Rei sat in the teacher's office, his knuckles still throbbing from the fight. He stared at the ground in silence, his hands loosely clenched in his lap.
Mr. Ryusei, the youngest teacher in the school, finally broke the quiet. "You did nothing wrong, Rei. It's a man's duty to protect what's important to him. But…" he sighed, "it's not in our hands. You'll still face a two-week suspension."
He leaned in with a soft grin. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on the lessons while you're out. You won't fall behind."
The principal nodded. "Think of it like a holiday. A snowy break, just for you."
Rei gave a half-hearted shrug. "Thanks, I guess…" His voice was flat, distant.
Another teacher, who'd been silently watching the whole time, finally spoke. "You didn't have to fight alone, Rei. That boy—uh, Haruu... Haruta—he could've helped. That kid's got a pretty messed-up past too."
Rei blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"You'll have to ask him yourself," the teacher said, leaning back.
Rei stepped out of the office and saw Sera, Haruta, Sia, and Souta waiting for him. His eyes met Haruta's, but neither of them spoke.
Haruta casually broke the silence. "Rei—Sera, you can head up to the terrace and talk. Meanwhile, we're downstairs grabbing coffee. Come find us after."
He walked off with Souta and Sia, giving the two some space.
Rei and Sera climbed the stairs. The snow had stopped. Everything was still, soft, and quiet—like the world was giving them a moment.
Rei sat at the edge of the terrace, staring out over the schoolyard, his expression unreadable.
Sera stood beside him, then sat down slowly. "Rei… everyone's weak in some way. You, me… all of us. We just hide it behind masks. But even if we're weak… our feelings aren't, right?"
Rei looked at her finally. "No… they're not."
He hesitated, eyes dropping again. "But what if I hurt you somehow…? What if I lose control again?"
Sera shook her head. "You won't. I know you, Rei. I know the goofy, weird you. Not this cold, serious version. You're more than that."
A soft silence fell between them.
"I'll always protect you," Rei said.
Sera smiled gently. "And I'll always stay with you."
They leaned in—slowly, naturally. Their lips met. No drama. No rush. Just warmth. A kiss so soft and real it felt like the world stopped just to watch two souls collide.
--To be continued
-~Rei