The track field behind the school was bathed in late-afternoon gold. Sora had finished practice twenty minutes early—coach let them off after a light cooldown—and now she was stretching near the bleachers, laughing at something Ren Takahashi (no relation to Akira) had just said.
Ren was tall, easy-smiling, with sun-bleached hair and the kind of effortless charm that made half the school swoon. Captain of the boys' track team, always around when Sora ran laps. Lately, he'd been around more.
Akira had come to return a shared prop bag Sora left in the auditorium. He stopped at the edge of the field when he saw them.
Sora was laughing—head thrown back, ponytail swinging. Ren leaned in, saying something low that made her shove his shoulder playfully.
Akira's grip tightened on the bag strap.
He turned to leave.
Too late.
"Takahashi!" Sora spotted him. Waved him over. "Come here—Ren was just telling me the dumbest story about last week's relay."
Akira walked over slowly, expression blank.
Ren straightened, smile friendly but sharp at the edges. "Yo. Didn't expect to see you out here. Thought you lived in the auditorium."
"I was returning something." Akira held out the bag.
Sora took it. "Thanks. You didn't have to come all the way out here."
"It was on my way."
Ren glanced between them. "You two still glued together for that festival thing?"
"Unfortunately," Sora said, but her tone was light.
"Must be torture," Ren said, eyes on Akira. "Having to deal with her chaos all day."
Akira met his gaze evenly. "We manage."
Sora elbowed Ren. "Be nice. He's not as robotic as he looks."
Ren laughed. "I'll take your word for it." Then, to Sora: "Hey—team's grabbing ramen after this. Come with? My treat."
Sora hesitated. Glanced at Akira.
Akira spoke before she could answer. "She has rehearsal notes to review."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you my scheduler?"
"Since we have a full run-through tomorrow and the second act still has timing issues."
Ren whistled low. "Damn. Strict."
Sora rolled her eyes but smiled. "Rain check, Ren. Duty calls."
Ren shrugged. "Your loss. Offer stands." He jogged off toward the locker room, waving over his shoulder.
Sora turned to Akira. "You didn't have to scare him off."
"I didn't scare anyone."
"You practically growled."
Akira adjusted his glasses. "We have work."
She studied him. "You're in a mood."
"I'm focused."
"Same difference." She shouldered the bag. "Come on. Let's go fix that timing before you implode."
They walked back toward the auditorium in silence.
Akira kept replaying the image: Sora laughing. Ren leaning close. The easy way she shoved his shoulder.
He hated how much space it took up in his head.