Last period always felt longer.
It wasn't.
But it felt like it.
The clock moved slower. The teacher talked longer. Everything dragged.
Ren rested his chin on his hand.
Waiting.
Not for the bell.
Just… waiting.
Kai was half asleep.
Head tilted back, pen still in his hand.
"How are you not tired," he mumbled.
"I am," Ren said.
"Then why are you awake."
"I'm not you."
"Rude."
Airi sat beside him.
Still.
Focused.
But her phone was on her desk again.
Screen dim.
Not off.
Ren noticed.
Of course he did.
"…You're using it a lot," he said.
She glanced at it.
"…Yeah."
"Why."
She thought for a second.
"…I don't know."
Kai leaned forward slightly.
"You're addicted."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Ren looked at her.
"…You were texting in class."
"So were you."
"…You started it."
"You replied."
Ren paused.
"…That's different."
"It's not."
Kai smirked. "She got you there."
Ren ignored him.
The teacher kept talking.
Writing something on the board.
No one really cared.
Airi tapped her phone once.
Ren's phone buzzed.
He didn't check it.
Then it buzzed again.
Kai leaned over. "Check it."
"No."
"Check it."
"No."
Airi looked at him.
"…You're ignoring me again."
"I'm not."
"Then check it."
"…Later."
Kai shook his head. "You're actually cruel."
"I'm not."
Ren picked up his phone.
Two messages.
Airi: this is boringAiri: how do you sit still
Ren looked at her.
"…You're literally sitting still."
"Yes."
"…Then what do you mean."
She looked back at the front.
"…I'm thinking."
"About what."
"…Nothing."
Kai laughed quietly.
"That makes no sense."
"It does," Airi said.
"It doesn't."
Ren typed.
Ren: just wait for the bell
A second later—
Airi: that's slow
He stared at the screen.
Then typed.
Ren: everything here is slow
She looked at the message.
Then glanced at him.
"…You don't mind it."
Ren paused.
"…No."
Small silence.
She nodded.
"…Okay."
Kai looked between them.
"…You two are having a full conversation without talking."
"No we're not," Ren said.
"Yes you are."
"We're not."
Airi didn't say anything.
But she was still holding her phone.
Still looking at the screen.
The clock ticked.
Slow.
Loud.
Then—
The bell rang.
Chairs moved instantly.
Noise filled the room again.
Kai stood up. "Finally."
Ren grabbed his bag.
Airi did the same.
No rush.
Just normal.
But as they walked out—
Ren's phone buzzed one more time.
He checked it.
Airi: that was faster
He looked at her.
"…It wasn't."
She looked back.
"…It felt like it."
Ren didn't reply.
But he didn't argue either.