The plan was simple: a group study session at Souta Aizawa's house.
What nobody expected… was that his house would feel so empty.
"No one's home," Souta said casually as he opened the door. "My parents work overseas. Housekeeper only comes in the mornings."
The group stepped in—Rika, Aiko, Sora, Himari, Naoto. The air inside was clean and quiet. Too quiet.
"Dude," Sora whispered. "This place is like... a luxury ghost house."
Aiko peeked into the spotless kitchen. "You seriously live here alone?"
Souta shrugged. "Kinda used to it."
But Naoto noticed the way Souta's voice dropped a little.
They all settled in the living room, bags dropped, snacks spread out, and a big whiteboard Aiko insisted on carrying from school.
"Alright!" she declared. "We'll study for exactly forty minutes before we start doing stupid stuff."
"Who voted for that?" Rika raised an eyebrow.
"I did," Aiko said proudly. "And I brought candy, so I'm your queen now."
Everyone groaned—but the laughter was already starting.
---
Forty Minutes Later…
"Math is a crime," Sora muttered, collapsing onto the carpet.
Naoto spun a pencil in his hand. "You just wrote your name on the answer sheet."
"I was expressing myself artistically."
Aiko threw a pillow at him.
Himari, curled on the beanbag with a textbook in her lap, giggled. "At least spell it right next time."
Rika had somehow ended up with glitter on her cheek. She didn't know how, but she also didn't mind.
Souta returned from the kitchen holding six ice cream cups. "Surprise freezer find."
"Bless your lonely, rich soul," Aiko said dramatically, hugging him.
"I'm not lonely," Souta replied, almost too quickly.
But then Sora jumped on him from behind with a blanket, yelling, "Group hug him! Make him suffer with love!"
The entire room exploded into chaos—laughter, shouting, Himari trying to dodge flying snacks, Rika accidentally knocking over her drink and blaming Naoto.
For a moment, they were just loud teenagers.
Not broken ones.
Not tired ones.
Just kids being kids.
---
Later That Night
They ended up around the table, eating instant noodles. Souta lit a few candles just to "set the ramen vibe," and everyone laughed at his dramatic narration.
"We are gathered here today, to honor the noble cup noodle…"
"Shut up and eat, you dork," Aiko said, wiping her eyes from laughing.
Naoto watched them all—watched Rika nudge Sora playfully, watched Himari quietly hum a song, watched Souta trying too hard to act cool while clearly enjoying the chaos.
It didn't feel like a study session.
It felt like home.
Even if it wasn't his.
---
In the Hallway, Later
Naoto stepped out to get some water. Himari followed.
"You okay?" she asked gently.
"Yeah. I just… don't remember laughing this much in years."
Himari smiled. "Me too."
They stood quietly for a while, just listening to the others yelling from the living room about who farted.
"Do you think we'll stay like this?" he asked.
"I hope so," she whispered.
And in that moment, he didn't feel torn.
He just felt lucky.
---
Before Bed
The boys slept in Souta's room, the girls in the guest room. Or that was the plan.
Ten minutes in, Rika came knocking.
"We're bored. We're crashing your room."
"No," Souta said.
"Yes," Aiko said, walking in anyway.
Pillows piled up. Blankets spread across the floor. Someone brought the glitter again. Naoto didn't know who.
Sora made up a dumb ghost story.
Himari ruined it with logic.
Rika screamed anyway.
Aiko accidentally kicked Naoto in her sleep.
They stayed up late, whispering things that felt important at the time, laughing until their faces hurt.
And finally, when the room went quiet…
Souta whispered in the dark:
"…Thanks for making this place feel warm."
No one replied.
But Naoto smiled in the dark.
---