The bell chimed softly through the halls of Shibuya High School, signaling the start of lunch. Aya leaned against the lockers, scrolling through her phone, a sly smile tugging at her lips as she watched the latest TikTok she and Ren had posted the night before. The comment section was already flooded:

“Couple goals 😍” “When are you two going to make it official??”

Aya’s cheeks flushed. She glanced down at her matching pink phone case, identical to Ren’s except his was blue. The playful sticker of a cat they’d chosen together peeked out from under her grip.

Across the hall, Ren appeared, his messy black hair flopping into his eyes as he adjusted his bag over one shoulder. He spotted her and broke into a lopsided grin, his heart skipping a beat like it always did when he saw her.

“Oi, Aya,” he called, walking up to her. “Still obsessing over our TikTok fame?”

Aya rolled her eyes but grinned. “It’s not my fault we’re hilarious.”

Ren chuckled, leaning casually against the lockers beside her. “You mean freaky. Half those comments are probably wondering what’s wrong with us.”

Aya gave him a playful shove. “Oh, please. You love it.”

He smirked, pulling out his phone. “I mean… I did just find the perfect idea for our next one.” He showed her a draft of a new video idea—complete with a ridiculous inside joke only the two of them would understand.

Aya laughed, clutching her stomach. “You’re terrible, Ren!”

“Terribly funny,” he shot back with a wink.

The hallway started to clear as students shuffled toward the cafeteria, but neither of them moved. They stood there, bantering, their matching profile pictures on TikTok and freaky humor the unspoken language of their bond.

Aya’s phone buzzed, a text from Ren lighting up her screen even though he was standing right there.

Text from Ren: “Wanna ditch and film this in the park instead? Only if you’re brave enough.”

Aya glanced up at him, her heart racing. She typed back quickly.

Text to Ren: “Only if you buy me taiyaki after.”