Ring!—Ring!—Ring!
The bell shrieked across the courtyard, slicing through the chatter of students. Hallways erupted in motion—sneakers squeaking, backpacks thumping, laughter and chatter bursting like firecrackers.
Yuri paused at the entrance, shoulders slumping slightly. He exhaled, eyes narrowing.
What's going on? Hiro hasn't come back for almost a week now… Did I really upset him that much?
He stood frozen, thoughts circling in restless spirals. Then—a warm hand rested on his shoulder. Instinctively, his body tensed. The air shifted for a heartbeat, sharp and electric, before he recognized the calm presence beside him.
Eithen.
Eithen's faint smile was reassuring, yet threaded with a subtle concern, like a quiet lighthouse in a storm.
"Hey. You alright?" Eithen asked, voice even, measured, but carrying weight beneath the words.
Yuri blinked, then shook his head slightly. "Oh—yeah. I'm fine. Just… lost in thought."
"You seem worried," Eithen said, tilting his head, studying him. "Standing here all by yourself like that… doesn't suit you."
Yuri's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm fine," he muttered, but didn't move.
"C'mon," Eithen said, light but insistent. "I'll walk you to class. Maybe a little company will help."
Yuri hesitated. His chest tightened, but he finally nodded. "Right… okay."
They fell into step together, weaving through the throngs of students. The hall pulsed with life, yet a strange quiet settled around them—a small bubble that seemed to exist just for the two of them.
"So… whatever's bothering you," Eithen said, voice soft now, almost casual. "Want to talk about it? I've been told I'm a good listener."
Yuri shook his head. "Thanks… but it's nothing serious. I'm sure it'll work itself out."
Eithen glanced forward, thoughtful. "Hmm. Then why were you so opposed to our group? You seemed… against it. Like it hit something deeper."
Yuri's gaze fell to the floor. "No… it's not that. I just… I don't want anyone getting hurt."
Eithen's eyes softened, and he let a small smile tug at the corner of his lips. "…Caring for your friends, huh. That's… really honorable."
Yuri's throat tightened. "Friends—" He stopped, uncertain how to explain the weight behind that word.
By the time they reached the classroom, the words had vanished.
Eithen offered a half-smile. "Guess I'll see you later then." He stepped inside, disappearing into the crowd of students.
Yuri lingered for a moment, watching the sway of his figure, the easy grace in his movements. Then, finally, he stepped forward and entered the classroom.
The familiar buzz greeted him: boys debating sports, girls whispering in tight circles. At the front, Sarah was wiping the board. Her hands froze when she saw him, and she dropped the eraser with a small clatter.
"Hey! Yuri! Good morning!" she said, voice bright.
"Morning, Sarah," he replied quietly.
She twirled her fingers nervously. "I… didn't see you at the party the other night. Everyone else was there. I was just… wondering."
Yuri's brow furrowed. "Oh… yeah. I'm not really the party type. I'd rather stay home. Hope you had fun, though."
Sarah hesitated, lips pressed together. Her eyes flicked down and then back up. "It would've been… better if you were there, you know?"
Yuri blinked. "Uh—huh?"
"I know we don't talk much," she said softly, "but… I appreciate your presence. It matters."
The teasing chorus erupted across the room—"Oooouuu~!"—and Sarah's face flushed crimson. She spun around, frantically erasing the board.
Yuri stared, blinking. He didn't understand it. He barely even knew what to think.
Ring!—Ring!—Ring!
The final bell screamed. Students poured into the hallways, a chaotic flood. Yuri waited. Always waited. Patiently. Until the storm of laughter and footsteps subsided.
He slung his worn backpack over his shoulder.
"Last one to leave as always, huh?"
The voice was soft, playful, feminine. Yuri froze. How had he not sensed her there? His pulse skipped a beat.
He turned slowly.
Xalani.
Tall, radiant, her skin glowing like molten bronze under the fluorescent lights. Her curls formed a wild halo around her face, untamed and defiant. Her dark caramel eyes sparkled with mischief, and her grin was the kind that could defy gravity itself.
"You heard me. Yuri Saint." Her voice was light but commanding.
"Uh… am I missing something?" he asked, confused.
"You sure are," she said with a teasing tilt of her head. "It's called a sense of humor—ever heard of it?"
Yuri opened his mouth to protest. "Right… I'm—uh, I'm running late. I need to get—"
"Perfect," she interrupted, grabbing his hand with firm insistence. "We're walking together. Let's go."
He stumbled, mind racing. W-what's happening right now?!
Her grin widened as she tugged him along. She glanced back over her shoulder, playful and unbothered, a spoiled child who'd just gotten her way. But there was no malice in her—only energy, too much of it for one small human to carry.
"H-hey! Where are we going? This isn't the way to my house!" Yuri stammered.
"You're such a bore," Xalani said, rolling her eyes. "We're not going to your house, dummy."
Dummy.
He blinked.
The neon lights of The Ice-U-Miii appeared ahead, the weekend hotspot alive with chatter, music, and the scent of sugar and cones. Xalani tugged him inside and handed him a chocolate cone.
"Didn't know what you liked, so chocolate. You seem… like a broody type," she teased. "Do you like it?"
"I… I'm not much into sweets. But… this feels strange. Do we… know each other?"
Xalani tilted her head, sighing. "Maybe we do. Maybe we don't. I've been watching you, Saint." Her tone softened. Curiosity slipped through the playfulness. "You walk like someone half-here, half-somewhere else. Distant. Detached from the world. Even the way you breathe—it's like you're just… visiting."
Yuri remained silent, unsure how to respond.
"Yeah," she murmured, gaze drifting to the window. The reflection of the fading sky painted her face in pale light. "Feels like you've… always been here. Like you're part of it all, but separate."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "What am I even saying…"
Yuri finally spoke. "There?"
She blinked, snapping out of it. Suddenly, she scarfed down the last of her melting ice cream, grabbed her bag, and sprang to her feet.
"Anyway! Gotta run. Meet me here tomorrow, okay?"
And just like that, she was gone—hair bouncing, steps light, vanishing into the streets beyond.
Yuri sat frozen, cone half-eaten, confusion etched on his face.
What… what was that about?
He stared out the window, the last echo of her laughter drifting away. For the first time in a long while, the corner of his mouth twitched. A smile—or at least, the ghost of one.