The days began to move faster.
Yuna woke up earlier now. Not because she wanted to—but because the city did. Cars passed before sunrise. Neighbors spoke loudly in the hallway. Somewhere nearby, construction started every morning at exactly 7:03 a.m.
It was nothing like home.
She sat at her desk, staring at her phone.
Ren hadn't texted yet.
Not today.
And she told herself she didn't mind.
Back home, Ren was staring at his screen for a completely different reason.
He had typed three messages already.
Did you sleep okay?
Deleted.
Miss you.
Deleted faster.
How's the city?
Still sitting there. Unsure.
Aio leaned over his shoulder from the couch. "If you keep overthinking it, summer will end before you hit send."
Ren didn't look at him. "It's not that simple."
"It is," Aio replied. "You like her. She likes you. Distance doesn't change that unless you let it."
Mio, sitting quietly by the window, finally spoke. "Sometimes what changes isn't feelings. It's timing."
Ren froze slightly.
He didn't like that sentence.
Meanwhile, Yuna forced herself outside.
She walked toward the nearby beach her mom had mentioned. The sand felt different—finer, lighter. The water stretched endlessly, reflecting a pale sky.
She slipped off her shoes and stepped closer to the waves.
Last summer, they had all been together at their beach. Ren had pretended he didn't care when she splashed him. Aio had nearly drowned trying to show off. Mio had laughed so hard she fell into the sand.
That memory hurt.
Her phone buzzed.
Her heart jumped.
Ren: How's the city?
She smiled instantly.
Yuna: Loud. Busy. Not ours.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Ren: Nothing will be "ours" if you're not here.
Her breath caught.
She stared at the message longer than she should have.
Back home, Ren's pulse pounded in his ears. He hadn't meant to send that so directly.
Too late now.
Yuna typed slowly.
Yuna: You make it sound like I won't come back.
Ren swallowed.
He hadn't thought that far ahead.
He didn't want to.
Ren: I just don't want this summer to change us.
She looked out at the horizon.
Summer always changed things.
That was its nature.
Yuna: Maybe it will. But that doesn't mean it has to end us.
The wind picked up around her, lifting her hair.
Ren read the message twice.
Three times.
Aio watched him carefully. "What did she say?"
Ren locked his phone.
"She's stronger than I am."
Mio stood, brushing dust from her skirt. "No. She's just learning."
Back at the beach, Yuna stepped into the water.
It was colder than she expected.
But she didn't step back.
Summertimes were coming.
And this one felt like it was testing all of them.
In different ways.
In different places.
Under the same sky.