Chapter 5

The students is bustling in for the upcoming summer camp and it's in next week now.

"What do you think about my hair?"

"What should I wear?"

They are really busy and preparing for it. Koharu and Shin are standing beside the chair where Kael is supposed to sit but he's still not there.

Shin is occasionally glancing at the door from time to time, wondering if Kael will open it. Koharu is smiling at her friend, this is exactly what she's been waiting for, a girl waiting for her crush.

"Shin! Don't worry about it, he'll come."

She slapped Shin's back lightly, her smile wide and teasing.

"We had a talk last night. He said "see you at the school" but maybe he had enough of your teasing at the cafe."

"What?! This is my fault now? I can't believe I destroy a relationship for my friend..."

Then suddenly, the door burst open with a loud creak, and Kael strode forward, the transformation is undeniable.

Kael was dressed in a casual style, dark jeans, a fitted jacket, and his usually unruly hair styled back now cut short just enough to look effortlessly cool.

The room buzzed with murmurs from the girls, their eyes following him as he made his way in.

"Who is that?" One of them whispered, her eyes wide.

"He's so... different,"

"That's Kael, right? The nerdy guy who's always at the back?"

Koharu leaned in, whispering into Shin's ear with a grin, "Told you he'd show up. Look at him."

Shin's eyes were glued to Kael as he approached. The way he looked now, the way everyone was reacting. Shin couldn't help but feel so much nervousness.

"Why did he cut his hair? He already looks good with long hair, now he looks really good."

Kael caught Shin's eyes and smiled genuinely, warm, and familiar.

"Sorry I'm late,"

"Late?" Koharu scoffed, trying to hide her laughter. "You're making an entrance now. Look at you, you've got the whole room talking."

Kael scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed despite his new look. "It's nothing. I just thought I'd, you know, switch things up for the camp."

Shin couldn't stop staring at Kael, trying to reconcile the confident person in front of her with the quiet, reserved friend she'd always known.

It wasn't just the clothes, or the way Kael carried himself now, it was something deeper, like he had decided to step out of the shadows.

"Why... Did you cut your hair?"

Kael chuckled softly at Shin's question, his fingers brushing through the shorter strands of hair.

"I needed a change, I guess. Figured summer camp would be a good time to try something new."

Shin blinked a few times, still struggling to adjust to this new version of Kael. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could find the words, Koharu jumped in with her usual playfulness.

"Well, mission accomplished. You're definitely turning heads," She said, winking at Kael. "Not that Shin minds—she's just trying to figure out how you went from zero to hero overnight."

Shin flushed, giving Koharu a quick glare. "I just didn't expect it, that's all," She muttered, feeling embarrassed. "You look... good."

"I... uh... Thanks, Shin. I didn't mean to surprise everyone. I just thought about what you said last night. You said sometimes it's best to step out of my comfort zone..."

Shin froze at Kael's words, her heart skipping a beat. "Did he really do this because of something I said?"

"It suits you... you look... more confident."

"Aahh, you look cute together! This is too much for my heart! I can't take it!"

"Koharu! Stop being ridiculous!"

Kael rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Koharu, it's not like that—"

"Alright class, get back to your respective seat."

The teacher's voice cut through the murmurs in the room, and the buzz of excitement quickly quieted down. The students hurriedly shuffled back to their desks, the energy still in the air as they stole glances at Kael, who's now sitting at the back.

Koharu gave one last dramatic sigh before skipping over to her own seat, still smirking mischievously at Shin. "We'll talk later," She whispered, winking as she plopped down.

Shin, still flustered from the whirlwind of emotions, tried to focus on the front of the class, but her mind kept wandering.

"He did all this... because of what I said?"

As the teacher droned on, Shin found herself zoning out, her heart racing with thoughts she couldn't quite process. Kael had always been a constant, someone nervous but reliable, but now... Now, things feel different.

The day dragged on, and by the time the bell rang for lunch, Shin could barely focus. Koharu was by her side in an instant, nudging her with a wide grin.

