RETURN TO THE SPOTLIGHT
Morning came gently but not quietly.
Clara was the first to wake, though she didn't move immediately.
She lay there, staring at the ceiling before turning her head.
"…Why am I awake this early?" she murmured.
Kamsi was already up.
Dressed. Ready.
Standing by the window like she had been awake for hours.
Clara squinted at her. "You're not serious."
Kamsi glanced back calmly. "We said we'd go early."
Clara dropped her face into the pillow.
"…I regret agreeing to things."
From the other side, Massimo sat up slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"…What time is it?"
"Early enough," Kamsi replied.
"That's not a real answer," Clara mumbled.
Despite the complaints—
They got ready.
Quick showers. Simple clothes. Minimal talking.
That quiet, half-awake energy that slowly turns into movement.
By the time they stepped out, campus was already alive.
Voices. Footsteps. Movement everywhere.
Clara immediately moved closer to them.
"Yeah… we're not staying here long."
Massimo nodded slightly. "…Let's go."
The drive was calm.
No rush.
Just quiet curiosity hanging in the air.
When they finally pulled up—
Clara leaned forward first.
"…Wait."
Kamsi slowed the car.
Massimo stepped out, looking at the house.
It stood quietly, set slightly away from everything else.
Clean structure.
Well-kept exterior.
Not abandoned.
Just… still.
Clara got out slowly, turning in a full circle.
"…Okay. This is already not what I expected."
Kamsi nodded. "Same."
Massimo glanced at them. "I told you it's maintained."
Clara pointed at the building.
"Maintained is different from this. This looks like someone lives here part-time."
Massimo walked up and unlocked the door.
There was a small pause—
Then it opened.
They stepped inside and stopped.
Completely.
Clara blinked once.
"…No."
Kamsi looked around, surprised.
"…Wait."
Massimo stepped in behind them, watching their reactions.
The house wasn't empty.
It wasn't bare.
It was already furnished.
Sofas arranged neatly.
Tables in place.
Curtains hanging properly.
Shelves set.
Everything intact.
Just a thin layer of dust resting over it all.
Clara turned slowly. "…You didn't tell us this part."
Massimo shrugged slightly. "I said it was maintained."
"This is not 'maintained,'" Clara said, walking further in.
"This is 'just come and clean and start living your best life.'"
Kamsi moved toward a table, running her fingers lightly across the surface. A faint line appeared through the dust.
"…It's clean underneath," she said. "Nothing is damaged."
Clara dropped her bag on one of the sofas and sat.
"…Oh, I like this. I like this a lot."
Massimo exhaled quietly, looking around again this time differently.
"…Yeah."
Clara clapped suddenly.
"Okay! This just became easier."
Kamsi nodded. "We don't need to arrange furniture. Just clean and reset."
Massimo rolled his shoulders slightly. "That saves time."
Clara pointed at both of them. "Exactly. Which means we finish faster… which means we relax faster."
Kamsi gave her a look. "That's your motivation?"
Clara smiled. "Always."
They opened windows first.
Fresh air rushed in.
Curtains shifted.
Light filled the space, revealing more clearly what was already there.
A house that hadn't been neglected, just unused.
Kamsi started wiping surfaces methodically.
Massimo checked different rooms: bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, making sure everything was functional.
Clara moved around with less structure, but somehow still helping.
At some point, she stopped in the middle of the living room and looked around again.
"…This is actually really nice."
Kamsi didn't look up. "It always was. It just needed people."
Massimo paused slightly at that.
People.
Clara flopped onto the sofa again briefly.
"Imagine coming here when campus is noisy."
Kamsi nodded. "No interruptions. No attention."
Massimo leaned slightly against the wall.
"…No pressure."
That lingered for a second.
Clara sat up again, pointing around. "We're definitely using this place."
Kamsi agreed. "Strategically."
Massimo gave a small nod. "…Yeah."
After a while, they stepped outside for air.
The difference was immediate.
Quiet.
Still.
Space to breathe.
Clara stretched. "…Yeah. This was a good idea."
Kamsi nodded. "Very good."
Massimo glanced back at the house.
Now open.
Now alive.
"…We'll finish it today," he said.
Clara grinned. "And claim it."
Kamsi added, "And protect our peace."
Massimo almost smiled.
"…Exactly."
And just like that—
What they thought would be work…
Turned into something else.
A place already waiting.
All it needed was them.
They didn't stay outside for long.
The quiet was nice but now there was momentum.
Clara clapped once as they stepped back in.
"Alright. Final push."
Kamsi nodded, already heading toward the kitchen. "We finish properly."
Massimo followed, sleeves slightly rolled this time.
