The hallway lights buzzed faintly as Aika slung her bag over her shoulder. The cleaning duty had dragged on longer than it should have — because of him — and now she was the last student in the building.
She yanked open her locker and swapped her indoor slippers for her shoes, sighing as she did.
Then—
"Ahh."
"AHHH—!" She jumped nearly a foot into the air, twisting around to find a tall figure lurking behind the door.
"K-Kaito?! What are you doing skulking like a horror movie?"
Kaito Yamazaki leaned casually against the lockers, hands in his pockets, wearing a crooked grin.
"I was waiting for you."
Aika blinked. "Wait—why?"
Kaito tilted his head, leaning slightly closer with a familiar teasing glint in his eyes.
"Let's guess… Maybe because I wanted to walk you home."
She stared at him for a beat.
Then—"Tsk. Seriously?" She puffed her cheeks before chuckling softly. "Well… thanks, I guess. Since it's already way too late thanks to that jerk. You know, compared to him, you're not that bad."
Kaito faked a wince, placing a hand over his chest. "Ouch. Not that bad? You wound me, Fujimoto."
She started walking, and he caught up, trailing a step behind her.
"I didn't mean it like that, you dramatic weirdo," she muttered.
Kaito smiled to himself. "So… want to grab something on the way?"
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Ice cream! I want ice cream!"
He blinked, surprised by the sudden energy. And then—he looked away, hiding the faint pink in his cheeks.
"…Alright, alright. Ice cream it is."
They strolled side by side under the soft glow of the streetlamps. Aika occasionally kicked a pebble with her shoe while Kaito, hands still in his pockets, kept stealing glances at her when she wasn't looking.
Why is she so… cute when she's excited? he thought. What even is this feeling?
Aika suddenly slowed down, mid-sentence.
"Anyway—uh, so I saw Rin today—wait…what's that?"
Her voice dropped. She squinted toward the far side of the street where the shadow of a figure stood, half-hidden behind a fence. Her words trailed off.
Kaito followed her gaze.
"Someone there?" he asked, squinting.
The figure shifted slightly — just enough for the moonlight to catch the edge of black hair.
It was Ren.
"What the hell…" Aika murmured.
Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Ren?"
They approached slowly.
Ren looked up, cool as ever, like he hadn't been standing there awkwardly for twenty minutes trying to look casual.
"What're you doing here?" Kaito asked.
Ren gave a lazy grin. "Waiting."
Aika raised a brow. "For who?"
He chuckled, the kind that said none of your business. Then in a low voice, barely audible—
"Sakura. My girlfriend."
Aika blinked. "Girlfriend? Since when? Last week you said you were meeting—what's her name—Mina?"
Ren shrugged, still confident. "We broke up."
Aika folded her arms. "Wow. You moved on fast. Impressive. Or disgusting. One of those."
Ren leaned against the wall. "Jealous?"
"Jealous? Of you?" she scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself."
She started walking again, pulling Kaito along.
"Let's go."
Ren pushed off the wall. "Yeah. Let's."
Aika stopped mid-step. "Wait—why are you coming?"
Ren: "No point in waiting if she's not showing. I'll call her later. Why do you care so much?"
Aika: "I don't. I care because someone should. Poor girl."
Ren: "I can't help it. I'm just too handsome."
Aika: "Ugh."
Kaito snorted behind her.
Ren noticed their pace syncing. "So where are you two heading?"
Kaito grinned. "We're grabbing ice cream. You know — a little date."
Aika: "WHAT?! No, it's not—he's joking, don't listen to this clown!"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Date, huh?"
Kaito just winked.
But behind his smirk, Ren's eyes flickered.
The truth?
He'd been waiting for her. Because it was late. Because he didn't trust anyone else to walk her home. But seeing her with Kaito — laughing, smiling — something in him tightened. Not jealousy. No way. It was just... chivalry.
Or something.
Definitely not feelings. Obviously.
Ren squinted at the two walking ahead of him.
Aika was stomping like her feet owed her money, while Kaito looked like he just won the lottery.
Ren: "You're seriously calling it a date? With her?"
Kaito: "Sure. She practically lit up at the word 'ice cream.' Who wouldn't want to date someone so... sweet?"
Aika: "I will push you both into traffic."
Ren smirked. "She's blushing."
Aika: "I am not! It's just hot out!"
Kaito: "It's 19 degrees."
Aika: "Exactly. Scorching."
Ren sauntered up beside her, casually draping an arm across her shoulders like they were old drinking buddies.
