The school rooftop was quiet as always.
Mio sat near the fence, knees hugged to her chest, her lunch untouched beside her. The warm sunlight filtered through scattered clouds, but her thoughts were anything but peaceful.
Ever since the battle with Shizuku, the memories of that overwhelming magic—and the feeling of losing control—haunted her. Her Aurora Pin lay heavy in her pocket, like a secret burning against her skin.
I can't tell anyone. Not yet. No one would understand…
The rooftop door creaked open.
Mio didn't have to look up to know who it was. The quiet, steady steps… the stillness that followed… only one person moved like that.
Rika.
Without a word, Rika walked over and sat beside her. She didn't ask questions. She didn't offer false comfort. She simply opened her neatly packed bento and began to eat.
Mio gave a half-hearted smile. "Skipping the cafeteria again?"
"I prefer silence," Rika replied, cool as ever.
Mio drew her knees tighter. "Same…"
A pause.
"You've been acting off lately," Rika said. "Since yesterday."
Mio stiffened. "You noticed?"
"I always notice," Rika replied, her tone flat but not unkind.
They sat in silence again, broken only by the sound of the breeze and the distant chatter from below.
"Want to talk about it?" Rika asked.
Mio shook her head. "Not yet. I'm still figuring it out."
Rika didn't press. Instead, she closed her bento, leaned back against the fence, and looked at the sky.
"Just don't shut me out completely," she said, eyes still fixed upward. "I don't like when people vanish without warning."
Mio turned to her, startled by the quiet vulnerability beneath the cool words.
"I'm not vanishing," she said softly.
"Good," Rika murmured. "I'd notice. And I'd find you."
A breeze passed between them. Mio felt her heart thump—a little faster than she expected. She looked at Rika, whose gaze was calm and unreadable.
"Why are you being so kind all of a sudden?" Mio asked.
"I'm not," Rika replied.
But then, very lightly, her fingers brushed against Mio's. Not a full hand-hold. Just… a subtle, lingering touch.
Mio's face went warm. Her eyes flicked to the contact, then to Rika.
"...You're not being very cold today."
"I'm allowed to be human once in a while."
Before Mio could respond, the rooftop door opened again.
Ren.
He stepped into the light, casual as ever, hands in his pockets. But when he saw Rika and Mio—close, quiet, touching—his relaxed posture stiffened just slightly.
"Oh," he said. "Didn't expect company."
Rika slowly pulled her hand away from Mio's. She didn't look apologetic.
Mio cleared her throat. "We're just… having lunch."
Ren's gaze lingered on Rika. "You don't usually eat with anyone."
"She's different," Rika replied without hesitation.
Mio felt her cheeks flare again.
Ren gave a tight smile. "I can see that."
He stepped closer, leaning casually on the fence. "I hope you're taking care of yourself, Hanabira. You've been... scattered lately."
"I'm fine," Mio lied quickly.
Rika gave Ren a sidelong glance. "She doesn't need anyone hovering."
"I'm not hovering," Ren replied, tone cool but sharp. "Just watching from a distance."
"Same thing," Rika muttered.
The tension crackled—quiet but thick.
Mio stood up abruptly. "Okay! Enough of this... weird triangle energy. I'm going back to class."
Rika stood as well, brushing imaginary dust from her skirt. "Let me walk with you."
Ren watched them go. His smile didn't reach his eyes.
As the door shut behind them, Mio glanced sideways at Rika. "Thanks for coming up. Really."
Rika said nothing, but her hand brushed lightly against Mio's again. This time, she didn't pull away so fast.