Ren wins a staring duel

The morning peeks through the window and awakens Raku's eyes.

The girl wakes up, noticing that Ren is no longer sleeping next to her. He was looking out the window while he waited for his partner to wake up, so she wouldn't worry.

-Good morning Ren... What's going on outside?...

Raku asked between yawns.

Ren looked at the girl with his usual expressionless face, then grabbed some clothes and his bag, and left the room in the direction of the showers to clean up.

Raku got into her wheelchair and also grabbed some clothes and placed them in a basket, but before leaving he looked out the window, seeing that there was nothing outside of it.

The bedroom window overlooked the outside of the shelter.

Confused by her partner's actions, she decided not to think about it anymore and went to the showers too. But on the way she ran into some bullies who stopped her in the hallway.

-You must be the new, right?

Asked who seemed to be the leader of the bullies.

-Wow, and you bring your own clothes with you... because you show us something that brightens our eyes and in exchange... we don't touch that cool chair you use...

The leader seemed to want to take advantage of Raku's vulnerability.

The boy tried to grab the basket of clothes that Raku had, while it resisted the young man's tugs.

-Let me go! Stop!

Raku yelled, trying to get out of that situation. But suddenly, a third hand appeared in the basket. It was Ren's, coming back from the shower.

The look on his face was usually a bit scary, but certainly right now, looking into his eyes felt like being stabbed with a thousand needles.

-What's going on, dude? Do you want to be the hero? Fight me if you're so brave.

He said the bully trembling at Ren's gaze. But he just kept looking.

Raku looked Ren up and down, noticing that his legs were also shaking a little. This seemed more like a confrontation of cowards than a fight.

The staring war lasted a while longer, until Ren took just one step. His intentions were to kindly ask them to leave Raku alone, but by not speaking, the bullies thought that he was going to hit them, so they ran away in fear. But he was paralyzed.

-Ren, are you okay?

Ren turned around with slightly sad eyes. He seemed not to have liked the fact that he scared the others.

-Calm down Ren! In fact, you shouldn't worry. You were quite a gentleman, not using violence. Thanks for saving me.

Raku's words made him forget his sadness, and proudly, the boy stood behind Raku's chair.

-Really, Ren. No need to take me, I can do it alone.

Ren ignored Raku's complaints and moved her chair.

-Ren please... Don't continue... I'm asham… AAAAH!

Ren began to speed down the halls more and more. And as he ran, a smile broke out on his face.

Luckily, the race ended when they reached the showers.

Ren obviously waited outside. While, Raku entered, wondering if she should get out of there at the end or stay until he loses sight of his friend the speedster.

Once the shower was over, Raku made the decision to go out, seeing how more and more Ren was jumping of joy for once again taking the wheel of Raku's vehicle. But before he got closer, she stopped him.

-No running! A wheelchair is not a toy or a vehicle. If it breaks, I won't be able to move anymore.

Ren showed an expression that he already understood as he calmly nodded.

It seems that this was the first time he knew of the existence of wheelchairs, but upon hearing Raku's rule, he agreed to slow down.

Ren and Raku, went very slowly through the corridors...

-It is not necessary to go so slow, Ren. Just walk normal.

Ren and Raku went... went at normal speed through the corridors. They were heading towards the laundry room to drop off their dirty clothes and then moved in the direction of the dining room to eat breakfast.

They grabbed food and sat together.

Raku's curiosity got the better of her and as he ate he looked at Ren.

-I don't want to be nosy, but... What were you looking at this morning through the window?

Ren looked at Raku with his usual expressionless face, but this time she noticed that he was trying to communicate what he was watching.

-Your face? Did you mean, your reflection?

She asked, trying to guess. But Ren denied.

-Why don't you try to talk? It would be easier for both of us, don't you think?

Ren stared in astonishment at Raku's idea, as if it was the first time that had been suggested to him.

Ren opened his mouth, but suddenly the study time bell rang.

Ren got up and went with Raku to leave his tray.

Raku ended up hating study time for having frustrated her when listening to Ren.

After that, Ren grabbed Raku's chair and headed to the library.

It was quite large and full of books and people that he had come before and were reading in silence.