"…Let's do it."
The work picked up pace.
Windows fully opened.
Surfaces wiped down twice.
Floors swept, then mopped.
The house slowly shifted from unused to ready.
In the kitchen—
Kamsi opened cabinets one after the other, checking what was inside.
"…We even have basic utensils," she said, a little surprised.
Clara peeked over her shoulder. "Are you serious?"
Kamsi nodded. "Plates. Cups. Pots."
Clara turned to Massimo immediately. "So what exactly were you hiding from us?"
Massimo glanced at them. "I wasn't hiding anything."
"You omitted important information," Clara corrected.
He shrugged lightly. "…I didn't think it mattered."
"It matters," she said firmly. "This is now a fully operational escape base."
Kamsi smiled faintly. "She's not wrong."
Massimo checked the tap.
Water flowed smoothly.
He nodded once. "Water's good."
Kamsi added, "Gas?"
Clara froze. "…Wait. Don't tell me we can cook here too."
Massimo opened the cabinet below.
"…Yes."
Clara placed both hands on her head. "Oh, this is dangerous."
They moved faster after that.
Not because they had to—
But because now they wanted to see the finished result.
By midday—
They stepped back.
And for a moment, nobody spoke.
The house was different now.
Clean.
Bright.
Alive.
The dust was gone.
The stillness replaced with presence.
Clara turned slowly in a full circle.
"…We did this."
Kamsi wiped her hands lightly. "We finished it."
Massimo looked around one more time.
"…Yeah."
But this time—
There was something else in his expression.
Not just satisfaction.
Ownership.
Clara dropped onto the sofa dramatically.
"I'm not moving again."
Kamsi sat more calmly, leaning back slightly.
"You said that earlier."
"And I meant it more now," Clara replied.
Massimo sat down last, quieter than both of them.
A soft silence settled.
Not empty.
Just… full.
Clara broke it first. "We need to test it."
Kamsi glanced at her. "Test what?"
"The house," Clara said. "We can't just clean it and leave. That's disrespectful."
Massimo raised an eyebrow. "....Disrespectful?"
"Yes," she said seriously. "We need to stay here for a bit."
Kamsi considered it. "…That actually makes sense."
Massimo looked between them. "You both just want to rest."
Clara pointed at him. "Exactly. And we're honest about it."
Kamsi stood again. "I'll make something small."
Clara gasped. "Food? Here? Already?"
Kamsi nodded. "We should confirm everything works."
Massimo leaned back slightly. "…You're both unbelievable."
Clara smiled. "You'll eat it."
"…I will," he admitted.
While Kamsi moved in the kitchen, Clara shifted closer to Massimo, lowering her voice slightly.
"…You like this place."
Massimo didn't deny it.
"…Yeah."
She studied him for a second.
"More than campus?"
A small pause.
"…It's quieter," he said.
Clara nodded slowly. "Exactly."
From the kitchen, Kamsi spoke. "We should come here when things get too much."
Massimo responded without thinking. "We will."
Clara smiled faintly at that.
A few minutes later—
The soft sound of cooking filled the house.
Something simple.
But enough.
Clara leaned back, closing her eyes briefly.
"…This is already better than yesterday."
Massimo glanced at her. "Yesterday wasn't bad."
"No," she agreed. "But this is… different."
Kamsi added quietly, "This is ours."
Massimo didn't respond immediately.
He just looked around again—
At the clean space.
At them.
At the quiet.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, unspoken, but present—
He leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"…Yeah," he said softly.
"This works."
And for the first time since returning to campus, they had something that wasn't loud.
Wasn't watched.
Wasn't expected.
The kitchen came alive softly again.
Not loud.
Not rushed.
Just the quiet rhythm of something being made with intention.
Water running.
Utensils shifting.
A light clink here and there.
Clara leaned slightly toward Massimo, lowering her voice.
"…Your dad didn't just buy this place randomly, did he?"
Massimo kept his gaze forward.
"No."
Clara studied him. "You wanted somewhere like this."
A pause.
"…Maybe," he admitted.
The scent reached them before the sound did.
Warm.
Simple.
Comforting.
Clara lifted her head slightly. "…Okay, I forgive this house for existing."
Massimo almost smiled.
A few minutes later—
Kamsi walked out of the kitchen, carrying plates with calm ease.
"I didn't make anything complicated," she said.
"Just something to hold us till we get back."
Clara sat up immediately.
"If it's food, it's already complicated enough for me."
Kamsi set the plates down carefully on the table.
"Come and eat before it gets cold."
Massimo stood up, taking one of the plates from her.
"…Thanks."
She nodded once. "We should eat here at least once before leaving. It makes it feel… settled."
