one of them said.
“…I’m going to destroy you,” Aru replied calmly.
“…Worth it.”
“…Run.”
“…Already planning to.”
They ran.
Aru stood up immediately. “…I’m going after them.”
“…Don’t trip,” Rei said.
“…I won’t.”
“…You will.”
“…I won’t.”
“…You will.”
“…Watch me.”
And he ran out.
Rei followed—but slower.
Watching.
As Aru chased the others down the hallway.
Loud again.
Normal again.
But something from that quiet moment—
Stayed.
- Writer
