A New Beginning

The next morning, the warm golden sunlight streamed into the dormitory room, casting a gentle glow on everything it touched. Isagi stretched lazily, his body still feeling the exhaustion from the excitement of the previous night's festival. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes, and then his mind immediately flashed back to the fireworks… and to May's gentle smile.

A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Isagi? Are you awake?" May's voice was soft, but there was a cheerful lilt to it.

"Yeah, come in," he called back, getting out of bed.

May entered, looking radiant even in her casual clothes. "Good morning! I made breakfast."

Isagi blinked in surprise. "You… made breakfast?"

"Hey! Don't sound so surprised!" she pouted. "I worked really hard on it."

He laughed softly, following her to the small kitchen area. The table was set neatly, and while the meal looked simple, the effort was clear. They sat down together, and with the first bite, Isagi smiled.

"It's good," he said honestly.

May's face lit up. "Really?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Thanks, May."

After breakfast, they decided to spend the day cleaning up and organizing their dorm. They worked side by side, chatting and laughing as they arranged books, dusted shelves, and sorted out their belongings. The time flew by, and by evening, the room felt warm and lived-in — their shared space.

As they finished, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"Yo! Open up!" It was Kaito's unmistakable voice.

Isagi sighed with a small smile and opened the door, letting Kaito and Akari in.

"We're ordering pizza," Akari announced. "You guys in?"

"Definitely," May said without hesitation.

Later, as they all sat together eating and chatting, the atmosphere was light and happy. But as the conversation slowed, Akari's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"So," she began. "Did anything… special happen last night?"

Isagi choked on his drink, and May's face turned bright red.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" May stammered.

"Oh, come on," Kaito grinned. "You two disappeared for a while during the fireworks…"

Isagi avoided their teasing looks, his mind going back to the warmth of May's hand in his.

"We just… enjoyed the fireworks," May said quickly.

"Sure, sure," Akari teased.

Despite their embarrassment, the laughter that followed filled the room with warmth. As the night wound down and their friends left, Isagi and May found themselves standing side by side at the window, looking out at the night sky.

"Today was nice," May said softly.

"Yeah," Isagi agreed. "It was."

And as they stood there in the quiet, the distance between them felt smaller than ever.