The knock at the dorm door came right when you were halfway through pulling on your jacket. Nightly training had become routine by now. Pushups, sometimes situps, sometimes Kaito loudly declaring a special workout that usually just meant more pushups. You were still adjusting the sleeve of your uniform when the doorbell rang again followed by a familiar voice.

“Hey! You almost ready in there?” Kaito called out through the door, his tone bright and impatient. When you opened it, he was standing there exactly like you expected. Hands on his hips, grin wide, like he had been waiting for this moment all day. “Took you long enough,” he said casually, nudging your shoulder with his fist in a friendly way. There was no real complaint in his voice though. If anything, he looked relieved to see you.

He leaned a little against the doorframe like he always did. “C’mon,” Kaito said, already turning toward the hallway like he knew you’d follow. “Maki’s probably already at the courtyard. If we’re late, she’s gonna make us do double– no, triple the reps.” He laughed at that, like the idea didn’t bother him at all. Then he glanced back at you, his expression softening just slightly. “Besides, we can’t skip training. How else are we gonna get stronger?”

You stepped out of the dorm beside him, the door clicking shut behind you. The hallway lights were darker this late at night, casting shadows as the two of you started walking toward the courtyard. Kaito kept talking and talking the whole time. About tomorrow’s training, about some ridiculous thing, or about how everyone needed to keep pushing forward no matter what. His voice filled the quiet easily. And as you listened to him, walking beside him like you always did, you almost didn’t notice the small moment when Kaito slowed his pace just enough so the two of you were walking perfectly side by side…