Okay.
So Ren is acting normal now.
Suspiciously normal.
And I don't trust it.
—
We're back at the pier.
Of course we are.
Some things never change.
Ren leans against the railing, but this time he's not glued to his phone. He's actually… looking at the ocean.
Like a regular person.
Disgusting.
—
"You've been weird lately," I say.
"I've always been weird."
"Different weird."
Mio nods slightly. "He's calmer."
Ren shrugs. "Is that a problem?"
"Yes," I say immediately.
He looks at me. "Why?"
"Because I don't know what caused it."
—
His phone buzzes.
He checks it.
Smiles again.
Yeah.
Still don't trust it.
—
"What did she say?" I ask.
He doesn't even hesitate this time.
Yuna: I tried that bakery you mentioned.
I blink.
"That's it?"
"That's enough," he says.
Mio smiles softly. "She remembered."
Ren nods.
"That matters."
—
Okay.
I get it.
I do.
But I'm still not convinced this is stable.
—
"What if she stops texting?" I ask.
Ren looks at me like I just insulted him.
"She won't."
"How do you know?"
He pauses.
Then answers simply—
"I just do."
—
…Yeah.
That confidence?
That's new.
—
Mio glances between us. "You're testing him."
"I'm preparing him," I correct.
"For what?"
"For reality."
Ren sighs. "You're exhausting."
"Thank you."
—
He types back quickly.
No hesitation.
Ren: Was it good?
A second later—
Yuna: Yeah. Not as good as home though.
Ren's expression softens.
There it is again.
That quiet thing.
Not dramatic.
Not intense.
Just… steady.
—
I lean against the railing beside him.
"You still miss her."
"Yeah."
No denial.
No hesitation.
Just truth.
—
"But you're not freaking out anymore," I add.
He shrugs. "There's no point."
Mio speaks gently. "You've accepted it."
Ren shakes his head. "Not accepted."
"Then what?"
He looks out at the horizon.
"Working with it."
—
…Okay.
That's actually a good answer.
I hate that.
—
The wind picks up slightly, pushing against us.
The ocean moves in slow, steady waves.
Nothing dramatic.
Just consistent.
—
His phone buzzes again.
Yuna: Next time, I'll save you something.
Ren smiles faintly.
"See?" he says.
I roll my eyes. "Don't get cocky."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Mio laughs quietly.
—
Summertimes are coming.
And things are… stabilizing.
Which sounds good.
Feels good.
Probably is good.
—
But I'm still watching.
Because if I've learned anything—
It'st calm moments?
They don't always stay calm.
—
And when things shift again—
Yeah.
I'll be the first one to notice.