Clara was already sitting. "It already feels settled."
They ate without rushing.
Not completely silent but not loud either.
Just small comments.
Soft reactions.
The kind of meal that didn't need conversation to feel complete.
After a while, they moved back to the living room.
Clara stretched across the sofa. "…Yeah.
This is already better than campus."
Massimo glanced at her. "It's quieter."
"It's ours," she corrected.
Kamsi sat back, calmer now. "We should come here when things get too loud."
Massimo nodded. "We will."
That lingered.
Massimo leaned back slightly, eyes moving around the room again.
The moment held for a little while longer until Clara suddenly sat up.
"…Wait," she said, looking toward the dining area.
"We actually ate like responsible people and just left everything there?"
Massimo glanced over his shoulder. "…We didn't run away."
Kamsi stood up already. "Let's clean up before we get too comfortable."
Clara pointed at her. "See? This is why we have you."
Massimo moved first, picking up the plates one by one, stacking them neatly.
"Careful," Clara said, watching him.
"If you drop that, this peaceful house will see chaos."
"I'm not you," he replied calmly.
She gasped. "That was unnecessary."
Clara followed behind him anyway, gathering the smaller items —cups, spoons, anything left on the table.
She wiped the surface quickly with a cloth, moving faster than expected.
"…I clean too, you know," she muttered.
Massimo glanced at her briefly. "I'm witnessing it."
"Keep watching," she said. "It's a rare event."
In the kitchen—
Kamsi had already turned on the tap.
Water ran steadily as she adjusted the flow.
Massimo set the plates down beside her.
"I'll handle these."
She shook her head slightly. "We'll do it together. It'll be faster."
He didn't argue.
The rhythm settled naturally.
Water running.
Plates rinsed.
Light clinks as they were stacked to dry.
Kamsi washed.
Massimo rinsed and arranged.
Simple.
Coordinated.
From behind them, Clara leaned against the counter, arms folded.
"…Wow."
Neither of them looked back.
"What?" Massimo asked.
"I'm watching teamwork," she said.
"This is beautiful."
Kamsi smiled faintly. "You can join."
Clara shook her head immediately. "No, no. I'm moral support."
Massimo glanced at her. "…You wiped one table."
"And I did it well," she replied proudly.
A few minutes later, everything was done.
Clean.
Arranged.
Back in place.
Kamsi dried her hands. "That's better."
Massimo nodded slightly, glancing once more at the kitchen.
"…Yeah."
Clara pushed herself off the counter.
"Now we can go back to doing nothing peacefully."
They walked back into the living room together.
Clara dropped onto the sofa again like she belonged there.
Kamsi sat beside her.
Massimo took his spot, quieter but more at ease than before.
And just like that—
The house didn't feel like somewhere they came to clean anymore.
It felt like somewhere they had already started living.
Kamsi stood after a moment. "We should head back soon."
Clara groaned immediately, sinking deeper into the sofa.
"You always ruin the best parts of life."
Kamsi glanced at her. "We've been here for hours already."
Clara pointed lazily. "That's not a valid reason."
Massimo exhaled, pushing himself up slowly.
"…She's right though. We should go."
Clara turned sharply toward him.
"Even you?"
Massimo didn't look impressed. "Especially me."
That made Clara fall back dramatically.
"Betrayal. From both sides."
Kamsi shook her head slightly, but she was already picking up her things.
"We'll come back," she said simply.
Clara squinted. "That sounds like a promise you'll forget."
"It's not," Kamsi replied.
Massimo stood and took a final look around the room slowly, quietly, like he was storing it in memory rather than just leaving it.
"…Let's go," he said finally.
Clara sighed but got up anyway, slower than both of them.
At the door, she paused, turning back once more.
"…Lock it properly," she said. "This place is important now."
Massimo nodded once. "I know."
They stepped outside.
The air felt different again, less still, more temporary, like the moment inside had been sealed away behind them.
Massimo locked the door.
The soft click echoed.
Final. Certain.
Clara huffed. "Same time tomorrow?"
Kamsi adjusted her bag. "Or whenever we need a break from reality."
Massimo glanced once at the door.
Then at them.
"…Whenever we need it," he agreed.
And just like that—
They left.
Not abandoning it.
Just knowing it would be waiting.
They walked toward the car in a loose silence, the kind that didn't feel empty, just full in a quieter way.
Clara pulled open the car back door and dropped in first.
"I refuse to go back to noise."
Kamsi slid into the driver's seat. "You'll survive. You always do."
Massimo sat in the front, adjusting his seatbelt without rushing.
For a moment, none of them started the car.
