The Sound of Thunder

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The festival arrived with perfect weather—clear skies, gentle breeze, and the kind of autumn warmth that made everything feel possible.
Airi arrived at school early, her heart already racing. The campus had transformed overnight. Colorful banners hung between buildings, food stalls lined the courtyard, and excited chatter filled the air. Students in various costumes rushed around making last-minute preparations.
Their class's haunted house occupied a blocked-off section of the second floor. As Airi approached, she could hear hammering and excited voices from inside.
"Sato-san! Thank goodness!" Miki appeared in the doorway, looking frazzled. "We need help with the final props placement. And Kurosawa hasn't shown up yet—"
"I'm here, I'm here!" Ren's voice called out. He jogged up the stairs, slightly out of breath, carrying a large box. When his eyes landed on Airi, his entire face lit up. "Morning."
"Morning," she replied, suddenly shy. After yesterday's hand-holding and confessions, everything felt different. Charged.
Miki looked between them suspiciously. "Did I miss something?"
"Nope," Ren said quickly. "Nothing at all. Just two totally normal people being totally normal."
"Extremely normal," Airi added.
"You're both terrible liars." Miki shook her head but smiled. "Whatever. Come on, we have two hours before opening."
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## 🎪 The Preparation
The haunted house was impressive. Dark corridors wound through several connected classrooms, each section designed to terrify in different ways. There were creepy dolls, fake blood splattered walls, hanging sheets that would brush against visitors, and carefully placed speakers playing eerie sounds.
Airi spent the morning adjusting lighting and testing scare mechanisms while Ren rehearsed with the other actors. But every time she looked up, she'd catch him watching her. And every time their eyes met, he'd smile—soft and private, meant just for her.
"You're staring," Yuki whispered, appearing beside Airi with a knowing grin.
Airi jumped. "I'm not—"
"You totally are. And he's staring back." Yuki adjusted one of the hanging dolls. "So when did this happen?"
"When did what happen?"
"Oh please. The tension between you two could power the entire school." Yuki lowered her voice. "Are you guys dating?"
"We're..." Airi struggled for words. "We're figuring it out."
"That's adorable." Yuki squeezed her shoulder. "Just so you know, everyone's been shipping you two since he came back. You're like, the school's favorite will-they-won't-they."
"That's mortifying."
"That's high school." Yuki winked. "Now go test the haunted house with him. You know, for quality control."
"I already tested—"
"With him, Sato-san. While he's in character. See how scary he can be." Yuki's grin turned mischievous. "Unless you're chicken?"
Why did everyone keep calling her chicken?
---
## 👻 The Test Run
Fifteen minutes before opening, Ren cornered her by the entrance.
"So," he said, "ready for that test run?"
Airi crossed her arms. "Everyone's conspiring to make me do this."
"Because everyone wants to see if the perfect Airi Sato can be scared." He leaned closer, voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. "I promise I'll be gentle. Mostly."
"You're enjoying this too much."
"Absolutely." He gestured to the darkened entrance. "After you. Unless you're scared?"
Pride was a dangerous thing. Airi lifted her chin. "Fine. But if you make me scream, I'm never forgiving you."
"Challenge accepted."
The haunted house entrance was pitch black. Airi stepped inside, immediately enveloped by darkness and eerie music. She could hear distant chains rattling, whispers echoing off walls, the occasional scream from the setup crew testing effects.
She moved forward slowly, hands outstretched. The narrow corridor forced her to walk carefully. Something brushed against her face—hanging fabric—and she flinched despite knowing it was fake.
Then she heard it. Footsteps behind her. Slow, deliberate.
"Ren?" she called. "I know that's you."
No response. Just those steady footsteps getting closer.
She walked faster. The footsteps matched her pace.
A door appeared on her right, slightly ajar. She pushed through into another room—this one with dim red lighting and creepy dolls lining the shelves. Their painted eyes seemed to follow her movement.
The footsteps stopped.
Silence.
