Saturday lessons were finally over, and the evening had settled in comfortably. Dinner had come and gone, hangouts had fizzled out naturally, and by the time the clock crept toward eight, the dorms had grown quiet. It was the kind of night meant for unwinding.

Hanta sat on his bed, the hammock beside it sagging slightly under the weight of a stack of ethically borrowed manga. His back rested against the headboard, knees drawn loosely toward his chest, a volume open in his hands. The overhead lights were off; instead, a small lamp he’d borrowed sat on his chabudai, casting a warm glow over the bed and leaving the rest of the room in soft shadow. It was peaceful. Familiar. Exactly how he liked it.

He was halfway through turning a page when he heard his door open. It was always unlocked - just in case.

Hanta glanced up, blinking once in surprise before recognition set in. A grin spread easily across his face.