Like they were still mentally holding onto the house they had just left.
Then Kamsi finally turned the ignition.
The engine came alive softly.
They were halfway down the road when Massimo's phone rang.
He glanced at it once.
Didn't even hesitate this time.
"…It's Gemini," he said.
Clara immediately leaned forward from the back. "Oh?"
Kamsi gave a quick look through the mirror.
"Answer it."
Massimo picked it up and tapped accept.
Gemini appeared on screen almost instantly.
Same tired eyes. Same slightly messy hair. Same background that looked like he hadn't left work in hours.
But the moment the call connected, his expression shifted—just slightly softer.
"…You're outside," Gemini said first.
Massimo nodded. "Yeah. Just left the house."
Clara popped into view behind him. "We are emotionally recovering from peace."
Gemini blinked once. "…That sounds dangerous."
"It was," Clara said seriously.
Kamsi added calmly, "It was quiet."
Gemini's gaze lingered for a second. "Quiet sounds good."
Massimo adjusted his grip on the phone.
"You're still working?"
A pause.
"…Unfortunately," Gemini admitted.
Clara narrowed her eyes. "That sounded illegal."
Gemini gave a faint tired smile. "It should be."
The car moved steadily as they talked.
Not rushed. Not heavy.
Just… present.
Clara tilted her head. "Did you at least eat?"
Gemini hesitated.
That silence answered everything.
Kamsi sighed softly. "That's a no."
"I'll eat later," Gemini said quickly.
Massimo's tone dropped slightly. "…You always say that."
Gemini looked away for a moment. "I know."
For a second, nobody teased him.
Even Clara didn't push.
The mood shifted just slightly softer than before.
Then Gemini asked, "You're all together?"
Clara grinned. "Unfortunately for the world, yes."
Massimo corrected mildly. "Fortunately."
That made Gemini's expression flicker—something unreadable passing through it for a second too long.
"…Good," he said quietly.
Kamsi glanced at the road ahead. "We'll be back on campus soon."
Gemini nodded slowly.
"Try not to get overwhelmed," he said.
Clara scoffed. "Too late for that."
Massimo exhaled lightly. "…We're managing."
Gemini's voice softened. "I know you are."
A brief pause followed.
Not awkward.
Just… something unspoken sitting quietly between them.
Clara leaned back again. "Okay, celebrity suffering check-in is complete."
Gemini raised an eyebrow. "That's what this was?"
"Yes," she said confidently.
Kamsi added, "A very expensive emotional consultation."
Gemini let out a small laugh real this time.
"…Of course."
Massimo looked at the screen a moment longer.
Then quieter than before—
"You should rest when you can."
Gemini didn't answer immediately.
Just held his gaze.
"…I will," he finally said.
But neither of them sounded fully convinced.
The call lingered another second.
Then—
It ended.
Silence returned to the car.
But this time, it wasn't empty.
Clara stretched slightly. "Okay. I'm officially tired of feelings."
Kamsi smirked faintly. "You were never good with them."
"I'm excellent with them," Clara replied. "I just choose chaos instead."
Massimo leaned back, looking out the window again.
But his expression wasn't as distant as before.
And somehow—
The road ahead felt a little less heavy than it had a moment ago.
The rest of the drive passed in a calmer rhythm.
The city edges slowly returned, buildings growing denser, roads widening, people multiplying.
The quiet from the house still lingered between them, like something they had packed along without realizing.
Clara watched the streets through the window.
"…We really went from silence to chaos in under an hour."
Kamsi nodded. "That's campus life."
Massimo didn't say anything at first. His gaze stayed forward, but his thoughts weren't entirely on the road.
When they finally reached campus, it didn't take long for the shift to happen.
A few students noticed them first.
Then more.
Then it spread.
Phones came out almost instantly.
Heads turned.
Voices started rising.
At first, curiosity.
Then recognition.
Then excitement.
"Is that them?" "They're back!" "Massimo is here!" "Clara is back!" "Kamsi too!"
Clara leaned slightly toward Kamsi.
"…We didn't even get five minutes of peace."
Kamsi kept driving slowly. "You got more than five minutes. Be grateful."
Clara smiled faintly. "I am. I'm just complaining professionally."
Massimo sat up a little straighter, cap lowered slightly as he scanned the growing crowd outside.
"…Same route?" he asked.
Kamsi nodded once. "Back entrance is blocked."
Clara sighed dramatically. "Of course it is."
As they moved deeper into campus roads, the crowd thickened.
Not aggressive—just excited. Curious. Loud in that harmless, overwhelming way.
Phones followed the car.
Some students even ran alongside briefly before security motioned them back.
"Massimo!"