Airi's heart hammered. This was ridiculous. She knew it was fake. Knew Ren was just messing with her. But in the dark, surrounded by horror props, her rational mind struggled against instinctive fear.
She turned around.
Nothing there.
She let out a relieved breath—
—and something grabbed her shoulders from behind.
Airi screamed. Actually screamed. She spun around to find Ren, laughing so hard he could barely stand.
"Your face!" he gasped between laughs. "Oh my god, your face!"
"You—you—" Airi smacked his arm, torn between anger and embarrassment. "You jerk!"
"You screamed! The unflappable Airi Sato actually screamed!" He was still laughing, eyes bright with delight.
"I hate you."
"No you don't." He caught his breath, grin softening into something gentler. "I'm sorry. That was too easy."
"Too easy?" Her heart was still racing. "I thought I was going to die!"
"But you didn't. You're right here. Safe." He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear—the same gesture from the other night, but more deliberate. "I've got you."
The touch, the words, the way he looked at her in the dim red lighting—Airi's anger melted away, replaced by something warmer.
"You're still a jerk," she said, but there was no heat in it.
"A jerk you like."
"Unfortunately."
They stood there in the fake horror scene, grinning at each other like idiots. Then Ren's expression shifted, became more serious.
"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"
"After the festival... would you want to, maybe, go somewhere? Just us?"
Airi's breath caught. "Like a date?"
"Yeah. Like a date." He looked almost nervous. "I know we said we're figuring things out, but I'd really like to take you somewhere nice. Do this properly."
Her heart felt like it might burst. "I'd like that."
His smile was radiant. "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Great. Amazing." He ran a hand through his hair, suddenly looking bashful. "I've never actually asked anyone on a date before."
"Me neither."
"Then we'll be disasters together."
"That sounds about right."
The moment stretched between them, soft and perfect. Ren stepped closer, close enough that Airi could see the flecks of gold in his eyes.
"Oi! Kurosawa!" Someone called from the entrance. "We're opening in five minutes! Get in position!"
The spell broke. Ren stepped back, but his hand briefly squeezed hers.
"To be continued?" he said.
"To be continued."
---
## 🎢 The Festival Begins
The haunted house was a massive success. Groups of students screamed their way through the corridors while Ren and the other actors gave their best performances. Airi worked the entrance, managing the flow of visitors and basking in the sounds of genuine terror from inside.
During a lull, Miki appeared with two candy apples.
"Peace offering," she said, handing one to Airi. "For making you test run the haunted house."
"You enjoyed that too much."
"Everyone enjoyed it too much." Miki bit into her apple. "So. Kurosawa asked you out, didn't he?"
Airi nearly choked. "How did you—"
"You both came out of there looking like you'd won the lottery. And you've been smiling at your phone every time it buzzes." Miki bumped her shoulder. "I'm happy for you. He's a good guy. Rough around the edges, but good."
"You think so?"
"I know so. The way he looks at you? Like you're the only person in the world?" Miki sighed dramatically. "That's the kind of thing girls dream about."
Before Airi could respond, a commotion erupted near the school gates. Raised voices, angry shouts. Several students were running toward the sound.
"What's going on?" Miki asked.
Airi's stomach dropped. Because somehow, she knew. Even before they saw it.
Ren was going to be involved.
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## ⚡ The Storm Breaks
They found a crowd gathered in the courtyard. At the center, Ren stood facing three older boys—definitely not from their school based on their uniforms. His posture was tense, hands clenched at his sides.
"—thinking you could just come back like nothing happened?" one of the boys was saying. He was tall, with a scar across his eyebrow. "You broke my brother's nose, Kurosawa."
"Your brother was beating up a first-year," Ren replied, voice dangerously calm. "I'd do it again."
"Tough guy now?" Another boy stepped forward. "Let's see if you can back that up."
Airi pushed through the crowd, Miki right behind her. Teachers were coming, but they weren't here yet.
"Ren," Airi called.
He turned, and his expression shifted from anger to concern the moment he saw her. "Airi. Stay back."
