Chapter 6: A Familiar Face

Morning arrived with clear blue skies.
The city looked brighter than usual.
Not a single cloud lingered above the skyline.
...
Apartment 407.
Reina adjusted the strap of her bag.
She opened the door.
At the exact same moment...
Apartment 408 opened.
Shadow stepped into the hallway.
"...Morning."
"Morning."
Reina looked him up and down.
"You look exactly the same as yesterday."
"I changed my shirt."
"You own more than one?"
"...Yes."
"Hm."
She nodded dramatically.
"Character development."
Shadow wasn't sure what that meant.
...
The elevator doors opened.
Neither of them rushed inside.
The silence between them had become comfortable.
Almost routine.
...
Outside...
The streets bustled with the morning commute.
Students hurried toward the university.
Office workers carried coffee cups through crowded sidewalks.
Reina stretched.
"I have three classes today."
"...Congratulations."
"That wasn't a celebration."
"I know."
She smiled.
"You really are getting better at sarcasm."
"I don't think I am."
...
The university gates came into view.
Reina waved.
"See you later."
Shadow gave a small nod.
Then turned and walked toward the café across the street.
...
The campus buzzed with conversation.
Students gathered beneath the cherry trees.
Before Reina could reach her classroom...
Someone suddenly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"There you are!"
"Agh!"
Reina nearly jumped.
She turned.
"Aiko..."
Standing beside her was a young woman with shoulder-length brown hair and bright amber eyes.
She wore the university uniform slightly untidily.
A cheerful grin spread across her face.
"You disappeared yesterday!"
"I went home."
"I noticed."
Aiko folded her arms.
"You've been smiling more lately."
"I always smile."
"Not like that."
Reina blinked.
"...Like what?"
"The annoying kind."
"I have an annoying smile?"
"You have an 'I'm definitely hiding something' smile."
Reina laughed.
"You're imagining things."
"Mhm."
Aiko leaned closer.
"So..."
Reina immediately sighed.
"No."
"I haven't even asked yet."
"You don't have to."
Aiko grinned.
"The cute guy."
"..."
"The one who walks you to university every morning."
"...He's my neighbor."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"It isn't."
"It feels like one."
Aiko dramatically placed a hand over her heart.
"My best friend has secrets."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You smiled."
"...That's not evidence."
"It is to me."
Reina gently pushed Aiko toward the classroom.
"Go."
"You'll tell me eventually."
"We'll see."
"I always win."
"We'll definitely see."
Both laughed as they entered the room.
...
Across the street...
Shadow sat inside the same café.
A book rested in his hands.
A cup of coffee sat untouched beside it.
The waitress approached.
"The usual?"
"...Please."
She smiled.
"You're becoming a regular."
"I suppose."
As she walked away...
Shadow looked through the café window.
Students crossed the street.
Among them...
He noticed Reina laughing with another girl.
For a brief moment...
He watched.
Then quietly returned to his book.
...
Not far away...
A camera shutter clicked.
The photographer lowered his lens.
This time...
His focus wasn't on Reina.
It wasn't on Shadow.
It was on the cheerful girl walking beside Reina.
He studied the image.
"...A new variable."
The photograph joined the others inside a worn folder.
Without another word...
He disappeared into the morning crowd.
...
That evening...
Reina unlocked the door to Apartment 407.
Before she could step inside...
A familiar voice called out.
"Reina."
She turned.
Mrs. Sato stood in the hallway carrying a small container.
The elderly landlady smiled warmly.
"I made too much curry."
Reina laughed.
"You say that every week."
"And every week you help me finish it."
"...Fair point."
Mrs. Sato noticed Apartment 408.
"Your new neighbor seems quiet."
"He is."
"A good young man."
"I think so."
Mrs. Sato smiled.
"Good neighbors are hard to find."
Reina looked toward Shadow's door for a moment.
"...Yeah."
"They are."
...
Late that night...
Inside a dimly lit office...
Several photographs lay across a desk.
One showed Reina.
Another showed Shadow.
The newest photograph...
Showed Aiko smiling beside Reina.
A gloved hand picked it up.
A calm voice broke the silence.
"Identify her."
Another voice answered.
"Understood."
The photograph disappeared into a black folder.
Outside...
The city continued sleeping.
Unaware that one ordinary friendship...
Had just become part of something much bigger.