"Clara!"
"Kamsi, look here!"
"Are you guys okay?"
"Did you finish your trip?"
The voices overlapped, bouncing off the car windows.
Clara leaned back. "I feel like we're in a live documentary."
Massimo muttered, "We kind of are."
Kamsi finally found a narrow opening and steered through it carefully.
"Almost there."
When they reached the hostel block, the noise dropped slightly but not completely.
Even here, students were gathered.
Watching.
Waiting.
Recognizing.
Kamsi parked.
The engine clicked off.
For a second, none of them moved.
Clara exhaled. "…Home."
Massimo corrected quietly, "Room."
Clara pointed at him. "Same thing."
Kamsi opened her door. "Let's go before the audience grows a second wave."
They stepped out.
Immediately, the attention shifted closer again.
Phones lifted higher.
Whispers sharpened.
"Massimo is here!" "Clara!" "Kamsi!"
Clara groaned softly. "Why do they sound like announcements?"
Massimo started walking first. "Ignore it."
Kamsi followed. "Don't stop."
Clara sighed but kept pace behind them.
"I'm trying. I really am."
They made it inside the building, and the sound softened behind the walls.
But even here, it wasn't completely gone.
Footsteps echoed faintly.
Murmurs lingered.
People still turned to look.
When they finally reached their door, Clara pushed it open and stepped in first.
The room felt exactly as they left it.
But this time, it felt louder, just by contrast.
Clara dropped her bag immediately.
"…I miss the house already."
Kamsi placed hers neatly. "You'll survive here too."
Clara flopped onto her bed. "I don't want to survive. I want peace."
Massimo set his bag down slowly, then glanced around the room.
"…We should unpack," he said.
Clara groaned again. "Why are you always responsible?"
"Because someone has to be," Kamsi replied calmly.
Massimo moved toward his bed, then paused.
His phone buzzed again.
Once.
Then again.
Clara didn't even look up. "…Don't tell me."
Massimo checked it.
A message.
From Gemini.
He stared at it for a second.
Then quietly sat down.
Kamsi noticed the change immediately but didn't speak.
Clara noticed too.
Of course she did.
"…He texted, didn't he?" she asked casually.
Massimo didn't look up. "Yeah."
Kamsi crossed her arms lightly. "And?"
Massimo locked his phone, setting it aside.
"…He asked how it was."
Clara narrowed her eyes slightly, watching him.
"And you said?"
Massimo leaned back.
"…The truth."
Clara studied him for a second longer.
Then slowly smiled.
Not teasing this time.
Just knowing.
"…Yeah," she said quietly.
"We can tell."
Outside, the campus noise continued like nothing had changed.
The room stayed quiet after that.
Not awkward, just full in a way that didn't need words.
Clara rolled onto her side, facing the ceiling.
"…So what now?"
Kamsi opened her laptop bag slowly. "We unpack. Shower. Then we plan the week."
Clara groaned. "That sounded like punishment."
"It's called structure," Kamsi replied.
Massimo stood again, picking up his bag.
"She's right."
Clara pointed at both of them without looking.
"…You two are forming a dangerous alliance."
Kamsi didn't respond. She was already organizing her side of the room.
Massimo started unpacking quietly, folding things with automatic precision like his body was working while his thoughts stayed somewhere else.
Clara sat up suddenly. "Wait."
Both of them paused.
Massimo glanced over. "…What now?"
Clara squinted at him. "You've been quiet since the car."
Kamsi added without looking up, "He's always quiet when he's thinking."
Clara narrowed her eyes further. "…About Gemini?"
Massimo didn't answer immediately.
That silence alone was enough.
Then he shrugged lightly. "…Just work stuff."
Clara hummed like she didn't believe him, but she let it go—for now.
Kamsi closed her bag. "I'm going to shower first."
Clara immediately sat up straighter. "Finally. Someone with sense."
Kamsi glanced at her. "You were going second."
Clara froze. "…I didn't agree to that."
Massimo, still folding clothes, said calmly, "You didn't disagree either."
Clara stared at both of them. "…This is oppression."
Kamsi walked toward the bathroom. "It's order."
The door clicked shut behind her.
Clara flopped back again dramatically. "I miss the house already."
Massimo paused briefly. "We'll go back."
Clara turned her head slightly. "…You're serious?"
He nodded once. "When we need it."
That was all he said.
But it was enough.
A few minutes passed.
The sound of water from the bathroom filled the room softly, mixing with the distant noise outside the building.
Clara sat up again, this time quieter.
"…Do you think things will calm down?" she asked suddenly.
Massimo didn't stop folding. "…No."
Clara frowned. "That was fast."