Aika instantly flinched like she'd been electrocuted.
Ren: "Relax, Pocky. You'll wrinkle that scary forehead."
Aika: "Remove. The limb. Before I bite it."
Kaito, deadpan: "She bit Tomo once. He still flinches when he sees soy sauce."
Ren dropped his arm with a laugh.
Ren: "She really is feral."
Aika: "Say feral one more time and I'm giving you rabies."
They passed a convenience store, and Aika slammed to a stop so fast Kaito nearly walked into her.
Aika: "THERE."
Kaito (smiling): "Ice cream mission: go."
Ren groaned. "If you get mint chocolate chip, I'm disowning you as a human."
Aika turned to him, deadly serious.
Aika: "Mint. Is. Elite."
Kaito (teasing): "I like vanilla."
Ren: "Of course you do. That tracks."
Aika pointed at Ren with her popsicle like a weapon. "What's your problem with mint?!"
Ren: "It tastes like betrayal and toothpaste."
Aika: "So do you, but here we are."
Kaito doubled over laughing, holding his stomach.
Ren (mock-offended): "Wow. I came here to have a good time and I'm being attacked."
Aika: "Good. Be attacked."
They sat on a low wall outside the shop, legs swinging like middle schoolers. Aika nibbled her ice cream while watching the sky, which was now streaked with orange and lavender.
Kaito glanced at her, and this time he didn't look away.
Kaito (softly): "You've got something on your face."
Aika blinked. "Huh? Where?"
He leaned in with a grin and gently tapped her nose with the tip of his popsicle.
Kaito: "There."
Aika: "KAITO—!"
Ren immediately stood up, fuming for no reason.
Ren: "Alright, I've had enough of this rom-com nonsense. I'm leaving before I get a cavity."
Aika: "Bye. Don't trip over your ego."
Ren started walking off, hands in his pockets again, but not without one last look.
Ren (without turning): "Don't let him flirt you into diabetes, Pocky."
Aika (yelling): "KEEP WALKING, MOPHEAD."
Kaito just laughed.
Aika sighed, cheeks still warm, trying not to smile.
Kaito: "So... still think I'm not the better option?"
Aika rolled her eyes.
Aika: "You're both idiots. But at least you come with ice cream."
After some couple of time, this trio were walking together again somehow
Aika crossed her arms and huffed, glaring at the two idiots in front of her.
"You both are stupid."
Ren blinked, caught mid-smirk. "Excuse you?"
"Goodnight," Aika snapped, already turning on her heel.
Ren scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Fine. I'm leaving. Don't choke on your sugar rush."
"Don't trip on your ego," she shot back.
Kaito watched the exchange with a small amused smile. "She's on fire tonight."
Ren began walking down the path, muttering to himself. "Stupid Pocky girl…"
But then—
"Aika," Kaito said softly, catching up to her, "you still want ice cream?"
She paused.
"…Yeah. I do."
Kaito lit up. "Then let's go."
Behind them, Ren stopped. Turned slightly.
"What? You two are actually going for ice cream?"
Kaito turned his head, grinning. "Obviously. Want to come?"
Ren looked like someone had asked him to attend a flower-arranging class. "Why the hell would I—?"
Aika waved a dismissive hand. "Forget it, Kaito. He's allergic to joy."
Ren squinted. "Excuse you, I'm a delight."
"Right," she deadpanned. "If delight meant aggressively annoying."
Kaito was already walking again. "C'mon, you weirdos. I'm treating."
Aika: "You're not rich."
Kaito: "I'm emotionally generous."
Ren let out a dramatic sigh, feet dragging as he trailed behind them. "This is the dumbest group outing in history."
Aika: "No one invited you."
Ren: "You think I'll let you two have a date unsupervised?"
Aika: "You're not my dad!"
Kaito (smirking): "So it is a date?"
Aika: "Kaito!"
Ren: "Tsk. If this is a date, it's the saddest one I've ever seen."
They bickered all the way to the nearby convenience store, much to the confusion of a passing grandma who shook her head and whispered, "Youth is doomed."
---
Ice Cream Chaos
Inside the store—
Kaito stood by the freezer. "Pick your poison."
Aika knelt dramatically in front of the ice cream selection like it was a sacred ritual. "This is important. Life-changing. Don't rush me."
Ren leaned on the cart handle like a bored model. "You're acting like you're choosing a wedding dress."
"Ice cream is more reliable than most men," she replied.
Kaito: "She's not wrong."
Ren (grinning): "Rude. I'm deeply offended."
Aika: "You'll live."
