The First Real Conversation
The next morning, Akira woke up earlier than usual.
For a moment he just stared at the ceiling.
Then he remembered.
Aiko.
His phone was still beside his pillow.
He picked it up and checked the messages from last night.
Their conversation had ended around 11:30 PM.
Just reading the messages again made him smile slightly.
"…This feels strange."
Akira got up and got ready for class.
But today felt different.
Instead of walking through campus half-asleep like usual…
He was actually paying attention.
His eyes searched the corridors again.
Maybe I'll see her.
When Akira entered the classroom, Ren was already there.
Ren noticed him immediately.
"Well, well."
Akira paused.
"…What?"
Ren leaned back in his chair with a suspicious grin.
"You look happier today."
"I do not."
"You do."
"I don't."
Ren crossed his arms dramatically.
"Did something happen last night?"
Akira froze for half a second.
Ren's eyes widened.
"WAIT."
"…What?"
"You texted someone, didn't you?"
Akira immediately looked away.
"…No."
Ren slammed his desk.
"YOU DID!"
"Lower your voice!"
Ren leaned closer.
"Was it the girl?"
Akira rubbed his forehead.
"…Maybe."
Ren gasped like he had just witnessed a miracle.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he whispered loudly, "Akira Sato has entered the romance arc."
"…Shut up."
The lecture started soon after.
Akira tried to focus on the professor's explanation.
But his attention kept drifting.
Is she here today…?
Ten minutes passed.
Twenty.
Then—
The classroom door opened quietly.
Aiko walked in.
Akira immediately looked away.
His heart started beating faster.
She walked past his row and sat near the middle of the room.
Ren noticed.
"…Ah."
Akira glared at him.
"…Don't."
Ren whispered,
"So that's her."
Akira covered his face with his hand.
After class ended, students began leaving the room.
Akira packed his notebook slowly.
Part of him wanted to leave quickly.
Another part of him wanted to stay.
Then he heard a voice behind him.
"Akira?"
He turned around.
Aiko was standing there.
For a moment, Akira forgot how to breathe.
"Oh… hi."
She smiled slightly.
"So it really was you."
"…Yeah."
A short silence followed.
Then Aiko laughed softly.
"This is awkward."
"…A little."
"But we talked for two hours last night."
"…That's true."
"So technically we're already friends."
Akira blinked.
"…Are we?"
Aiko smiled playfully.
"I think so."
At that moment Ren suddenly appeared beside them.
"Akira."
Akira closed his eyes.
"…Please don't."
Ren ignored him and looked at Aiko.
"Hi. I'm Ren."
Aiko nodded politely.
"Aiko Tanaka."
Ren grinned.
"Nice to meet you."
Then he looked at Akira.
"I'll leave you two alone."
"You weren't even invited."
Ren walked away laughing.
Akira scratched the back of his neck.
"…Sorry about him."
"He seems fun."
"…He is."
They walked out of the classroom together.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Aiko asked,
"So… did you sleep late yesterday?"
"…A little."
"Same."
She smiled.
"Your messages were interesting."
Akira looked confused.
"…Interesting?"
"You think a lot before replying."
"…Is that bad?"
"No," she said.
"It's kind of cute."
Akira froze.
His brain completely stopped working.
"…Oh."
Meanwhile, somewhere else in the building…
Another girl was watching them from the hallway window.
The girl from the fourth floor.
She leaned against the wall, holding a lunch box Akira had given her earlier that morning.
"…So that's the girl he's texting."
She looked at the two of them talking outside.
Then she sighed dramatically.
"Well… this might get interesting."
During classes, Akira usually sat beside Ren.
Ren was still the most talkative person Akira had ever met.
While the professor explained complicated programming concepts, Ren often whispered random comments.
One day during a lecture Ren leaned closer.
"Bro… I swear this professor is speaking another language."
Akira tried to stay serious.
He really tried.
But a small laugh escaped.
The professor stopped talking.
Both of them froze.
"Mr. Nakamura," the professor said calmly, "would you like to continue the lecture for us?"
Ren immediately shook his head.
"No sir. Please continue."
The class laughed quietly.
This kind of thing happened so often that most professors had already given up trying to silence Ren completely.
Later that day, the three of them—Akira, Ren, and Yuuto—walked into the campus café for lunch.
But something felt different.
Aiko wasn't alone today.
Three other girls were sitting with her.
When she saw them enter, she waved.
"Hey! Over here!"
Akira walked toward the table—
Then suddenly stopped.
His eyes widened.
One of the girls looked very familiar.
Wait…
For a moment he thought his mind was playing tricks on him.
Aiko noticed his reaction.
"What's wrong?"
"…Nothing."
Ren confidently pulled out a chair.
"Looks like the group is getting bigger."
Aiko smiled.
"Oh right! You haven't met them yet."
She pointed to the girl sitting beside her.
"This is Mizuko."
The girl smiled brightly.
"Hi! So you're Akira."
Akira blinked.
"…How do you know my name?"