"It's honest."
She leaned back again. "…Rude honesty."
He finally looked at her. "You prefer lies?"
Clara thought about it. "…Depends on the lie."
That earned the smallest shift in his expression—almost a smile, but not quite.
Kamsi's voice called from the bathroom.
"Stop plotting nonsense and unpack properly."
Clara called back instantly, "We are emotionally unpacking!"
Kamsi replied, calm and firm, "Wrong kind of unpacking."
Massimo shook his head slightly.
Clara smiled to herself. "…She's scary when she's clean."
The shower stopped after a while.
The room felt slightly different when Kamsi came out lighter, more grounded.
Her hair was damp, her focus sharper.
"Your turn," she said, looking at Clara.
Clara sighed dramatically. "I was born tired."
Massimo added without looking up, "You'll still shower."
Clara pointed at him. "…Traitor."
She finally got up, dragging her feet toward the bathroom.
When the door closed, the room fell quieter again.
Kamsi sat on her bed, opening her laptop.
Massimo sat on his, phone beside him but untouched.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Just the soft sounds of settling.
Then Kamsi spoke.
"…You're thinking about that call."
Massimo didn't look up. "…Which one?"
Kamsi glanced at him. "Don't start."
A pause.
Then he exhaled lightly. "…He's just tired."
Kamsi nodded once. "So are you."
That landed differently.
He didn't respond immediately.
Just leaned back slightly, eyes briefly unfocused.
From the bathroom, Clara shouted, "If anyone touches my charger, I'll haunt this room!"
Kamsi replied instantly, "No one is touching your things."
Massimo muttered, "We value our lives."
That broke the tension just a little.
Not completely.
But enough.
The bathroom door finally opened with a soft click.
Clara stepped out, towel wrapped around her hair, still half-drying her face.
"I feel human again," she announced, dropping her slippers by the side.
Massimo glanced up briefly. "That didn't take long."
"I don't need long," Clara replied, walking in like she owned the space.
Kamsi was already dressed, lying on her bed in a relaxed position, one arm behind her head while she scrolled through her phone.
The room was calm again.
For about three seconds.
Then—
Kamsi suddenly sat up.
"…Wait."
Clara paused mid-step. "What?"
Kamsi stared at her screen, eyes narrowing slightly. Then widening.
"…This can't be right."
Massimo looked over, already sensing trouble. "…What is it?"
Kamsi turned the phone slightly, still scrolling fast.
"…Massimo."
He blinked. "…Yeah?"
Her expression shifted from confusion to mild shock.
"…Your fans."
Clara immediately leaned in. "What about them?"
Kamsi kept scrolling, faster now. "They've increased."
Clara frowned. "Like… a little?"
Kamsi looked up sharply.
"…A lot."
Silence.
Massimo sat up slightly. "…Define a lot."
Kamsi flipped the phone around fully now.
Posts. Tags. Edits. Mentions.
All increasing. Fast.
Clara's eyes widened slowly. "…Oh."
Kamsi continued, still half in disbelief.
"They're everywhere. New accounts. Old ones resurfacing. Even people who didn't follow you before are—"
She stopped, shaking her head slightly. "…This is insane."
Clara straightened, suddenly more awake than after her shower. "Did something happen while we were gone?"
Massimo took the phone, scanning it quietly.
No reaction at first.
Then a slight pause.
"…It's the recent appearance," he said calmly.
Clara pointed at him. "You say that like it's normal."
"It's not new," he replied.
Kamsi leaned back again, still watching him.
"It's growing faster than normal though."
Clara dropped onto the edge of her bed.
"…So basically, we can't breathe in peace anymore."
Massimo handed the phone back to Kamsi.
"We were never breathing in peace."
That earned a small look from both of them.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Kamsi locked her phone and exhaled. "…This is going to get louder."
Clara groaned. "Louder than campus crowd today?"
Kamsi nodded once. "Possibly."
Silence followed that.
A heavier one this time.
Massimo leaned back slowly, eyes shifting toward his phone again but not picking it up.
Clara noticed.
Of course she did.
"…You're going to ignore it, right?" she asked.
Massimo didn't answer immediately.
Then quietly:
"…For now."
Kamsi nodded faintly, like she understood more than she said.
Clara lay back on her bed. "…I need snacks for this emotional damage."
Kamsi, still scrolling lightly, muttered, "We don't have snacks."
Clara gasped. "This is worse than I thought."
Clara sat up again immediately. "…No snacks?"
Kamsi didn't look up from her phone. "We just came back from eating. You'll survive."
Clara pointed at her like she'd been personally attacked.
"That is not the point."
