2

The answer was sitting at a corner table in a small café, sipping iced coffee through a straw.

Hikaru froze in the doorway, violet eyes wide as he took in the unmistakable sight before him. The sharp green eyes and familiar white hair were unchanged - but this time, Ren was a girl.

She noticed him immediately, her straw pausing mid-sip. A slow, knowing smile spread across her face. "Took you long enough," she said, like they'd only parted hours ago, not centuries.

Hikaru's voice caught in his throat.

"What?" Ren raised a brow, casually resting her chin on her hand. "I'm still the same guy. Not like I forgot anything. Including that time you showed up with your stupid entrance line-what was it again? 'Guess who doesn't look a day over 17?'"

"It was funny," he muttered, stepping forward.

She snorted. "I laughed out of pity."

As the shock wore off, Hikaru found himself staring. It wasn't that she looked completely different - it was that she looked almost the same. The same teasing smirk, the same confident presence that always pulled him in. And yet...

"You're a girl," he blurted, immediately wincing at how dumb it sounded.

"Wow," Ren deadpanned. "Observant as ever. Anything else you want to point out? Like how blue the sky is?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, his face heating up. "No, I just-this is... weird."

"For you? Imagine how I feel." She leaned forward, a playful glint in her eyes. "Though I gotta say, it's pretty fun seeing you flustered for once. You're usually all cool and broody."

"I'm not broody," he shot back defensively.

"You literally sat on a roof for three hours once because you were sad," she deadpanned.

"That was one time."

Ren's laugh was bright and familiar, cutting through the awkwardness like sunlight through clouds. For a fleeting moment, Hikaru let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, this life wouldn't be so different after all.

⭑｡𖦹°‧

Hikaru enrolled at the high school Ren attended. After all, he had nothing better to do in this never-ending existence, while she did. Ren had to act like this was her first and only life. Hikaru's job was simpler: stay unnoticed by any aged friends and not draw suspicion.

The classroom buzzed with chatter as students shuffled into their seats, sharing gossip or frantically scribbling down last-minute homework. The teacher's voice cut through the noise. "Settle down, everyone. We have a new transfer student joining us today."

The door slid open, and Hikaru stepped inside. His black hair was slightly tousled, violet eyes calm yet distant. He tugged at the unfamiliar collar of his uniform, visibly uncomfortable. It had been over a century since he'd worn one, and it showed.

"This is Kanzaki," the teacher introduced, gesturing toward him. "Please introduce yourself."

Hikaru stuffed his hands casually into his pockets. "Kanzaki Hikaru," he said plainly. "I hope we get along."

The room fell silent as curious glances darted his way. Hikaru's sharp gaze flicked over the faces of his new classmates, already assessing who to avoid. Near the window in the second row, Ren sat with her arms crossed, chin resting lazily on her hand. Her expression was unreadable, cool as ever.

The teacher clapped their hands. "Kanzaki, you'll be sitting by Miss Shirogane. Miss Shirogane, raise your hand."

Without a word, Ren lifted her hand halfway, her movements deliberate and unhurried.

Hikaru made his way to the empty desk beside her, pulling out the chair. As he sat down, Ren tilted her head toward him, a sly grin tugging at her lips. "So," she whispered, "how long are you planning to keep up the 'cool, brooding new guy' act?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," he murmured, leaning back in his chair, fighting the smile threatening to form.

She rolled her eyes. "Sure you don't."

The teacher launched into the day's lesson, but Ren kept glancing at Hikaru out of the corner of her eye, clearly amused. "Still hate uniforms, huh?" she muttered.

He stiffened but didn't respond.

"What, cat got your tongue? Or are you still recovering from the fact that I'm a girl this time?"

His jaw tightened. "Can you not?"

Her grin widened. "Relax, I'm kidding. Mostly. But I have to say, it's hilarious seeing you squirm for once."

Hikaru sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You haven't changed."

"And you have?" she teased. "Still the same dumb old man stuck in a teenager's body."

Before Hikaru could retort, the teacher's voice cut through the air. "Kanzaki, Shirogane, is there something you'd like to share with the class?"

"No, sir," they said in unison, Hikaru barely suppressing a laugh.

As the teacher returned to the lesson, Hikaru leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head. His voice dropped to a near whisper. "I like the hair, by the way."

Ren stiffened slightly but kept her gaze on the front.

"You're still the same irritating kid you were last time."