Before Mizuko could answer, another girl laughed.
"That's because Aiko talks about you sometimes."
"A little too much," another added.
Aiko immediately blushed.
"Hey!"
The table burst into laughter.
But Akira kept staring at Mizuko.
Something about her face felt strangely familiar.
Memories from years ago slowly surfaced.
A small girl.
Kindergarten playground.
Childhood laughter.
Then suddenly Akira spoke.
"…Wait."
Everyone looked at him.
"Are you… Mizuko Ito?"
The girl's eyes widened.
"…How do you know my last name?"
Akira slowly said,
"…Are you from Osaka Elementary School?"
Mizuko suddenly stood up.
"WAIT—"
She pointed at him dramatically.
"Don't tell me…"
"…Akira Sato?"
Akira nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
For a moment the entire table went silent.
Then everyone spoke at once.
"WAIT YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER?"
Mizuko laughed in disbelief.
"We were childhood friends!"
Akira nodded.
"Our families lived next door to each other."
"Then his parents moved away," Mizuko continued. "We lost contact after that."
Ren leaned back in his chair dramatically.
"This story just got ten times more interesting."
Suddenly everything made sense in Akira's mind.
All the questions from the previous night.
Why was I so comfortable talking to her?
Why didn't I feel nervous?
Now he had the answer.
Because Mizuko wasn't a stranger.
She was his first and only friend from childhood.
Akira rubbed his forehead.
"…That explains everything."
Ren laughed loudly.
"So the mysterious fourth-floor girl was your childhood friend the whole time?"
"…Apparently."
The table had barely settled down after the introductions when Mizuko suddenly leaned forward with a mischievous smile.
"Oh right," she said. "I should tell them how we actually met."
Akira immediately felt a bad feeling.
"…You don't need to."
Mizuko ignored him.
Ren instantly got interested.
"Wait, wait—there's a story?"
Yuuto nodded calmly.
"I feel like this is going to be embarrassing."
Mizuko pointed at Akira.
"Oh, it definitely is."
Akira sighed and covered his face.
"…Please don't."
Too late.
Mizuko began dramatically.
"So imagine this. I'm in my apartment on the fourth floor, minding my own business…"
Ren leaned forward.
"…Okay."
"And suddenly," Mizuko continued, "I walk into my living room and see a random guy sitting on my sofa."
Ren blinked.
"…Wait."
Yuuto slowly turned toward Akira.
"…Don't tell me."
Mizuko nodded.
"Yes."
She pointed at Akira again.
"It was him."
The table exploded with laughter.
Ren slammed the table.
"NO WAY!"
Aiko looked shocked.
"You walked into her apartment?!"
Akira muttered quietly,
"…It was an accident."
Mizuko continued laughing.
"He sat there like it was his house!"
"I thought it was my house!"
"You even looked confused when I asked who you were!"
"You asked me first!"
Ren wiped tears from his eyes.
"This is the best story I've heard all week."
Aiko tilted her head curiously.
"So what happened after that?"
Mizuko crossed her arms proudly.
"Well… he apologized about fifty times."
"That's an exaggeration."
"Then he came back later."
Akira blinked.
"…You're making this sound worse."
Mizuko grinned.
"He came back and said—"
She tried to imitate Akira's voice.
"Please don't cook dinner tonight. I'll cook for you."
The table went silent.
Then everyone turned toward Akira.
Ren slowly spoke.
"…You cook?"
Akira shrugged.
"…Sometimes."
Mizuko raised her hand dramatically.
"Sometimes? He made omurice, curry, onigiri, and a whole bento!"
Yuuto looked impressed.
"That's actually amazing."
Aiko blinked.
"You made all that… in one evening?"
Akira scratched the back of his neck.
"…Cooking helps me relax."
Ren stared at him in disbelief.
"Bro."
"…What?"
"You're hiding secret talents."
Mizuko leaned back in her chair.
"And ever since that day," she said proudly, "he cooks dinner for me."
Ren gasped.
"So that's why you moved into his apartment!"
Akira almost choked.
"She moved herself!"
Mizuko shrugged casually.
"His kitchen is better."
The table burst into laughter again.
Aiko quietly watched the two of them arguing.
Then she smiled softly.
"…That actually sounds nice."
Akira glanced at her.
For some reason, hearing her say that made him feel a little embarrassed.
Ren noticed immediately.
"Oh ho."
Akira glared at him.
"…Don't start."
Ren grinned.
"Too late."
The laughter around the table slowly calmed down.
Ren wiped the tears from his eyes.
"I still can't believe this guy casually walked into a girl's apartment and then cooked her a full dinner."
Akira sighed.
"…It wasn't casual."
Mizuko raised her hand proudly.
"And the food was amazing."
Ren pointed dramatically at Akira.
"Bro. Why are you hiding skills like this?"
"It's just cooking."
"JUST cooking? You made four dishes!"
Yuuto nodded.
"That's honestly impressive."
Aiko had been quiet for a moment.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"So… you cook dinner for Mizuko every day?"