"So, what are we doing for lunch? Or should I leave you to your date with Kael?"

"Stop it! We're not... It's not like that!"

"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that." Koharu turned her gaze towards Kael who's now approaching them. "Oh look, here comes your prince charming."

"Uh... Shin, here's the lunch I've made for today... There's also one for you, Koharu."

"Well, aren't you the perfect gentleman? I'm impressed."

Kael handed the lunchboxes over with a smile, clearly pleased to be of help.

Koharu raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk on her face. "So, are you two planning on having lunch together or what?"

"I'm happy to eat with friends. It's nice to have some company."

Koharu's smirk widened. "Well, I'm gonna go and bother Mr. boring. Thanks for the food."

Shin watched as Koharu walk away, still glancing back with a knowing look. She turned to Kael, attempting to keep her cool. "So, any plans for the summer camp? Are you excited?"

"I'm excited and nervous at the same time. But I've heard a lot about the activities. It should be fun doing it with you."

Shin's heart skipped a beat at Kael's words. "With me?"

"W-Wait.. no. I mean... we're all going to be together, right? It'll be nice to hang out more." "What did I just blurt out? My heart is beating faster."

"Yeah, of course. It'll be nice to hang out more. I'm really looking forward to the summer camp."

"I-I've heard the camp has a lot of fun stuff planned... like the talent show and the night hikes. I'm feeling nervous about the talent show, though..."

"Hmm... I see..."

"I've never been great at performing in front of people... I might just watch the show."

They continued eating, their conversation drifting to lighter topics. As the lunch break neared its end, Shin felt a growing sense of excitement about the camp. She was starting to see a new side of Kael, and it was refreshing.

After lunch, they headed back to class. The rest of the day passed by in a blur. When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Shin and Kael are walking together towards the school gates.

As they approached the gates, Koharu appeared behind them, a mischievous grin is playing on her face.

"Hey, you two! Don't think I forgot about our chat. Are you planning to share any secrets about your plans for the camp? Are you making it more romantic? Oh my gosh! This is too much for my heart!"

"Shut up, you're looking like a total idiot..."

Rin appeared behind her, his usual presence adding a cold aura to the atmosphere. His icy gaze swept over Koharu, clearly unamused by her antics. Koharu gave him an exaggerated pout but didn't back down.

"I'm just having a bit of fun, Rin. Not everyone's as boring as you."

"If your idea of fun is annoying everyone... then perhaps you should reconsider your approach..."

"What is this? Are you still mad about what happened earlier." Kohara says, with a teasing grin.

"I already forgot about it..."

Koharu rolled her eyes dramatically. "Sure, whatever you say, Rin. Maybe I should drag you to the hiking trip. A change of scenery might do you some good."

"Please don't..."

Koharu smirked at Rin's visible discomfort. "Oh, come on. It'll be fun! You might even find a new hobby or something."

Rin's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm not interested in your idea of fun..."

Koharu waved him off with a chuckle. "Suit yourself. Just don't be a sourpuss all camp."

As Koharu sauntered off, leaving Rin behind, Shin and Kael watched the interaction with amusement.

Kael chuckled softly. "Koharu is always so full of energy. I don't think Rin knows what to make of her half the time."

Shin smiled, finding Kael's comment endearing. "Yeah, she can be pretty overwhelming, but she means well."

The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden hue over the school grounds.

Shin and Kael made their way to the school gate, their conversation punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter. The camaraderie between them felt natural, a promising sign for the days ahead at camp.

As they reached the gate, they noticed other students gathering and chatting excitedly about the upcoming camp. The buzz of anticipation was almost tangible, and the thought of spending several days away from the routine of school added an extra layer of excitement.

"Well, I guess this is a goodbye for now. See you tomorrow, Kael!"

Kael smiled warmly as he looked at Shin. "Yeah, see you tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it."

...

At the distance, a girl was watching with a smile on her face. The sunglasses hiding her eyes, but there's a resemblance with Kael.

"So, my little brother knows how to laugh now, huh?"