Kai never liked quiet hallways.
Not the real kind—the kind where you hear every breath, every step, every thought you shouldn't be thinking.
He liked noise. Movement. Chaos, even. That was easier. You didn't have to hear the echo of your own second guesses.
But today, for some reason, he walked slowly. Alone.
Leo had disappeared right after class, probably with Yuki. Not surprising.
Kai didn't blame him.
Still…
There was something about the way Aira walked past them yesterday—calm, chin high, no trace of the storm she'd clearly weathered—that made something twist in his chest.
Not romantic.
Just… respect.
Maybe a little guilt.
He'd seen this stuff play out in dramas. People falling for the same person. Someone always losing. Usually messily.
But this? This was quiet. Controlled. Too adult for high school.
Kai sighed, rolling his lollipop between his teeth.
Maybe he should get into acting.
---
He found himself outside the student council room.
He wasn't part of the council.
Didn't want to be.
Too many meetings.
But he knocked anyway.
"Come in."
He opened the door and saw Rin hunched over a pile of papers.
She looked up, surprised.
"…Kai?"
"You look like you need a nap and a drink."
She blinked. "Both accurate. Why are you here?"
Kai grinned and dropped into a seat. "I heard from my secret informants that you're planning something."
Rin raised an eyebrow. "I'm not obligated to report to you."
"You're not. But I thought I'd offer my dazzling charisma and organizational expertise."
"Translation?"
"I'm bored. Give me something to do."
She looked at him for a long moment. Then sighed.
"Fine. We're planning a weekend retreat. Optional, class-wide. For bonding."
Kai perked up. "Like, campfires and hiking and mosquitoes?"
"And emotional trauma and shared tents."
"…Sounds like a setup for a romcom."
"You would think that."
He grinned. "So? Need help?"
Rin tossed him a clipboard. "You're on logistics. Congratulations."
---
By Friday, word had spread: a weekend overnight trip was being organized at a lake lodge about an hour from town. Hiking, night BBQ, maybe some paddleboats.
Leo looked mildly horrified.
"You're sure I can't fake a fever?"
Yuki grinned. "You promised you'd try new things this year."
"I meant new food. Not sleeping on dirt."
Kai popped up behind them. "It's a cabin. With beds. And plumbing. We're not savages."
Leo turned. "Wait. You're helping run this?"
Kai gave him a mock salute. "I go where the chaos goes."
Yuki elbowed Leo. "It'll be fun. Everyone's going. Even Aira."
Leo blinked. "She is?"
"Yeah. Said she wanted to draw nature. Or escape the internet. One of those."
Leo looked thoughtful.
Yuki noticed.
Her smile wavered just a little.
---
At the far end of the hallway, Hana and Rin were deep in discussion over supplies. Sleeping arrangements. Emergency plans. Allergy lists.
Rin looked exhausted.
Hana looked energized.
"Remind me why we volunteered for this," Rin muttered.
"Because you don't trust anyone else with proper organization."
"Right."
Kai, passing by, gave them a thumbs-up.
"Don't die in logistics hell."
Rin deadpanned, "You're on the same committee."
"Don't drag me down with you."
---
That night, Kai sat at his desk, music low, light dim.
He stared at his open journal.
No one knew he kept one. Not even Leo.
He didn't write poetry or anything embarrassing. Just… thoughts. Observations. Snippets.
He flipped to a new page.
"Leo doesn't know what kind of story he's in. That's dangerous."
"Aira might be stronger than any of us. But strength like that cracks if you lean on it too long."
"Yuki is sunshine. But even the sun can burn."
He paused.
Then wrote:
"I'm starting to wonder if I'm the comic relief... or the narrator."
He closed the journal and smiled.
The weekend trip was going to be interesting.
He could feel it.