New Beginnings and Awkward Moments

The first morning in the dormitory was met with a strange mix of excitement and awkwardness. Isagi woke up early, the sunlight gently filtering through his window, casting soft patterns on the walls. He stretched lazily, a small smile on his face. It felt oddly refreshing — a new environment, a new chapter.

But then he remembered. This wasn't just any chapter — this was the arc where he and May were partners, sharing a dormitory. And that made his heart race.

He quickly freshened up and stepped out into the common area, only to find May already sitting on the couch, her legs tucked under her, flipping through a book. She looked up when he entered, her eyes widening slightly before she gave him a small, polite nod.

"Morning," he said, trying to keep his voice casual.

"Good morning," she replied softly.

The silence stretched between them — not uncomfortable, but not exactly comfortable either. Isagi cleared his throat.

"So, uh, any plans for the day?" he asked, mentally kicking himself for how awkward he sounded.

May tilted her head thoughtfully. "We should probably finish unpacking. And maybe... figure out some house rules?"

"House rules?"

"Well," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, "we're sharing this space, so it makes sense to set some boundaries, right?"

"That... makes sense," Isagi admitted. "So, what kind of rules are we talking about?"

They spent the next hour discussing things like cleaning schedules, common space usage, and personal boundaries. It felt surprisingly mature — though Isagi couldn't help but be distracted by the way May's serious expression softened every time she laughed at his occasional jokes.

Afterward, they decided to explore the dormitory a bit more. The building was larger than it seemed, with various recreational areas — a small library, a game room, and even a rooftop garden. The last one caught May's interest immediately.

"It's beautiful up here," she murmured, her eyes shining as she took in the view.

"Yeah," Isagi agreed, though his eyes were more focused on her.

They stood there in companionable silence until the sound of their stomachs rumbling broke the moment. May laughed, and Isagi felt his heart skip a beat.

"I guess we should get some breakfast," she suggested.

"Good idea."

As they made their way back, Isagi couldn't help but feel a strange sense of contentment. This wasn't just the start of their time in the dormitory — it felt like the start of something more.

And for once, he was excited to see where this chapter would take them.