The school gates are still half asleep when students start gathering with their luggage.
It's early morning - bags under eyes, coffee in hand, and way too much perfume in the air.
Ami drags her bag through the chaos, ignoring the squeals and drama around her. She's done this before. Last time, she spent the whole trip playing therapist to Alia's tantrums. Not happening again.
She spots Soha standing alone by Bus 3, nervously twisting her backpack straps.
"You look like you're about to puke," Ami says, stopping beside her.
Soha jumps. "I didn't sleep. What if I forget something important? Or get lost? Or-"
"Breathe," Ami cuts her off. "Worst case scenario, you die. Then you don't have to worry about it anymore."
Soha blinks. Then snorts. "That's... not helping."
"Wasn't trying to." Ami nudges her toward the bus steps. "Come on. Let's steal the good seats before Nyra gets here."
Ami simply picks a seat by the window and sets her bag down beside her.
Yo," a familiar voice says, dropping his bag down. "No seat left. Mind if I crash here?"
It's Dio.
Ami hesitates, just long enough to let the universe know she's annoyed.
But then she shifts her bag aside. "Sit before someone else does."
He flops into the seat, stretching his legs, and lets out a sigh of relief. "You're a lifesaver, Junior."
Ami stares out the window, trying to ignore the sudden weight in her chest. Not from Dio. From Alia ,three rows up, glaring straight back at her.
[Of course you're pissed. You couldn't sit with Dio, so now I'm the target. Again.]
Ami closes her eyes for a second, then opens them when Dio speaks again.
"So," he says casually, "what's the plan for this trip? Sleep? Secret missions? More sneaking onto rooftops?"
She breathes a laugh. "Eat, walk, sleep. Repeat."
He tilts his head dramatically. "Girl. You're making this sound like a retirement tour."
Ami smirks but doesn't look at him.
Dio's voice softens. "Hey… I'll try to make your day better. Trust your senior, okay?"
She turns toward him finally. His eyes are playful but kind.
"…Can I ask you something?" Ami asks, her voice quieter than before.
"Of course," he says instantly.
She swallows. Then slowly, carefully,she says, "If someone… loves someone really deeply, but they're afraid. Afraid they'll ruin what they already have by admitting it. Afraid of the rejection, the silence, the shift… Should they still say it?"
Dio doesn't answer right away.
He stares ahead, tapping his thumb against his knee for a few seconds.
Then he speaks-low, steady, more serious than she's ever heard him.
"I think… silence is a slow death. If you love someone and never say it, you're just dying quietly every day. Pretending you're okay with less when you want everything. So yeah. I think it's better to explode, crash, burn,whatever-than to live in a cage you built yourself."
Ami doesn't respond at first. The wind catches strands of her hair, and she doesn't bother fixing them. Her chest tightens-not painfully, but like a pressure that's been building for far too long.
She whispers, almost to herself, "Even if it ends badly?"
Dio turns toward her again, really looking now. His voice softens to something raw and real.
"Even then. Because at least you were brave. At least you lived honestly for once. You'd know you gave it your all. No guessing. No regrets."
Ami stares at him,his face bathed in sunlight.
And all she can think is:
[You died never knowing how much I loved you.
Not this time.
This time, I'll change everything.]
Then she lifts her lips in a small, careful smile. "Thanks, senior. That's… what I needed to hear."
Dio leans back with a satisfied grin, hands behind his head.
"Glad my one brain cell could be useful," he says with a wink.
She laughs again-softer this time, but warmer. The kind of laugh that means thank you, even if she doesn't say it.
Then he leans in a little, smirking.
"Don't tell anyone, but me and a few guys are sneaking a tiny drink session tonight. Our first time. Wanna join? Bring your friend. You seem like someone who needs a little trouble in her life."
Ami raises an eyebrow, finally smirking back.
"You really think I'm the type to sneak into boys' dorms?"
