For a while, none of them spoke.
The road stretched ahead in a quiet line, lit by the soft gold of the late afternoon. Students passed by in small groups, their voices fading in and out as they went different ways.
Caelum walked in the middle.
Amoriel on his right.
Lyra on his left.
It felt… crowded.
Not physically.
Just enough to make every step a little more noticeable.
He exhaled quietly.
"…I'm thirsty."
Lyra glanced at him.
"You always say that after school."
"Because I always am."
Amoriel looked between them.
"Hydration appears to be a recurring necessity."
"…Yeah," Caelum muttered. "Something like that."
He slowed his steps slightly and pointed ahead.
"There's a store up there. We'll stop for a bit."
Neither of them objected.
—
A small convenience store stood at the corner of the street.
The glass doors slid open with a soft sound as they stepped inside.
Cool air greeted them immediately.
The shift in temperature made Caelum relax without realizing it.
"Alright," he said, stretching his arms slightly. "Grab whatever you want."
Amoriel didn't move right away.
She stood near the entrance, looking around.
Shelves lined neatly.
Bright packaging.
Rows of drinks in glass-door refrigerators humming softly.
"This place is… organized," she said.
"It's a store."
"I can see that."
Lyra walked past them without comment, heading straight toward the drinks section like she already knew what she wanted.
Caelum followed.
Amoriel came last, her attention moving from one item to another like everything demanded equal importance.
She stopped in front of the refrigerator.
Rows of bottled and canned drinks reflected faintly in the glass.
Her eyes moved slowly across them.
"…There are many options."
"Yeah."
"How do humans choose?"
Caelum shrugged.
"Habit. Taste. Random mood."
"That seems inconsistent."
"It is."
She reached for the handle and opened the door, a soft rush of cold air escaping.
Her gaze focused on a brightly colored bottle.
"Melon soda."
Caelum already knew what was coming.
"…Don't ask."
She looked at him.
"Why is it flavored after a fruit but carbonated like this?"
"Because people like it."
"That is not a sufficient explanation."
"It's the only one you're getting."
She considered that, then carefully picked up the bottle, examining the label like it contained something important.
Meanwhile, Lyra had already grabbed a drink.
Simple.
Cold.
No hesitation.
She stood beside them, watching quietly.
Not the drinks.
Not the shelves.
Just… them.
Amoriel turned slightly.
"Which one do you usually choose?"
Caelum reached in and pulled out a random can.
"This."
She looked at it.
Then at her own bottle.
"Then I will take the same category."
"That's not how it works."
"It is for consistency."
"…Sure."
Lyra finally spoke.
"You don't have to copy him."
Amoriel looked at her.
"I am learning."
"That doesn't mean—"
Lyra stopped herself.
A small breath left her.
"…Never mind."
Caelum closed the fridge door.
"Let's just pay and get out of here."
They walked to the counter.
The cashier barely looked up at first.
Then did a double take.
His gaze moved from Caelum…
To Amoriel…
Then to Lyra.
There was a pause.
A very brief one.
"…That'll be three," he said.
Caelum paid quickly.
Too quickly.
He grabbed the bag and turned before anything else could happen.
"Let's go."
—
Outside again, the warm air returned.
It felt heavier after the cool inside.
They stepped aside near the storefront.
Caelum handed them their drinks.
Lyra took hers immediately.
"Thanks."
Amoriel accepted hers with both hands, studying it again before opening it carefully.
A soft hiss escaped.
She took a small sip.
Then paused.
"…This is unusual."
"Good or bad?"
"I am still deciding."
Caelum opened his own can and took a long drink.
Lyra watched him for a second.
Then looked away.
Amoriel glanced between them.
Then, without warning, she leaned slightly closer.
Before Caelum could react—
She took his can.
And drank from it.
There was a brief silence.
Very brief.
Then—
"…Hey."
Caelum stared at her.
"That's mine."
"I am comparing."
"Compare your own."
"This provides more accurate results."
Lyra's hand tightened slightly around her bottle.
"…You can't just do that."
Amoriel looked at her.
"Why not?"
Lyra frowned.
"Because it's his."
"That is known."
"Then don't drink from it without asking."
Amoriel tilted her head.
"But earlier, sharing increased emotional response."
Caelum closed his eyes.
"…We are not doing this again."
Lyra looked at him.
"You're just letting her?"
"I'm trying to survive."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Amoriel handed the can back.
"Thank you."
"I didn't agree to that."
She ignored that.
"This method is effective."
Lyra muttered under her breath,
"…Unbelievable."
Caelum took another sip anyway.
At this point, it didn't even matter.
They stood there for a moment.
Drinks in hand.
No one speaking.
Then Lyra broke the silence.
"…You two got close fast."
Caelum almost choked.
"We did not."
Amoriel answered at the same time,
"Yes."
He turned to her.
"Stop helping."
"I am being honest."
"That's the problem."
Lyra looked between them again.
Her expression didn't change much.
But something in her eyes did.
"…Right."
She took a sip from her drink.
Longer than necessary.
Then lowered it slowly.
"Well… just don't do anything weird on the street."
Caelum sighed.
"No promises."
Amoriel nodded.
"I will attempt restraint."
"That's not reassuring," Caelum said.
They started walking again.
This time, a little closer than before.
Not by much.
Just enough to notice.
The sun dipped lower, stretching their shadows along the road.
Conversation didn't come easily.
But it didn't need to.
Not yet.
Because even in the quiet—
Something had already started to change.
And none of them knew exactly what to call it.