She finally grabbed a strawberry parfait pop. Kaito got melon-flavored. Ren, after making gagging noises at their choices, grabbed classic chocolate.
At the counter:
Cashier: "Together or separate?"
Aika: "Separate."
Kaito (simultaneously): "Together."
Aika glared.
Kaito just grinned and paid before she could argue.
Ren stared at the parfait in her hand, smug. "Strawberry, huh? That's so like you."
Aika narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ren: "Sweet… but secretly sour."
Kaito nearly choked on his melon ice pop from laughing.
Aika: "You better run, Sakamoto."
Ren: "Catch me if you can, Pocky!"
They ran down the street, Aika yelling threats, Kaito leisurely following behind, laughing so hard his ice cream dripped all over his hand.
---
As they reached the park near the station, the trio finally collapsed on a bench—panting, sticky, and still arguing.
Kaito (grinning): "That was the most chaotic ice cream run in history."
Ren (half-melted): "My dignity is gone."
Aika (smirking): "Assuming you had any."
They all burst into laughter, and for a moment—even if none of them would admit it—it felt like the perfect end to a very stupid, very wonderful day.
After all the sugar, jabs, and fake dating nonsense, the trio parted ways at the station corner.
Ren tossed a wrapper at Kaito's head. "Don't eat her ice cream next time, dumbass."
Kaito blocked it with a yawn. "Don't flirt like a third-grader and maybe she'll share with you too."
Aika rolled her eyes. "You both are stupid. I'm going home."
"Good luck, Pocky!" Ren grinned, walking the other way.
---
Ten minutes later…
The streets were nearly empty. Aika strolled under dim streetlamps, the echo of her footsteps her only company.
Then she heard a second pair.
Then a third.
She stopped. They didn't.
Aika turned—and three guys stepped out of the alley.
The leader smirked. "Out alone, princess?"
"Don't flatter yourself," Aika said, clutching her bag.
One reached out.
Aika dodged and slammed her bag into his face. Another tried to grab her shoulder—she spun and kneed him in the gut. She hit the last guy with her umbrella so hard he stumbled back into a trash can.
"Touch me again and I'll make it worse," she hissed.
Then—
"Aika!!"
Kaito's voice tore through the silence. He and Ren rounded the corner—and froze.
Three groaning men on the ground. Aika standing over them, fuming, chest heaving.
Ren's face... changed.
From shock to fury.
His jaw clenched, and without a word, he stormed over, grabbed the nearest creep by the collar, and punched him.
"REN—!"
Aika and Kaito both shouted, but he didn't stop.
Another punch. The guy's lip split. Blood spattered.
"You think it's okay to lay hands on her?!" Ren barked, voice animalistic.
The guy whimpered.
Ren raised his fist again.
Kaito lunged in, grabbing Ren's arm mid-swing. "REN! That's enough!"
"Let go," Ren growled.
"You'll kill him!" Kaito snapped.
Ren trembled with rage, muscles taut, chest heaving like a wild animal barely restrained.
"Ren..." Aika's voice was quieter now. "It's done. I'm fine."
His eyes flicked to her. Her face was scraped. Her hands a little red. Her breath shaky.
He let the guy drop with a snarl, stepping back like fire burned in his lungs.
The bleeding guy crawled away.
Kaito kept a hand on Ren's shoulder. "You need to chill, man."
Ren didn't answer. Just turned and walked to Aika, eyes scanning her like a storm.
"They didn't hurt you?"
"No." Her voice was steady again. "I handled it."
"...I can see that."
Kaito raised a brow. "She's terrifying, isn't she?"
Ren muttered, "Still. If we were ten minutes later—"
Aika shook her head. "Then I'd have three more bruises. Not a big deal."
Ren's fists clenched again.
Then—
Aika: "You do realize you just made a guy bleed over me, right?"
Ren: "...Tch. He deserved worse."
Kaito: "So you do like her."
Ren: "I like justice."
Aika: "You like drama."
Ren: "You like danger."
Kaito: "I like how I'm the only normal person here."
They started walking together again. Silence stretched for a few seconds.
Then—
Ren: "Don't ever walk alone again."
Aika (teasing): "Aw, worried about me?"
Ren (dead serious): "Yes."
She stopped. Eyes wide.
Kaito chuckled nervously. "...Okay, who let Mr. Emo out of his cage?"
Ren: "Shut up."
Aika laughed, and for a moment, the darkness lifted.
But deep in the alley, far behind them—
One last figure stood in the shadows.
Watching.
Silent.
Still.