Chapter XXXV: Calm Comfort
The classroom hums with a familiar kind of laziness that only appears when teachers are late and the air is heavy with unfinished homework. Chairs scrape softly against the tiled floor as students settle into loose clusters, voices overlapping in low, conspiratorial tones. Sunlight slants through the windows, catching dust in midair, turning it into something almost peaceful.
Haruto leans back on his chair, one foot hooked around the metal leg of his desk. Hageshi rolls his chair closer, phone already in hand, screen glowing with paused videos. Ryujin shifts his desk just enough to close the circle, his elbows resting on the wooden surface as he peers down at the screen.
Hageshi: "Okay, okay, wait—this one's good. I swear."
He taps the screen.
A distorted sound effect blasts out—an exaggerated scream followed by a bass-boosted explosion. Haruto snorts immediately, clapping a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing too loudly.
Haruto: "Bro, why is it always funnier when it's louder?"
Ryujin laughs, shoulders shaking as he leans closer.
Ryujin: "Because volume equals comedy. That's science."
Inoshiro drags his chair over, joining them without invitation. He crouches slightly to see the screen better, one eyebrow already raised in anticipation.
Inoshiro: "Wazzup my dudes! What am I missing?"
Hageshi swipes to the next meme—a badly edited clip with off-sync subtitles and a dramatic zoom.
Inoshiro bursts out laughing.
Inoshiro: "Why does this even exist? Damn, they're so good."
Haruto: "Because humanity peaked and then decided to make memes instead."
They cycle through videos—vine compilations, cursed images, soundboard-triggered chaos. Ryujin pulls out his phone, fingers flying across the screen.
Ryujin: "Wait. I downloaded something."
Hageshi narrows his eyes.
Hageshi: "Oh no. Is it what I think it is?"
Ryujin grins.
Ryujin: "You betcha, my Scorpio friend. The one you recommended and suggested, the Meme Soundboard App."
He taps a button.
A robotic voice booms from his phone.
Soundboard: "BRUH."
Inoshiro loses it, slamming his hand against the desk.
Inoshiro: "No way—do it again."
Ryujin presses another.
Soundboard: "WHY ARE YOU GAY?"
Haruto nearly falls off his chair.
Haruto: "Stop, stop—someone's gonna hear."
Hageshi laughs so hard he has to grab the edge of the desk.
Hageshi: "Do the PewDiePie one."
Ryujin scrolls.
Ryujin: "Say no more."
Soundboard: "SUBSCRIBE TO PEWDIEPIE. BROFIST!"
The mention alone shifts the conversation instantly, like a switch being flipped.
Inoshiro: "Okay but real talk—PewDiePie versus T-Series."
Haruto straightens.
Haruto: "Pewds, obviously."
Hageshi: "Bro, it's not even close."
Ryujin shrugs, still smiling.
Ryujin: "I don't know, man. The numbers are scary."
Inoshiro: "Nah. It's not about numbers. It's about culture. Let the 9-year old army rise!"
They talk over each other, half-joking, half-serious, debating subscriber counts, diss tracks, internet loyalty. Laughter punctuates every sentence. The soundboard keeps interrupting at the worst possible moments, making the argument dissolve into chaos again.
Behind them, Miran lies slumped over her desk, face turned toward the window, eyes closed. Her breathing is slow, even. She looks asleep.
But when Ryujin presses another sound—
Soundboard: "IT'S EVERYDAY BRO. IT'S WEDNESDAY MY DUDES. OOOOOOOOOA!"
Miran's eyebrow twitches.
She doesn't move.
She listens.
The house feels quieter than usual when Ryujin steps inside later that day. His shoes rest neatly by the door as he walks in, school bag still slung over one shoulder.
Ryujin: "Mom, I'm home."
No response.
He heads toward his room, already thinking about homework, when his mother's voice cuts through the hallway.
Mother: "Ryu."
He stops.
There's something sharp in her tone.
Ryujin turns.
Ryujin: "Yeah?"
She stands in the kitchen, arms crossed, expression tight.
Mother: "Sit."
Confusion prickles at the back of his neck.
Ryujin sits.
Mother: "Do you think it's acceptable to speak like that?"
Ryujin blinks.
Ryujin: "Speak like... what?"
Her eyes narrow.
Mother: "Don't you pretend, Mister!"
His chest tightens.
Ryujin: "Mom, I seriously don't know what you're talking about."
She exhales sharply.
Mother: "Marielle told me you've been using foul language. Constantly."
Ryujin's head tilts.
Ryujin: "Aunt Marielle?"
Mother: "And Miran confirmed it."
The words hit him harder than he expects.
Ryujin: "Miran?"
Mother: "She said she hears you all the time."
Ryujin's mouth opens, then closes.
Ryujin: "That's not— I didn't—"
Mother: "Enough is enough."
Her disappointment feels heavier than anger.
Mother: "We didn't raise you like that."
His father appears in the doorway, silent, disappointed.
Ryujin feels something sink inside his chest.
Ryujin: "I swear... I didn't say anything bad."
No one answers.
The conversation ends there.
Night settles quietly over his room. Ryujin sits on his bed, phone glowing faintly in his hands. Messages blur past unread.
Then one name stops him.
Saki:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9D4vortZm
Hey. You've been quiet today. What's up?
His fingers hover over the screen. Then he types.
Ryujin:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyaOSAvZJQ
Got in trouble for something I didn't do.
The typing bubble appears almost instantly.
Saki:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuWRTmtS0O
What happened?
He exhales and tells her everything. The memes. The soundboard. The accusation. The look on his parents' faces. The response takes a moment.
Saki:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6fskkw4KR
That sucks. Misunderstandings hurt more than actual mistakes.
He stares at the words.
Ryujin:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc4iB57JPn
Yeah. I feel stupid even explaining myself.
Saki:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV99WAGLdW
You're not stupid. You're just human.
Another pause.
Saki:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvH8A55oWx
Want to hang out on Friday? After school.
Ryujin's heart jumps.
Ryujin:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlD6knRxRj
Do I need a disguise?
A laughing emoji appears.
Saki:7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxMLMNC60E
No. Just you.
Friday afternoon hums with life, and apparently, there's no class.
Water dances in the air at the fountain plaza, jets rising and falling in rhythmic patterns. Ryujin climbs the stone steps slowly, scanning the bleachers.
Then he sees her.
Saki sits on the third level, dressed in white, school uniform skirt neat, posture relaxed. Sunlight catches her hair, framing her face softly.
Their eyes meet.
She smiles.
She stands.
Saki: "You took your time."
Ryujin rubs the back of his neck.
Ryujin: "Got distracted."
She laughs lightly.
Saki: "Let's go. Bookstore."
The bookstore smells like paper and quiet thoughts. They wander between shelves, fingers tracing spines, occasionally reading aloud passages they find interesting.
Upstairs, they linger near school supplies.
Saki tilts her head.
Saki: "Hey... if I have a crush on you—do you have one on me too?"
Ryujin freezes. His face burns.
Ryujin: "I—I... um..."
She watches him, amused.
Ryujin: "...yeah. I do."
Later, she holds an envelope, glancing sideways.
Saki: "Well... do you like me?"
He stutters.
Then she steps forward and hugs him.
His arms move instinctively.
Ryujin: "I love you."
She smiles.
Outside, she kisses his cheek instead.
Saki: "See ya."
Ryujin stands there, stunned, smiling.
The misunderstanding fades.
Something brighter takes its place.
ns216.73.216.69da2
and then Add to home screen.