Akira froze.
"…Well… sometimes."
Mizuko immediately answered for him.
"Almost every day."
Akira looked at her.
"Hey—"
"What?" she said innocently.
"You do!"
Ren slowly turned toward Aiko with a mischievous grin.
"Ohhh."
Akira already knew that look.
"…Ren."
"Don't say it."
Ren ignored him.
"So let me get this straight."
He pointed between Akira and Mizuko.
"You cook dinner for her every day."
"Because she keeps eating instant noodles!"
Mizuko nodded confidently.
"Exactly."
Ren crossed his arms.
"…That sounds suspiciously like married life."
Akira almost fell out of his chair.
"WHAT?!"
The table exploded again.
Aiko laughed with the others.
But for a brief second, her eyes drifted toward Mizuko.
"…You're lucky."
Everyone paused.
Mizuko blinked.
"Hmm?"
Aiko smiled lightly.
"Having someone cook for you like that."
Akira looked down at the table, suddenly embarrassed.
"…It's not a big deal."
Ren leaned closer to Aiko.
"You know what this means, right?"
Aiko looked at him suspiciously.
"…What?"
"If you ever want homemade food—"
Akira immediately interrupted.
"Ren."
Ren grinned.
"—you just have to accidentally walk into Akira's apartment."
The table burst into laughter again.
But Mizuko suddenly leaned closer to Aiko with a playful smile.
"Oh? You want Akira to cook for you too?"
Aiko blinked.
"…I didn't say that."
"Your face says otherwise."
"My face does not say that."
Ren raised his hand dramatically.
"I volunteer as judge."
Akira groaned.
"Please stop."
Yuuto quietly continued eating.
"…This is entertaining."
Mizuko leaned back in her chair.
"Honestly though," she said, looking at Aiko.
"If you want his cooking, just ask."
Akira looked shocked.
"…Why are you offering my services?"
Mizuko shrugged.
"You cook too much anyway."
Ren nodded.
"She's right."
Aiko laughed softly.
"…Maybe someday."
Akira didn't respond.
But for some reason…
The idea didn't sound bad.
Ren suddenly leaned toward Akira and whispered,
"Bro."
"…What."
"You're surrounded by girls now."
"…Stop."
Ren smirked.
"This is the beginning of your anime protagonist life."
Akira buried his face in his hands.
"…Please delete yourself."
The table erupted in laughter again.
And for the first time in a long time…
Akira didn't feel like the quiet outsider anymore.
Later that night, Akira continued cooking dinner.
But now things were different.
Instead of eating alone…
He often ate with Mizuko.
They talked about childhood memories.
Old school stories.
Embarrassing moments from years ago.
Sometimes they laughed so much that they forgot the time.
One night, after talking for hours, they both ended up falling asleep in the living room.
For them, it wasn't awkward at all.
They had done the same thing countless times as kids.
The next morning—
"AKIRA!"
Akira suddenly woke up.
Mizuko was standing over him.
"You're going to be late!"
"…Huh?"
He looked at the clock.
"…Oh no."
Mizuko crossed her arms.
"You usually wake up because of birds outside your window."
"…Yeah."
"But you slept in my living room."
"…Right."
She smiled.
"Let's have breakfast together."
Akira raised an eyebrow.
"You cooking?"
Mizuko gasped.
"Hey! Don't underestimate me!"
Akira laughed.
"I remember your cooking from childhood."
"…What about it?"
"Every time you cooked something exploded."
"That happened only twice!"
"I ended up in the hospital once!"
"That was not my fault!"
Both of them burst out laughing.
After breakfast, something unexpected happened.
Mizuko looked around Akira's apartment.
"…You have more space here."
Akira blinked.
"…Yeah?"
"Can I move my stuff here?"
"…What?"
"My apartment is smaller anyway."
Akira thought for a moment.
"…Are you sure?"
Mizuko smiled casually.
"We practically grew up in the same house anyway."
"…True."
Akira sighed.
"Alright."
Later that morning, they walked downstairs together.
At the apartment entrance they ran into their friends.
Everyone froze.
Ren looked at them.
Then at the apartment building.
Then back at them.
"…Don't tell me."
Yuuto blinked.
"You both live here?"
"Yeah," Mizuko said casually.
"Fourth floor," Akira added.
Everyone exchanged shocked looks.
Rina immediately took a photo.
"This story keeps getting better."
As they walked toward campus together, Akira listened quietly to the conversation around him.
But one thought kept repeating in his mind.
Aiko.
He had memorized her apartment information earlier.
Fifth floor.
Room 501.
Right next to the elevator.
She lives two floors above me.
For some reason, that thought made him smile.
Later in class, Akira sat in his usual seat.
From there he could clearly see Aiko sitting a few rows ahead.
The professor started the lecture.
But Akira's attention drifted.
Not to the board.
Not to the slides.
But to the girl sitting in front of him.
And for the first time since arriving at the institute…
Akira felt truly happy he had chosen this place.