After all the drama that had finally been put to rest, time seemed to move faster for all of them.
Too fast, almost.
University life settled in like a familiar rhythm—early mornings, crowded lecture halls, overpriced coffee, and the comforting presence of the same people who had been there since everything was messy, confusing, and fragile. Somehow, despite everything that could've broken them apart, they'd ended up here. Together.
Classes had been going on for a few weeks now, and the novelty of the campus hadn't completely worn off, but it had softened into something comfortable. Familiar.
That morning started like most others.
Yuri sat near the window in the large lecture hall, sunlight catching the edges of his hair as he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed loosely. Haru was beside him, half-listening to the professor while scribbling random doodles in the margins of his notebook.
Riku sat a row ahead with Jihoon, their shoulders brushing every so often. Jihoon pretended not to notice, but the slight curl of his lips gave him away every time. Riku, on the other hand, made absolutely no effort to hide it—occasionally leaning closer just to whisper unnecessary comments.
"Stop distracting me," Jihoon muttered under his breath.
Riku grinned. "You love it."
Behind them, Mika, Yuna, Sowoon, and Sophia shared the back row like they always did.
Sophia rested her chin on Sowoon's shoulder, half-asleep already despite it being barely mid-morning. Sowoon gently tapped her forehead with his pen.
"Pay attention," he whispered.
"You pay attention for me," she replied lazily.
Mika stared straight ahead, nodding along to the lecture even though her notes were… questionable at best. Yuna leaned over, squinting.
"Why did you write a cat paw next to 'economic theory'?"
Mika shrugged. "It felt right."
Yuna sighed. "You're impossible."
The lecture dragged on, broken only by the occasional whispered joke, exchanged glances, or Jihoon quietly smacking Riku's arm when he leaned too close. By the time the professor dismissed them, the entire group practically surged out of the hall together.
Lunch was spent sprawled across a long table in the campus café.
Yuri and Haru shared food shamelessly, Haru stealing Yuri's fries without even asking. Riku and Jihoon sat side by side, Jihoon meticulously organizing his tray while Riku kept reaching over just to mess with him.
Sowoon fed Sophia a bite of his dessert, and she smiled like she'd won the lottery.
Mika and Yuna sat across from them, watching the couples with varying expressions.
Yuna stabbed her food dramatically. "You're all disgustingly in love."
Haru grinned. "Jealous?"
"Of what?" Yuna shot back. "Public displays of affection and emotional vulnerability?"
"Yes," Yuri said calmly.
Yuna scoffed. "Absolutely not."
Mika stayed quiet, cheeks slightly warm, eyes flicking away whenever someone caught her staring too long at the couples.
After lunch came more classes—seminars, group discussions, quiet libraries, shared groans about assignments. The day passed in a blur of normalcy, the kind that felt precious because none of them had taken it for granted anymore.
By the time afternoon classes ended, the sky had softened into warm shades of gold.
Sowoon stretched, hands behind his head. "Okay. I'm officially done thinking for the day."
Sophia perked up instantly. "Cat café?"
Yuna's eyes lit up. "Yes."
Mika blinked. "Wait, really?"
Yuri smiled. "Why not? We survived today."
"Barely," Jihoon muttered.
And just like that, the plan was set.
The cat café sat a few streets away from campus—small, cozy, with warm lighting spilling through the windows and little paw-print stickers on the glass. The bell above the door chimed as they walked in, instantly greeted by the soft hum of conversation and the faint scent of coffee and pastries.
Cats lounged everywhere—on shelves, cushions, window ledges.
Mika froze.
"Oh my god," she whispered.
Yuna laughed. "There she goes."
They kicked off their shoes, washed their hands, and settled into a corner table. Almost immediately, a fluffy grey cat hopped onto Yuri's lap like it belonged there.
Haru pointed. "Traitor."
Another cat climbed onto Jihoon's shoulder, startling him so badly he stiffened.
"Riku—do something."
Riku took out his phone. "Hold still. This is cute."
Sophia squealed quietly as a kitten pawed at her sleeve, and Sowoon gently scooped it up, cradling it with surprising ease.
Mika sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded within minutes. One cat curled into her lap. Another rubbed against her arm. She smiled softly, completely absorbed.
Yuna watched her, then smirked.
"You know," Yuna said casually, "it's kind of impressive how you're still single."
Mika blinked. "What?"
Haru perked up. "Oh. Yeah. How are you still single?"
Mika's ears burned. "Can we not—"
Riku leaned forward. "No, no. This is important."
Jihoon sighed. "You're ganging up on her."
"And you're biased," Sophia added cheerfully.
Yuna grinned. "When was the last time you even liked someone?"
Mika opened her mouth—then closed it. "I—don't know?"
The group groaned dramatically.
"Unbelievable," Yuri said. "A tragedy, honestly."
Mika buried her face in her hands. "I hate all of you."
That's when the bell chimed again.
The café door opened, and a girl stepped inside.
She had soft brown hair pulled loosely back, round glasses perched on her nose, and a shy smile as she scanned the room. She wore a simple sweater and jeans, nothing flashy—yet something about her presence felt warm.
Mika looked up.
And promptly stopped functioning.
Her face went red instantly. Like—instantly.
Yuna noticed first. "Oh?"
Mika didn't move. Didn't blink. Barely breathed.
The girl walked further in, crouching near a cat by the window, laughing softly when it swatted at her sleeve.
Riku leaned closer to Yuna. "Is Mika okay?"
"No," Yuna whispered. "Mika is down bad."
Sophia gasped softly. "Oh my god."
Sowoon followed their gaze, then looked back at Mika's frozen form. "She hasn't moved."
Haru waved a hand in front of her face. "Mika?"
Nothing.
Yuri chuckled. "Wow. First sight, huh?"
Mika finally snapped out of it. "I—I need water."
She stood up too fast, immediately sitting back down.
Yuna grabbed her shoulders. "You are talking to her."
"I am NOT," Mika hissed.
"You are," Riku said. "We're making this happen."
Jihoon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please don't traumatize her."
Too late.
Sophia gently pushed Mika forward. "Just say hi."
Mika shook her head violently. "I can't."
The girl glanced over at the commotion, curious.
Yuna waved. "Hi!"
Mika nearly passed away.
The girl smiled and walked over, a cat trailing behind her. "Um—hi."
Mika's voice came out as a whisper. "H—hi."
The group watched like it was a live drama.
"I'm Mika," she managed.
The girl smiled wider. "I'm Hana."
Silence.
Yuna elbowed Mika. Hard.
"Oh—uh—your—your cat is cute," Mika blurted.
Hana laughed softly. "He kind of adopted me."
They talked. Slowly. Awkwardly. But sweetly.
By the time Hana mentioned she came here often, Yuna had fully taken over moral support mode.
"Ask for her number," Yuna whispered.
"I will die," Mika whispered back.
"You won't," Yuri said. "Probably."
After a lot of encouragement, dramatic sighing, and Riku threatening to do it for her, Mika finally took a deep breath.
"Can I—um—maybe—get your number?"
Hana blinked… then smiled. "Yeah. I'd like that."
Mika's soul left her body.
They exchanged numbers, hands brushing briefly, and when Hana left, Mika just sat there, staring at her phone.
Yuna clapped. "SHE DID IT."
Sophia hugged her. "I'm so proud."
Sowoon smiled softly. "See? New starts."
As evening settled in, they walked back toward their dorms together, laughter filling the quiet streets, the sky painted with stars.
Mika walked a little lighter.
And for once, the future didn't feel scary.
It felt… soft.