episode 3

Morning came quietly again.

“Aru, wake up,” his mother called.

“…I’m up,” he replied sleepily.

Aru stood in front of the mirror, getting ready.

He wore the same things he always did—his school uniform, neatly pressed, everything in place.

He adjusted his clothes carefully, just like he had been taught since he was little.

Everything about his routine felt normal.

Natural.

Like this was simply who he was.

He brushed his long hair slowly, watching his reflection.

Same face.

Same life.

Same “girl.”

He didn’t question it.

Not really.

Because this was how it had always been.

At breakfast, his mother smiled warmly.

“You look perfect.”

Aru smiled back.

“Thanks.”

And just like that—

Another normal day began.

At school, his friends immediately pulled him in.

“Aru, come sit here!”

“Did you finish the homework?”

“Listen, something funny happened—”

Their voices overlapped as usual.

Aru laughed, responded, reacted—

Everything flowed naturally.

And yet—

Somewhere between those moments—

His eyes searched again.

Until they found him.

Rei stood near the gate this time.

Not by the window.

Not alone inside.

But outside.

Waiting.

Aru paused.

Just for a second.

Then smiled.

“I’ll come back,” he told his friends.

“Again?” one teased.

“Yeah, yeah,” he waved it off.

He walked toward Rei.

This time—

Without hesitation.

“You’re early today,” Aru said.

Rei glanced at him.

“…You’re earlier than yesterday.”

Aru smiled.

“Maybe.”

There was something different today.

Not in what they said.

But in how easily they stood next to each other.

“You wait here every day?” Aru asked.

“Sometimes.”

“For what?”

Rei thought for a second.

“…I don’t know.”

Aru laughed softly.

“You say that a lot.”

“What?”

“I don’t know.”

Rei looked at him.

“…Maybe I just don’t.”

For some reason—

That answer felt honest.

They walked inside together.

Not planned.

Not discussed.

It just… happened.

As they passed by, some of Aru’s friends noticed.

“Wait—wasn’t that the new boy?”

“Yeah… since when does Aru walk with him?”

“I don’t know…”

Aru didn’t hear them.

Or maybe—

He chose not to.

During class, something felt clearer.

Not the confusion.

Not the questions.

But the space around them.

Whenever Aru felt that strange, quiet discomfort—

He looked toward Rei.

And somehow—

It softened.

At lunch, his friends called him again.

“Aru, come here!”

He looked at them.

Then at Rei.

Then back again.

“…I’ll come later,” he said.

This time—

He didn’t hesitate.

Under the tree, Rei was already sitting.

“You chose this again,” Rei said.

Aru sat beside him.

“…Yeah.”

A small silence.

Then—

“…It feels more real here,” Aru said.

Rei looked at him.

“…What does?”

Aru searched for words.

“…Me.”

Rei didn’t laugh.

Didn’t question it.

“…I get that,” he said.

And for the first time—

Aru didn’t feel strange saying it.

Later, after school, they walked together again.

Same road.

Same sky turning orange.

“You talk a lot with your friends,” Rei said.

“Yeah.”

“…But not like this.”

Aru blinked.

“…What do you mean?”

Rei looked ahead.

“You don’t laugh the same way.”

Aru went quiet.

Because—

That was true.

“…You notice too much,” Aru said.

Rei shrugged.

“…Only about you.”

Aru felt his heart skip.

Just slightly.

They reached the same crossing again.

And stopped.

“Tomorrow?” Aru asked.

Rei nodded.

“Yeah.”

This time—

It felt certain.

That night, Aru stood in front of the mirror again.

Same reflection.

Same clothes.

Same life he had always known.

But now—

There was a question behind his eyes.

Small.

Quiet.

But growing.

“…Why do I feel more like myself with him?” he whispered.

And far away—

Rei asked himself something similar.

Two normal lives.

Still unchanged.

Still unquestioned.

But something inside them—

Was beginning to shift.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***