Reiji had no particular destination in mind as he walked through town. The air was crisp, the streets moderately crowded, and the slow hum of the city provided a peaceful backdrop to his thoughts.
It had been a long week. A quiet weekend was all he wanted.
But as he turned a corner, his luck ran out.
He collided with someone, a sharp impact that sent the other person stumbling back.
Reiji took a step back, glancing down.
Sena.
She looked up at him, irritation flashing across her face. "Watch where you're going," she snapped.
Reiji maintained his composure. "You were the one walking without looking ahead."
Sena scoffed, brushing herself off. "Figures you'd say that."
Reiji said nothing. There was no point in arguing.
Just as the tension threatened to escalate, another voice entered the scene.
"Sena?"
Both of them turned.
Aoi stood a few feet away, looking at them with mild surprise.
Sena immediately dropped her hostility and walked toward her. "You're late," she said, though her tone was softer now.
Aoi smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I got held up." Her gaze shifted to Reiji. "Oh, Reiji-kun, you know Sena?"
Reiji met Aoi's gaze briefly before responding. "We've crossed paths."
Sena scoffed under her breath but didn't say anything.
Aoi, unaware of the underlying tension, simply smiled. "That's nice! It's good to get along with more people."
Reiji didn't respond to that. He wasn't sure *getting along* was the right way to describe his interactions with Sena.
Aoi glanced at him again. "Are you heading home?"
Reiji nodded.
"Then let's walk together," she said cheerfully.
Sena stiffened slightly. "Wait—"
But Aoi had already looped her arm around Sena's and looked at Reiji expectantly.
Reiji hesitated for a moment. The idea of walking with Aoi was appealing, but with Sena there, it would undoubtedly be anything but peaceful.
Still, rejecting the offer outright would be unnecessary.
"…Alright."
—
The walk was uneventful, for the most part.
Aoi carried the conversation, asking Reiji casual questions about school and daily life. He answered with short but polite responses.
Sena, however, remained silent for most of the time. Occasionally, she would throw a glance in his direction, but she never spoke directly to him.
It was only when Aoi brought up a new café in town that Sena's demeanor changed.
"Oh, we should go sometime," Aoi suggested.
Sena nodded. "Sure."
Reiji stayed quiet, knowing the invitation wasn't meant for him.
But Sena turned her gaze toward him, a smirk forming. "What's wrong, Tsukishima? You look like you have something to say."
Reiji met her gaze but didn't react to the provocation. "Nothing to say."
Sena's smirk faded slightly when she didn't get the reaction she expected.
Aoi, oblivious to the silent exchange, clapped her hands together. "Then it's settled! Sena and I will go check it out soon."
Soon, they reached the intersection where they would part ways.
"See you at school, Reiji-kun," Aoi said with a smile.
Sena didn't say anything and simply turned to leave.
Reiji gave a small nod and continued on his way.
Today was supposed to be quiet.
Yet, somehow, he found himself caught in the middle of something that felt far from simple.
—