Massimo leaned back slowly, one arm resting over his eyes. "…It kind of is."
Clara turned to him. "Whose side are you on?"
He paused. "…The side of silence."
Kamsi let out a small breath that almost passed for a laugh.
Clara flopped back again. "Both of you are emotionally unavailable."
For a moment, the room settled again.
Not completely quiet this time—just softer, layered with small movements, the rustle of clothes, the faint sound of Kamsi's scrolling, Clara's dramatic sighs.
Then Kamsi spoke again.
"…It's not just followers."
Massimo removed his arm slightly. "What else?"
Kamsi hesitated, then tilted the phone.
"…They're talking about campus sightings already."
Clara frowned. "We literally just arrived."
Kamsi nodded. "Exactly."
Massimo's eyes shifted slightly. "…That's fast."
Clara sat up slowly now, seriousness creeping in. "Too fast."
Kamsi continued scrolling. "There are posts like 'they're back'… and some people are already planning where you'll be tomorrow."
Silence.
This one landed heavier.
Clara exhaled. "…So rest is officially cancelled."
Massimo sat up properly now. "Not cancelled."
Kamsi looked at him. "Delayed?"
He nodded once. "…Managed."
Clara narrowed her eyes. "That sounds like the same thing with extra steps."
A knock sounded suddenly at the door.
All three of them paused.
Clara sat upright immediately. "If that's fans—"
Kamsi interrupted calmly, "It's probably not."
Massimo stood first, walking toward the door without rushing.
He opened it slightly.
A familiar student from their lodge stood outside, slightly nervous, holding a paper.
"Sorry… Massimo? There's… uh… an admin notice. About crowd control near your block."
Massimo took it quietly. "Okay."
The student nodded quickly and left without waiting.
The door closed again.
Clara blinked. "…Admin notice?"
Kamsi leaned back. "They're reacting faster than usual."
Massimo read the paper briefly, then folded it.
"…They're restricting movement near the lodge for now."
Clara let out a long breath. "So it begins."
Kamsi added softly, "Not begins. Continues."
Massimo placed the paper on the table. "…We'll adjust."
Clara stared at him. "You say that like you enjoy chaos management."
He looked at her. "…I don't enjoy it."
A pause.
Then, slightly softer:
"…I'm used to it."
That quieted the room again.
Clara slowly lay back down. "…I miss the house already."
Kamsi didn't argue this time. "Me too."
Massimo returned to his bed, sitting at the edge instead of lying down.
His phone buzzed again.
He didn't check it immediately.
Clara noticed.
But this time, she didn't tease.
She just said quietly, "…You're not going to ignore it forever."
Massimo looked at the phone.
Then at them.
"…I know."
Then he unlocked it.
The room stayed still as he read.
Kamsi watched him carefully. "Bad?"
Massimo shook his head slightly. "…Just louder."
Clara groaned. "That word again."
He set the phone down.
"…We'll handle it."
Kamsi nodded once. "Together."
Clara sighed dramatically again, but softer this time. "…Fine. Together."
And for a while after that, no one added anything else.
Because outside, everything was growing louder.
But inside the room, they were still deciding how to stand in the middle of it.
A while later, Massimo stood up from his bed.
Clara noticed immediately. "Don't tell me—"
"I'm showering," he said simply, already picking up a towel.
Kamsi glanced up from her phone. "Good idea."
Clara narrowed her eyes. "Why does everyone keep disappearing into showers like it's a coping mechanism?"
Massimo paused at the door. "…It is."
That earned a short look from both of them.
Then he walked in.
The door clicked shut.
Inside the bathroom, the water started shortly after.
For a few minutes, the room outside settled into a calmer rhythm again.
Clara lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "He's quiet when he's like this."
Kamsi hummed softly. "He always is."
Clara turned her head slightly. "…But it feels different."
Kamsi didn't respond immediately.
Then quietly: "Because things are changing."
Clara frowned. "That sounds ominous."
"It's not," Kamsi replied. "It's just true."
The sound of water continued in the background.
Not loud.
Just steady.
Grounding.
Clara rolled onto her side. "You saw how people were outside, right?"
Kamsi nodded. "I saw."
Clara sighed. "It's going to get worse."
Kamsi's eyes stayed on her phone, but her voice was firm. "Then we manage it better."
Clara snorted lightly. "You say that like it's easy."
"It's not," Kamsi said simply. "But it's necessary."
That quieted Clara for a moment.
Inside the bathroom, the water stopped.
A few seconds later, the sound of movement—towel, door handle, footsteps.
Then silence again.
The door opened.
Massimo stepped out, hair slightly damp, towel around his neck, expression calmer than before.