"Yeah, stay back, girlfriend," the scarred boy sneered. "This is between us and the hero here."
"There's no 'this,'" a new voice said. Ms. Ito appeared, along with two other teachers. "You three aren't students here. Leave now, or I'm calling the police."
The boys hesitated, clearly wanting to continue but aware they'd crossed a line by coming to the school. The scarred one pointed at Ren.
"This isn't over, Kurosawa."
"It never is with you guys," Ren replied tiredly.
The boys left, shooting threatening glances over their shoulders. The crowd began to disperse, whispers spreading like wildfire. Ms. Ito turned to Ren with a concerned expression.
"My office. Now."
"Sensei, I didn't—"
"I know. But we need to talk about this." She glanced at Airi. "You too, Sato-san. You seem to know what's going on."
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## 🏫 The Full Story
In Ms. Ito's office, Ren sat slumped in a chair while Airi perched on the edge of another. The teacher looked between them with a mixture of concern and resignation.
"Explain," she said simply.
Ren sighed. "Last spring, I saw some third-years bullying a first-year kid. Really brutal stuff—they'd cornered him in the bathroom, were taking his money, roughing him up. I intervened."
"By fighting them," Ms. Ito said.
"By stopping them. Yeah, it got physical. Things escalated." He rubbed his face. "One of them was Daichi Tanaka. Those guys' ring leader. I hit him hard enough that he needed medical attention. Got suspended for it. Deserved it, probably."
"And now they're coming to the school?" Ms. Ito's voice was sharp.
"They go to Kitanaka High. Guess they heard I was back and decided to... I don't know. Settle the score?" Ren looked miserable. "I'm sorry, Sensei. I didn't want to bring trouble to the festival."
"You didn't bring trouble. They did." Ms. Ito turned to Airi. "And you? How involved are you?"
Airi straightened. "I'm—we're—"
"She's my friend," Ren said quickly. "That's all. She just happened to be there."
But Ms. Ito's knowing look suggested she understood it was more than that. She sighed.
"Kurosawa, your heart was in the right place. Standing up for someone weaker is admirable. But your methods—" She shook her head. "Violence isn't the answer. You know that."
"I know."
"Do you? Because what happens next time someone needs help? Will you fight again?"
Ren was quiet for a long moment. Then, quietly: "If it's the only way to protect someone? Yeah. I probably will."
Ms. Ito looked like she'd expected that answer but hoped for a different one. "I'm going to report this incident. Those boys will be banned from school grounds. And Kurosawa? If anything like this happens again—"
"I understand."
"I hope so." She dismissed them with a wave. "Go. Enjoy the rest of the festival. But Kurosawa? Stay out of trouble."
"Yes, Sensei."
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## 🌅 The Rooftop (Again)
After Ms. Ito dismissed them, Airi expected Ren to return to the haunted house. Instead, he headed for the stairs leading to the roof.
"Ren, wait—"
"I just need a minute," he said without turning around.
She followed him up. The rooftop—their rooftop—was empty, the sounds of the festival muffled by distance. Ren walked to the fence and gripped it, shoulders tense.
"I ruined the festival," he said quietly.
"You didn't. Those boys did."
"They came because of me. Because of what I did." He laughed bitterly. "I thought I could come back and just... start fresh. Be better. But my past keeps following me."
Airi moved to stand beside him. "You protected someone who needed help."
"I lost control. Hurt people." He turned to her, and she saw the pain in his eyes. "What if I'm just... violent? What if that's who I really am?"
"That's not who you are." She said it with such certainty that he blinked. "You're someone who feels deeply. Who can't stand injustice. Sometimes that passion gets messy, but that doesn't make you violent. It makes you human."
"Airi—"
"You feed stray cats. You make origami cranes during class. You asked if I was okay when I was locked in a closet before you thought about yourself." She grabbed his hand. "Those boys might see you as a threat, but I see you. The real you. And he's good."
