The school cafeteria was louder than Arin remembered.
Students argued over seats, someone laughed so loudly that half the room turned around, and the smell of freshly fried samosas drifted from the serving counter.
Ordinary things.
Things Arin had once considered boring.
Now, sitting across from Kyle Alexander, he found himself wishing he could freeze time.
"Why are you staring at me?"
Arin blinked.
"I'm not."
"You've been staring at me for thirty seconds."
"Maybe I'm trying to figure out why you're so annoying."
Kyle put a hand over his heart.
"After everything we've been through, that's how you treat your best friend?"
"We've been friends for three years, not thirty."
"Three years of suffering. It feels like thirty."
Arin laughed.
It came naturally this time.
That surprised him more than anything else.
In his previous life, he had forgotten how easy it was to laugh with Kyle. Somewhere along the way, embarrassment, jealousy, and his fear of failure had turned their friendship into something he took for granted.
He wouldn't make that mistake again.
Kyle pushed a notebook across the table.
"Anyway, here's the plan."
Arin glanced down.
A handwritten schedule filled the page. It included study sessions, practice questions, breaks, and even a reminder to buy snacks.
"You made a timetable?"
"Yes."
"You?"
Kyle narrowed his eyes.
"Do you want to participate in the academic competition or not?"
"I do. I'm just impressed that you know what a timetable is."
"Keep talking. I'll remove your name from the team."
Arin smiled and opened the notebook.
Then he noticed a date written at the bottom.
April 21 — Final team registration.
His smile faded.
He remembered that date.
In his first life, April 21 had been the day everything began to go wrong between them.
A missing examination paper. A teacher's accusation. A misunderstanding that had spiralled out of control.
And Kyle had asked him a question.
Arin, you know I didn't do it, right?
Arin had known the truth.
But he had been scared of becoming involved.
So he had stayed silent.
That silence had hurt Kyle more than any accusation could have.
"Hey."
Kyle's voice brought him back.
"You okay?"
Arin looked up.
"Yeah. Just thinking."
"About the competition?"
"Something like that."
Kyle studied him for a moment, then shrugged.
"Well, don't overthink it. We're going to prepare properly, qualify for the finals, and win."
"You sound very confident."
"Someone has to compensate for your personality."
Arin threw a napkin at him.
Kyle laughed.
And Arin quietly promised himself that when April 21 arrived, things would be different.
This time, he would speak.
This time, he would stand beside his best friend.
This time, he wouldn't let fear make the decision for him.