Clara looked at him. "…You look like you deleted stress."
Massimo adjusted the towel slightly. "I tried."
Kamsi nodded once. "Did it work?"
He paused. "…For now."
That answer was honest enough that no one pushed further.
Clara sat up. "Okay. Now what?"
Massimo walked to his bed, sitting down. "We rest. Then plan."
Clara groaned. "You always say plan."
Kamsi added calmly, "Because chaos doesn't plan itself."
Clara pointed between them. "…You two are the same person in different fonts."
Massimo didn't argue.
He just leaned back slightly, phone still untouched beside him.
But this time, he wasn't ignoring it.
He was just choosing not to rush it.
Kamsi stretched lightly. "We should probably eat something later."
Clara groaned again. "Finally. A sentence I support."
Massimo gave a faint nod. "Later."
A pause.
Then Clara looked at both of them. "…You know this calm won't last, right?"
Kamsi met her gaze. "It never does."
Massimo added quietly, almost under his breath:
"…But we can handle what comes after."
And for once, clara didn't argue.
She leaned back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "…You know this calm won't last, right?"
Kamsi nodded once. "It never does."
Massimo added quietly, almost under his breath. "…But we can handle what comes after."
That settled the room again.
Not comfort.
Just acceptance.
Clara shifted slightly. "So what now? We just sit here and pretend campus isn't outside losing its mind?"
Kamsi closed her phone and placed it beside her. "We unpack properly. Then we eat."
Clara frowned. "You say that like it's a survival plan."
"It is," Kamsi replied.
Massimo gave a small nod. "She's right."
Clara pointed at him. "You always agree with her."
Massimo looked at her. "Because she's usually right."
Clara scoffed. "That's bias."
A few minutes passed in quiet movement.
Clothes were folded. Bags were opened. Items placed in their usual spots.
The room slowly stopped looking like travel aftermath and started feeling lived in again.
Then Clara's phone buzzed.
She picked it up lazily at first.
Then paused.
"…Oh."
Kamsi glanced over. "What?"
Clara's eyes narrowed slightly as she scrolled. "Campus group chat."
Massimo looked up. "…Again?"
Clara turned the screen slightly. "They're posting about us being back already."
Kamsi leaned back. "That was expected."
Clara continued scrolling. "No, wait—there's more."
Massimo's tone stayed calm. "…What now?"
Clara exhaled slowly. "People are saying they saw you outside earlier and now they're guessing where we are in the building."
Silence.
That one landed more sharply.
Kamsi frowned slightly. "They're tracking movement now?"
Clara nodded. "Basically."
Massimo leaned forward a bit, resting his elbows on his knees. "…It'll settle."
Clara raised an eyebrow. "When?"
He didn't answer immediately.
That was enough of an answer on its own.
Kamsi stood again. "Let them guess. It doesn't change anything."
Clara tilted her head. "Easy for you to say."
Kamsi looked at her. "It is easy. We're inside."
That made Clara pause, then sigh.
"…Fair."
A knock sounded at the door again.
This time, softer.
Clara didn't even move. "If that's more chaos, I'm not home."
Kamsi walked over and opened it.
A different student stood there, holding two takeaway bags.
"Hi… sorry, someone said you guys just got back. We brought food from downstairs."
Kamsi blinked. "…For us?"
The student nodded quickly. "Yeah. People were… talking."
Massimo stood and walked over. "Thanks."
He took the bags calmly.
The student smiled nervously and left.
Clara sat up. "…Okay, that's new."
Massimo placed the bags on the table. "We're visible."
Kamsi added, "And predictable."
Clara frowned. "I don't like either of those words."
Massimo opened one of the bags.
Food.
Simple.
Warm.
He paused slightly before speaking.
"…We eat. Then we rest."
Clara immediately nodded. "That part I support."
Kamsi sat down again. "Good. Because that's the plan."
Clara muttered, "Everything is always a plan with you two."
Massimo glanced at her. "Because it works."
They started eating quietly.
No teasing.
No noise.
Just the occasional rustle of packaging and soft movement.
After a while, Clara spoke again, but softer this time.
"…Tomorrow's going to be worse, isn't it?"
Kamsi didn't deny it. "Probably."
Massimo finished what he was chewing before replying.
"…Then we prepare tonight."
Clara sighed. "There it is again. 'Prepare.'"
Kamsi glanced at her. "You're welcome to call it something else."
Clara thought for a moment.
"…No. 'Prepare' is fine."
That earned the smallest hint of a smile from Massimo and kamsi.
And for a short moment, between food, quiet, and the noise waiting outside—
they stayed exactly where they were.
Not escaping anything.
Just pausing before it caught up again.