Ren stared at their joined hands, then at her face. His eyes were suspiciously bright.
"How do you do that?" he asked roughly.

"Do what?"
"Make me feel like maybe I'm not broken."
"You're not broken." She squeezed his hand. "You're just... thunder. Loud and intense and sometimes scary. But thunder is just sound. Energy. It's not good or bad. It just is."
"Thunder," he repeated, then smiled slightly. "I like that."
They stood there, hands clasped, looking out over the festival below. Airi could see students laughing, playing games, eating food. Life continuing despite the drama.
"I'm scared," Ren admitted. "That I'll hurt people I care about. That my anger will hurt you."
"Then don't push me away." She looked at him. "Let me be there. Let me help you channel that energy into something good. That's what you've done for me—helped me feel again. Let me help you control what you feel."
"We're a mess, aren't we?"
"Completely."
"But maybe..." He turned to face her fully, bringing his other hand up to cup her cheek. "Maybe we're a mess that fits together?"
Airi's breath caught. His thumb brushed across her cheekbone, gentle despite the calluses.
"Yeah," she whispered. "Maybe we are."
They were so close now. Close enough that she could count his eyelashes. Could see the way his pupils dilated. Could feel his breath against her lips.
"Airi," he breathed. "Can I—"
"HEY! KUROSAWA!" Someone shouted from below. "YOUR SHIFT STARTS IN TWO MINUTES!"
They sprang apart like they'd been electrocuted. Ren groaned.
"Worst timing ever," he muttered.
Airi laughed, breathless and dizzy. "We should go back."
"Yeah." But he didn't move, just looked at her with such open affection it made her heart ache. "After the festival. Our date. I'm still taking you."
"I'm still going."
"Good." He grinned—that beautiful, genuine smile she loved. "Because I have plans. Really good plans."
"Oh? What kind of plans?"
"You'll see." He took her hand as they headed back down. "But I promise. No haunted houses. No drama. Just... us."
"Just us," she repeated, and it sounded perfect.
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## 🌙 Festival's End
The festival continued until evening. By the time they closed the haunted house, everyone was exhausted but happy. Their class had raised the most money, and the haunted house was declared the best attraction.
As students cleaned up, Ren found Airi organizing props.
"Hey," he said. "Want to see something?"
"What?"
"The festival. Like, actually see it. We've been working all day." He held out his hand. "Come on. Just for a little bit."
She should help with cleanup. Should be responsible.
Instead, she took his hand.
They wandered through the festival grounds as the sun set, painting everything gold and orange. Ren bought them takoyaki from a food stall. They played a shooting game where Ren won her a small stuffed cat that looked suspiciously like Miso. They stopped at a quieter corner where someone had set up a small stage, and a student band was playing soft acoustic music.
"Thank you," Airi said as they sat on a bench, the stuffed cat between them.
"For what?"
"For making this fun. For being here. For..." She gestured vaguely. "Everything."
"Thank you for seeing past all my mess." He bumped her shoulder. "And for agreeing to go on a date with a delinquent."
"Reformed delinquent."
"Reforming delinquent," he corrected. "Still a work in progress."
"Aren't we all?"
The band started playing a gentle love song. Around them, a few couples had started slow dancing. Ren stood and held out his hand.
"Dance with me?"
"I don't know how."
"Neither do I. We'll figure it out together."
She took his hand, and he pulled her up. They swayed more than danced, clumsy and uncertain, but it didn't matter. What mattered was the way he looked at her, like she was something precious. The way her heart felt too big for her chest. The way everything else faded until it was just them, moving to music under the darkening sky.
"Airi," he said softly.
"Mm?"
"I'm really glad Ms. Ito made you tutor me."
She smiled against his shoulder. "Me too."
As the song ended and the festival lights twinkled on around them, Airi realized something: she'd spent so long being afraid of feeling too much. But with Ren, she wasn't afraid anymore.
She was just... happy.
Completely, impossibly, wonderfully happy.
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## 🌸 End of Chapter 5
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