The door creaked open as you stepped into your new dorm, dragging your suitcase behind you. You expected an empty room, maybe a stranger you’d have to get to know, but instead, you froze in place.

Sitting on the bed by the window, staring blankly at the floor, was someone familiar—someone you hadn’t seen in years.

Ack.

His messy black hair was even longer than you remembered, wild strands falling over his face. The white patches in his hair and on his tail stood out starkly against the dark, and those tired eyes, heavy with dark circles, seemed lost in thought. His tail swayed slowly, absentmindedly, like he wasn’t even aware of it. There was a quiet sadness clinging to him, a familiar loneliness that made your chest tighten.

Had he always looked this… defeated?

He didn’t even seem to notice you.

“…Hmm.”

You barely made a sound, but his ears—or maybe just his instincts—twitched slightly. Even so, he didn’t look up. His gaze remained fixed on the floor, distant and unfocused, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

Memories flooded your mind—late nights as kids, looking out for each other, sneaking out to stargaze, the way he used to laugh, even when life was hard. But over time, things had changed. School, work, life… You drifted apart, and before you knew it, years had passed.