The school grounds were bathed in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun. Students wandered the hallways, chatting about weekend plans or lazily heading toward their clubs.
Reiji wasn't in a hurry.
His hands were in his pockets, his steps steady as he made his way to the clubroom.
He hadn't seen Sena since yesterday. Not that it mattered. Their interactions had been mostly routine—filled with the usual tension, occasional insults, and moments of unexpected quiet.
*She was acting a little strange, though.*
He pushed the thought aside as he reached the door.
Inside, Sena was already at the desk, flipping through a few documents.
She didn't acknowledge him immediately, which was normal.
Reiji took his seat across from her and set down his bag. The quiet stretched between them, the soft rustling of paper filling the space.
He should've started working. That was the usual pattern.
But today, for some reason, he spoke first.
"You looked tired yesterday."
Sena's pen paused.
She glanced up, her sharp eyes studying him like she was trying to figure out his angle.
"Why do you care." she said simply, returning to her work.
Reiji didn't push.
Still, his curiosity remained.
Silence stretched again, but unlike the usual uncomfortable tension between them, this time, it felt… different.
Like neither of them knew what to say next.
Sena was the one who broke it.
"Are you going to stare at me the whole time, or are you actually going to work?"
Reiji let out a short exhale, picking up his pen. " I'm not."
And just like that, things returned to normal.
—
Later, as they wrapped up their tasks for the day, Sena stretched slightly before gathering her things.
Reiji hesitated for only a moment before speaking again.
"You're in the same class as Aoi, right?"
Sena stopped mid-motion, giving him a brief, unreadable glance.
"…Yeah. What about it?"
Reiji shrugged, acting casual. "Just wondering."
Sena didn't comment. She simply picked up her bag and headed for the door.
But the way her grip tightened on the strap didn't go unnoticed.
And for some reason, Reiji found himself watching her leave longer than he usually would.
—