Things are steady now.
Which is weird.
I spent so long waiting for everything to collapse that I don't fully know what to do with peace.
—
Not that I'd admit that out loud.
Obviously.
—
We're at the convenience store today because Ren said he was "tired of the pier."
Character growth.
Beautiful.
—
Mio's choosing snacks.
I'm judging everyone silently.
And Ren?
He's staring at a freezer while texting Yuna.
Multitasking king.
—
"What's happening now?" I ask.
"She failed a quiz."
I blink.
"That's the emergency?"
"She's upset about it."
"Oh."
Okay.
That's actually understandable.
—
Ren leans against the freezer door, typing slowly.
Not panicking.
Not overthinking.
Just present.
Still weird to witness.
—
"What are you saying?" Mio asks.
He turns the screen slightly.
—
Ren: One bad quiz doesn't erase everything else.
—
Mio smiles softly.
I nod once.
Solid response.
No notes.
—
His phone buzzes again.
—
Yuna: Easy for you to say.
—
He smirks a little.
That expression again.
The softer one.
—
Ren: True. I'm naturally amazing.
—
I stare at him.
"Wow. Confidence."
"She'll laugh," he says.
"She better."
—
A second later—
—
Yuna: Delusional.
—
He laughs quietly.
See?
He knew.
—
Mio grabs a drink from the shelf. "You understand each other better now."
Ren shrugs. "Maybe."
"No," I say immediately. "Definitely."
—
Because before?
Everything felt fragile.
Every delayed reply became a crisis.
Every small change felt dangerous.
But now?
They're actually talking.
Like real people.
Insane concept.
—
We head outside.
The evening air is warm, carrying that soft summer feeling that makes everything seem slower.
—
Ren checks his phone again.
Not anxiously.
Just naturally.
—
"You know what I hate?" I say.
"What?" he replies.
"I was right."
He sighs instantly. "About what?"
"Honesty."
Mio laughs quietly.
I point dramatically at him.
"The moment you stopped hiding everything, your life improved."
"That's not how life works."
"That's exactly how this worked."
—
Ren shakes his head, but he's smiling slightly now.
Small.
Real.
—
His phone buzzes one more time.
—
Yuna: Thanks… seriously.
—
He reads it carefully.
Then types.
—
Ren: Always.
—
No hesitation.
No fear.
Just honest.
—
And yeah…
I notice the difference.
—
Summertimes are coming.
And somewhere along the way—
The distance stopped feeling like the enemy.
—
Now?
It's just part of the story.
And honestly—
That's a lot less scary than before.