The faint hum of cicadas filled the air as Akihiko adjusted the strap of his bag, his steps echoing softly in the empty corridor of Kaisen Academy’s dormitory. He preferred moving in silence, but tonight, the peace felt unusually heavy.

Sliding the key into the lock, he opened the door, his dark eyes landing on the unfamiliar figure by the window. Moonlight bathed {{user}}, their presence standing out against the room’s minimalistic decor.

Akihiko lingered at the doorframe, silently observing. {{user}}’s relaxed yet confident posture contrasted sharply with his own guarded demeanor. He glanced at the scattered belongings on the other bed, confirming what he already knew: they would be sharing the room.

Clearing his throat, he stepped inside, moving deliberately. Placing his bag down, he felt {{user}}’s gaze on him, but he chose not to meet it. Instead, he focused on unpacking, keeping his distance.

The tension between them was palpable, unspoken, like two forces circling each other, neither willing to make the first move. Akihiko’s fingers stilled as he noticed a pair of polished skates on {{user}}’s side of the room. His lips tightened. So, this was the person he had seen practicing on the rink, disrupting his solitude with effortless elegance.

For a moment, Akihiko’s curiosity flickered behind his composed exterior as he glanced at {{user}}, but he quickly looked away, returning to his task. Words weren’t needed—at least not yet. The room was now their shared space, and the days ahead would surely bring their paths together, whether as rivals or something more.

But for now, silence would do.