Dio shrugs. "I think you're full of surprises. And maybe just a little bored of playing safe."
"Hmm," she hums, teasing. "And here I thought you were just a golden retriever in a hoodie."
"Rude," Dio gasps, clutching his chest like she stabbed him. "I'm at least 30% wolf."
She glances back at Dio.
"I'll think about it," she says quietly.
He gives a two-finger salute. "I'll take that as a maybe yes."
[Arrival – Hotel & Museum Trip]
The buses pull up to a seaside hotel -modest, sunlit, and smelling faintly of saltwater.
Students separate into rooms. Ami heads off without looking back.
She's roomed with Soha and two other girls.
An hour later, everyone gathers outside for the museum trip. It's warm. Seagulls fly overhead. The vibe is relaxed for most people.
But Soha clings nervously to Ami's sleeve.
"Don't leave me, please."
Ami turns, surprised. But instead of brushing her off, she gently pats Soha's trembling hand.
"Girl," Ami says, calm as ever, "relax. We're gonna cause mild chaos and maybe learn one or two historic facts. Trust me."
Soha laughs, a soft and startled sound.
They walk into the museum side by side, sneakers squeaking softly against marble floors. The hall is cool, lined with pillars and faint echoes of distant footsteps.
Glass cases glint in the late afternoon light.
"Soha," Ami says suddenly, keeping her tone casual, "you still thinking about singing at the cultural fest?"
Soha stiffens. Her eyes drop.
"I don't know… I want to, but… people like Nyra.."
"Forget Nyra," Ami cuts in, voice calm but firm. "You've got something special. One day, people are gonna be dying to say they knew you before you were famous."
Soha's eyes widen. "You really think so?"
"I know so," Ami replies, smiling.
They stop in front of a painting -a girl holding an umbrella in a storm,umbrella tilted the wrong way, hair plastered to her face. She's soaked, clearly cold-but her eyes are locked on the sky, lips curled into the ghost of a smile.
Soha whispers, "She looks brave."
"She looks fake," Ami says, not unkindly. "But sometimes faking it is the bravest thing you can do."
Soha nods, then reaches into her pocket.
"Here," she says, pulling out a thread bracelet. "I made two. Take one."
Ami stares at it.
"In my last life, I never had a real friend. Now, here she is. A future star. And I get to protect her this time."
She ties it around her wrist. "Thanks."
[Meanwhile]
Outside the museum, the students are taking selfies, chasing pigeons, or snacking on overpriced street popcorn.
Alia sits on a stone bench , sunglasses perched on her head.
Nyra plops beside her, chewing gum loudly.
"So, uh… that guy who sat next to Ami. Who is he?" Nyra asks, squinting at the entrance.
Alia doesn't even glance up. "Senior. 12-A. Music Club, probably."
Nyra nudges her. "He's hot though. Didn't think your sis had the luck to pull someone like that."
Alia's lip twitches. "She didn't pull him. He just… happened to sit there. Coincidence."
Nyra raises a brow. "She's been acting weird lately. Like… all confident or something. And now she's hanging around that Soha girl?"
Alia finally looks up, eyes cold behind her designer shades.
"Let her enjoy the spotlight for now. A few rays of attention doesn't make her the sun."
Nyra snorts. "Still feels off. I thought you were the one everyone looked at."
Alia leans forward slightly, adjusting her gold bracelet.
"I am. People look when I want them to. And I don't like when someone else starts… getting in the way."
Nyra goes quiet.She knows that tone.
Alia smiles, slow and sweet. "Just keep your eyes on her," she murmurs. "That's all I'm asking."
Nyra nods. "You got it."
Then Nyra's attention shifts again.
"Anyway… did you see her with Soha? I thought she hated that girl."
Alia shrugs. "Maybe she's collecting strays now."
She stands up, brushing invisible dust off her skirt.
"But strays get left behind eventually. That's how it works."
She walks off calmly, phone in hand, voice cool and composed.