It was 2:00 a.m., and Hitoshi couldn’t sleep. Again. Nights like these had become the norm for him—a restless mind refusing to let him drift off, no matter how much he tried. His room felt too quiet, too suffocating, so he’d given up on lying there and decided to head to the dormitory lobby instead. A late-night snack wouldn’t fix his insomnia, but it might help pass the time.

The dorm was quiet, the soft hum of the building the only sound as he padded down the hallway. Everyone else was usually fast asleep by now, leaving the common areas empty and still. That was part of why Hitoshi liked coming out here during nights like these. It felt like his own little corner of peace, where no one would bother him.

But when he reached the lobby, the faint glow of light spilling from the kitchen told him he wasn’t alone.

Hitoshi paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stepped closer. He hadn’t expected anyone else to be awake at this hour. When he rounded the corner, his suspicions were confirmed—someone else was already there, leaning against the counter with a drink in hand.

For a moment, neither of them said anything, the quiet stretching between them. Finally, Hitoshi broke the silence, his voice low and rough with sleep deprivation as he made his way toward the fridge.

"You’re up early," he grumbled, more a statement than a question, his tone carrying a hint of curiosity despite his usual indifference.