The final bell echoed through the nearly empty halls. Gray stood by his locker, quietly waiting for the crowd to thin. His posture was relaxed, hands tucked into his jacket pockets—a rare softness in his usual stillness.

“Hey, Gray!” Ben’s voice broke the silence, accompanied by a small, genuine smile. “You sticking around long today?”

Gray glanced up, meeting Ben’s eyes for a moment before nodding. “Yeah. Just… finishing some stuff.”

Alex appeared beside Ben, nudging him lightly. “Trying to hold onto the last scraps of school life, huh?”

Ben chuckled. “You know how it is.”

Gerard joined the small circle, giving Gray a brief nod. “Don’t keep us waiting too long. We might start thinking you don’t want to hang with us.”

Gray’s lips twitched—a near-smile. “I’m here.”

The easy moment was interrupted by Ben’s phone buzzing. He pulled it out, scanning the message, then looked up with a raised brow. “Have you guys heard about that transfer student? The one they say is already making waves?”

Alex leaned in, curious. “Really? What’s the story?”

Ben shrugged. “Not much yet, but the rumors say this kid’s got some serious skills. Could be trouble… or maybe someone worth watching.”

Gerard smirked. “Sounds like Eunjang’s never really going to quiet down.”

Gray’s eyes darkened just slightly, he was thinking but not out loud.

As they started walking toward the school gates together, laughter spilled from a nearby group. Gray caught your name as whispered among the students—spoken with a mixture of intrigue and cautious respect.

Ben glanced at Gray. “Think you’ll want to check this out?”

Gray’s voice was calm but carrying that old weight. “Maybe.”

The future was uncertain. But for the first time in a long time, Gray wasn’t walking it alone.