At the university cafeteria—
noise returned.
Students moved between tables.
Conversations overlapped.
Lunch hour.
Mira sat near the window.
Alone.
Her tray rested in front of her.
Someone stopped beside her table.
"Is this seat taken?"
She looked up.
The boy from the classroom.
The one who had been watching her earlier.
Calm expression.
Relaxed posture.
"No."
He sat down naturally.
"I'm Adrian Keller."
"Mira."
"I know."
She blinked once.
He smiled slightly.
"Same class."
"That makes sense."
He leaned back slightly.
Relaxed.
Comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Conversation came easily after that.
Classes.
Teachers.
Campus routines.
Nothing forced.
Nothing strange.
At one point—
Mira laughed.
Just once.
Adrian noticed.
His eyes lingered for half a second longer than necessary—
then he looked away.
Like nothing happened.
A few minutes later—
he checked the time.
"I should go."
Already standing.
"But it was nice meeting you."
"You too."
A brief pause.
"Can I get your number?"
Mira hesitated—
just a fraction longer this time.
Then nodded.
They exchanged numbers quickly.
He stepped back from the table.
"See you later."
Then left.
Elsewhere on campus—
Emilia and Daniel walked together after class.
Students passed around them in both directions.
"So," Emilia said.
"Study later?"
Daniel nodded.
"Coffee?"
"Perfect."
"If the others are free, we can invite them."
"Sure."
They turned a corner—
and someone collided with Daniel.
A girl.
Her books slipped from her hands.
"Oh—sorry!"
Daniel reacted immediately.
"Are you okay?"
He helped her up.
She laughed first.
"Yeah… I wasn't looking."
Emilia smiled.
Daniel handed her books back.
"Careful next time."
"I will."
She waved once—
then left.
From a distance—
Daphx watched the scene.
Silent.
Still.
His expression didn't change.
Then—
a small smile appeared.
"…Good."
His voice was quiet.
Barely above a whisper.
Evening arrived quietly.
Streetlights turned on one by one.
Mira walked beside Emilia.
"We're meeting Daniel at the café, right?"
"Yeah."
"Anyone else coming?"
"I asked Veron."
"And?"
"He refused."
Mira thought for a second.
then she talk.
"Someone asked for my number today."
"Ooh? Who?"
"He's from our class. We met at the cafeteria."
"What's his name?"
"Adrian."
Emilia blinked once.
"Oh. Adrian Keller?"
Mira looked at her.
"You know him?"
Emilia nodded slightly.
"Yes. I know him."
"You should invite him."
Mira nodded slightly.
"Oh no, no."
"Come on, it will be fun to join us"
They turned the corner—
and someone walked past them.
Close.
Very close.
Jin.
His steps didn't slow.
Didn't stop.
Didn't change direction.
He simply walked past them.
For a brief moment—
their eyes met.
Mira looked away first.
Calm.
Deliberate.
She kept walking.
Jin didn't turn back.
Didn't speak.
Didn't pause.
He continued forward.
Emilia blinked slightly.
"…Was that—"
"Yes."
Emilia didn't finish the sentence.
They kept walking.
Inside the empty university gym—
someone trained alone.
No students.
No noise.
Only movement.
Daphx stood in the center of the room.
Shirtless.
Breathing steady.
Sweat moved slowly across his shoulders.
His fists tightened once.
Then again.
He stopped suddenly.
Turned slightly—
Jin stepped into the corridor outside the student gym entrance.
He paused.
He noticed the only one training.
Just for a moment—
neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
But something invisible settled between them—
not tension.
Not hostility.
Something deeper.
Like recognition.
Like two forces—
quietly acknowledging each other.
Daphx didn't smile.
Jin didn't react.
But somewhere between them—
a line had already been drawn.
And neither of them will step back.