During recess, Haruta walked up to Sia and Souta with that rare, soft smile of his — the kind that didn't need words to feel warm.
"Hey guys," he began casually, "next weekend, y'all are invited to my place. Rei, Sera, Alya… and you two. And it's an all-nighter, so you better start convincing your parents now."
"But why?" Sia and Souta asked in sync, like they shared a single brain cell.
"He's gonna introduce me to his grandma~" Alya chimed in from behind, walking up beside Haruta, lacing her fingers into his like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Souta blinked, then grinned.
"Damn, you both make a pretty good couple, actually."
Haruta and Alya laughed together, their joy quietly infectious as they walked off, hand in hand.
Sia and Souta watched them disappear down the hallway.
"You see the change in Haruta?" Sia said with a small smile, resting her chin on her palm.
"He used to be the most serious, distant guy… and now look at him. He's happy again."
"Love really is a good medicine, huh?" Souta replied, his voice gentler than usual.
"…But that medicine's far from my reach."
Sia chuckled under her breath.
"Yeah… that shit's way too far for me too."
---
Up on the terrace, the sky was painted in soft shades of blue and orange, clouds stretching lazily like cotton candy across the horizon.
Rei and Sera stood by the railing, the wind brushing their hair as they watched the world below.
"You happy with the relationship between Alya and Haruta?" Rei asked, voice light but sincere.
"Yeah… they look good together," Sera replied, her eyes following the sky as if it held the answer to everything.
"They really do," Rei agreed, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.
His fingers were warm.
"I never thought we'd get to share moments like this…" Sera whispered.
"What moments?" Rei tilted his head, curious.
"…Like falling in love with each other. All of it," she said softly.
Rei chuckled, bumping her shoulder playfully.
"Nah, I always believed you'd be my girl."
He smiled — teasing and real.
"Weird, huh?"
Sera shook her head.
"No… not weird. Not at all. We've been together since forever —
from sandboxes and muddy jeans to now... holding hands on rooftops."
They stood quiet for a moment, lost in shared memory.
"…Those were really some good times," Rei said, a nostalgic glint in his eyes.
"And I remember Souta too. That guy would mess everything up, then run off crying into Sia's lap."
Sera laughed.
"Yet… they still aren't together."
"Yeah," Rei sighed.
"…Somehow."
"But the story's not over yet," he added, smiling to himself.
"They still have time. Still have chances."
"I hope you're right," Sera murmured.
There was a small pause — gentle silence.
Then Sera spoke again, her voice a whisper laced with thought.
"You know… Sia always says Souta's annoying. But when he's not around… the way she talks, her smile… it changes. Just a little, but enough."
Rei looked at her.
"Maybe that's what they call falling in love… without even realizing it."
Click.
The door to the terrace creaked open.
Both of them turned to look.
Chris walked out slowly, the breeze rustling his hair.
He stood in front of them… eyes steady, like he had something to say.
---
— to be continued
— ~Rei