Chapter 8: Same Sky, Different Floors
"Ryugenn."
Her voice stopped him.
Not loud.
Not urgent.
Just… clear.
Like something that naturally reached him.
Ryugenn paused mid-step.
For a brief moment, he considered pretending he hadn't heard it.
Then—
He turned.
Slowly.
Naomi stood a few steps behind him, silver hair catching the last light of the evening sky. Her eyes were fixed on him—not intense, not demanding… just quietly waiting.
Ryugenn blinked once.
Then spoke, as if surprised.
"Oh… Naomi."
A small pause.
"What are you doing here?"
Naomi tilted her head slightly.
"That's what I was about to ask you," she said. "It looks like you're waiting for someone."
Ryugenn shifted his gaze for a moment, then back at her.
"It's not like that," he replied calmly. "I was just heading home. I stopped here for a bit."
Naomi studied him for a second.
As if trying to read something beyond his words.
Then she nodded lightly.
"I see."
A soft breeze passed between them, carrying the faint scent of the sea.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Naomi broke the silence.
"Anyway… I was on my way to my room," she said. "And then I saw you."
She hesitated slightly.
"And I remembered something."
Ryugenn waited.
"You helped me yesterday," she continued. "But at that time… I couldn't say it properly."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
"So I thought… I should say it now."
She looked directly at him.
"Thank you, Ryugenn."
The words were simple.
But they carried weight.
"Because of you… I was saved from a big problem."
Ryugenn's expression didn't change much.
"There's nothing special about it," he said. "It was just normal help."
He paused.
"One person is taught to help another since childhood."
Naomi shook her head gently.
"No, Ryugenn."
Her voice was softer now.
"You're right. That's how it should be."
A brief silence.
"But that's not how it is anymore."
Ryugenn didn't interrupt.
"When I was sitting there," she continued quietly, "many people saw me."
Her eyes lowered slightly.
"They looked… and then walked away."
A small pause.
"But you came."
The words hung in the air.
Ryugenn listened without reacting.
Then, after a moment, he spoke.
"You know…"
Naomi looked up.
"You're the first person who has praised me for something so simple."
Her expression shifted slightly.
Surprised.
Ryugenn adjusted his bag.
"Anyway," he added, "I'll leave now."
He glanced toward the path ahead.
"You should go too. It'll get late."
He turned.
And started walking.
"Wait."
Naomi's voice stopped him again.
He turned slightly.
"Is your house… this way?"
Ryugenn nodded.
"Yeah. I live on rent. Sakura Heights."
Naomi froze for a second.
"…Sakura Heights?"
There was clear surprise in her voice now.
Ryugenn noticed.
"…Yeah."
Naomi blinked.
"That's… strange."
"What?"
"I live there too."
Ryugenn's brows lifted slightly.
"Since when?"
Naomi shifted her gaze.
"I shifted there three days ago."
A small pause.
"That's why you haven't seen me."
She looked back at him.
"I've been in Aozora since the beginning of college… but I changed places recently."
Ryugenn processed that.
"…I see."
Naomi smiled faintly.
"Let's go together?"
There was no hesitation in her voice.
Just a quiet suggestion.
Ryugenn nodded.
"Sure."
And just like that—
They started walking.
The road ahead was calm.
Streetlights flickered on one by one.
The sky deepened into shades of blue and violet.
Naomi walked beside him.
And spoke.
A lot.
"…and then hina was trying to explain something today in class, but she looked more confused than the person she was helping," she said lightly.
Ryugenn listened.
"…I think Professor Charles enjoys making students suffer just a little," she added.
A small pause.
"…and the cafeteria food today was slightly better than yesterday. Slightly."
Ryugenn gave a quiet response.
"Hmm."
Naomi glanced at him.
"…Do you always talk this little?"
Ryugenn looked ahead.
"…Depends."
"On what?"
"…Whether there's something to say."
Naomi blinked.
Then smiled.
"That's a very Ryugenn answer."
He didn't respond.
But there was no discomfort in the silence.
Naomi kept talking.
About classes.
About small things.
About nothing in particular.
And Ryugenn—
Just listened.
Calm.
Quiet.
But present.
At some point, Naomi's voice slowed.
Not because she ran out of things to say.
But because she realized something.
She glanced at him.
He wasn't interrupting.
Wasn't judging.
Wasn't trying to lead the conversation.
He was simply…
There.
Listening.
And for some reason—
That felt… comfortable.
Her steps matched his.
Without thinking.
Sakura Heights came into view.
The building stood quietly under the evening sky, its windows glowing softly with warm light.
They reached the entrance.
Naomi looked up.
"…So we really live in the same place."
Ryugenn nodded.
"Seems like it."
They entered together.
The lobby was quiet.
The faint hum of the vending machine filled the space.
They walked toward the elevator.
"Which floor?" Naomi asked.
"Fourth."
Naomi pressed the button.
"Second."
The elevator arrived with a soft chime.
They stepped in.
Silence.
But not awkward.
Just…
Still.
The doors opened on the second floor.
Naomi stepped out.
Then turned slightly.
"…Good night, Ryugenn."
He nodded.
"Yeah. Good night."
The doors closed.
The elevator moved again.
Fourth floor.
Room 404.
The familiar click of the door.
The quiet room.
Ryugenn stepped inside.
Set his bag down.
And sat on the bed.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then—
"…Naomi."
He said her name quietly.
Not questioning.
Not thinking deeply.
Just…
Acknowledging.
Then he leaned back.
Eyes closing for a brief second.
The day had been… normal.
And yet—
Something had shifted.
Slightly.
Days passed.
Calm.
Routine.
Ryugenn went to college.
Attended classes.
Came back.
Worked.
Nothing unusual.
No strange notes.
No unexpected events.
Everything felt…
Normal.
One evening—
Ryugenn sat at his desk.
Laptop open.
Code running across the screen.
A personal project.
Something he had been building quietly over the past few weeks.
The soft glow of the screen reflected in his eyes.
Lines of logic.
Functions.
Structure.
Everything in its place.
Everything under control.
He typed steadily.
Focused.
Until—
Knock.
The sound was soft.
But clear.
Ryugenn paused.
Brows slightly furrowed.
Another knock.
He stood up.
Walked to the door.
Opened it.
And froze.
Naomi stood there.
But not like before.
Her expression was different.
Tense.
Her breathing slightly uneven.
Her eyes—
Unsettled.
"Naomi?"
She looked at him.
And spoke.
"Ryugenn… can you—"
To be continue...
(End of Chapter 8)