Koda leaned against the door to Milo’s apartment, looking far too excited for someone in the middle of exam week. The building had a peculiar atmosphere, too quiet, as if time had stopped there. The light in the hallway flickered uncomfortably, and the peeling walls gave it an eerie feeling—almost surreal, as if the world outside the doorway didn’t exist.

Milo opened the door with his usual expression: serene, but slightly tired. "Come in," he said without ceremony. Koda didn't mind the cold reception, already accustomed to his friend's direct manner.

The apartment was small, with simple furnishings and a curiously cluttered aesthetic—something about it reminded me of the disjointed scenes of an old VHS tape. Stacks of books and papers were scattered across the living room table.

"Do you really live here?" Koda asked curiously as he rummaged through a stack of magazines.

"My uncle works all day, so it's up to me... It's peaceful, most of the time," Milo replied, picking up notebooks and chemistry books. "But you didn't come here for tourism, right? You need to improve your grades, remember?"

Koda huffed, flopping down on the couch. "Oh come on... Relax a bit, Milo! I'm already tired of chemistry." He wagged his tail, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of studying.

"If you don't want to be a repeater, you'll have to pay attention." Milo gave a serious look, but without hostility.