House Selection Ceremony

The weight of the decision hung heavy over Kazuki as he sat in his dorm room, staring at the screen in front of him. His fingers hovered over the controller, but his mind was elsewhere.

"Yo, you good?" Daiki's voice snapped him back to reality. They were supposed to be gaming, but Kazuki had been too distracted to focus.

Kazuki sighed, leaning back. "It's just… the House selection."

Daiki raised an eyebrow. "You already decided on Yami no Kiba, right?"

"That's the thing… I was thinking about Seiryu."

Daiki blinked, then smirked knowingly. "Miyuki's going there, huh?"

Kazuki didn't respond immediately, but his silence was answer enough. He rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not just that. Seiryu's got strong academics, good reputation. It wouldn't be a bad choice."

"But it's not what you want," Daiki pointed out. "I get it, man. Being in the same House would make things easier. More time together, more chances to get closer. But you're not the type to make choices just for that, are you?"

Kazuki exhaled. "I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking it."

Daiki grinned, slapping his shoulder. "Look, no matter which House you choose, your bond with her isn't gonna disappear. And besides—if she likes you back, it won't matter if you're in different Houses."

Kazuki gave a small chuckle. "That's assuming she does."

Daiki shrugged. "You'll never know if you don't try. Now, pick up your damn controller. We're still tied."

The grand hall of Reikou Academy was filled with an air of anticipation. The House leaders stood at the front, waiting as students entered. Kazuki scanned the crowd, his eyes instinctively finding Miyuki. She looked composed as ever, standing among the other students who had received multiple invitations.

Hoshino-sensei stepped forward. "Students, today marks the end of the House Selection Event. For those who received multiple invitations, it's time to make your final choice."

One by one, students stepped up and declared their House. Reo joined Suzaku, Naoto went with Seiryu, and Kyouya, after a thoughtful pause, joined Yami no Kiba.

When Miyuki's turn came, she stepped forward gracefully. "I choose Seiryu."

Kazuki felt something stir in his chest—an odd mix of admiration and a twinge of disappointment. It was expected, yet hearing her say it made it real.

Finally, it was his turn. Kazuki took a deep breath. He glanced once more at Miyuki, then at the House leaders of Yami no Kiba.

"I choose Yami no Kiba."

As the decision settled, he felt a strange sense of finality, but also a quiet determination. He had made his choice—not because of emotions, but because it was what suited him best.

Later that evening, Kazuki found himself wandering toward the vending machines near the dorms. He wasn't surprised to see Miyuki already there, a warm can of tea in her hands.

She glanced at him as he approached. "Couldn't sleep again?"

Kazuki gave a small shrug. "Something like that." He pressed a button, grabbing a drink of his own before leaning against the wall. "You chose Seiryu."

Miyuki nodded, taking a sip. "And you chose Yami no Kiba."

There was a moment of silence before she spoke again, softer this time. "Did you think about Seiryu?"

Kazuki hesitated, then gave a slight chuckle. "Yeah. For a bit."

Miyuki tilted her head. "But you didn't."

He met her gaze. "It wasn't the right fit for me."

A small smile played at her lips. "I see."

They stood there for a while, a quiet understanding passing between them. Even if they had chosen different Houses, this wasn't the end of their story—it was only the beginning.

The past few days had been packed with intense challenges, rivalries, and unexpected decisions. With the House Selection finally over, the school atmosphere felt lighter—at least for now.

"Alright, boys. We deserve a break," Daiki announced dramatically, flopping onto Kazuki's bed. "No more tests, no more strategies—just pure fun."

Reo stretched his arms, cracking his knuckles. "Agreed. What's the move? Pool, movie night, basketball?"

Naoto adjusted his glasses. "Logically, if we're aiming for the most entertaining option—"

"Stop right there, nerd. We're playing basketball," Kyouya interrupted, smirking.

Kazuki chuckled. "Fine by me."

Later, at the basketball court…

The cool evening air buzzed with energy as students gathered around the court. Kazuki dribbled the ball, surveying his teammates—Daiki and Kyouya—while Reo, Naoto, and a few others took the opposing side.

"You're going down," Reo grinned.

"We'll see about that," Kazuki shot back.

The game kicked off, filled with fast breaks, aggressive steals, and constant banter. Kazuki moved smoothly, sinking a three-pointer before exchanging high-fives with Daiki. Kyouya, ever the silent predator, intercepted Reo's pass and dunked the ball effortlessly.

Then, during a quick break, Kazuki's gaze wandered to the nearby benches—Miyuki sat there, watching. She wasn't alone, chatting softly with a couple of her Housemates, but at one point, her eyes met his.

A beat passed. She gave a small, amused smile before sipping from her drink.

Kazuki quickly looked away, feeling his heart rate spike—though he convinced himself it was just from the game.

"Oi, lover boy," Daiki nudged him. "If you're gonna daydream, at least do it after we win."

Kazuki sighed. "Shut up and play."

The game resumed, but that small exchange lingered in his mind.

Later that night—Movie Night

After the match, the group crashed in Kazuki's room for a movie. Snacks were scattered, and arguments over what to watch had already erupted.

"Action," Reo demanded.

"Sci-fi," Naoto countered.

"Romance," Daiki deadpanned.

"Since when do you—" Kazuki started, but Daiki cut him off.

"Shhh. I'm expanding my taste."

Eventually, they settled on a thriller, dimming the lights. Just as the movie was starting, a soft knock came at the door.

Kazuki opened it, surprised to see Miyuki standing there, holding a small bag of snacks.

"I heard there was a movie night?" she asked casually.

For a second, Kazuki was too stunned to respond. Then Daiki's voice boomed from behind. "Oh-ho! Look who decided to join!"

Miyuki glanced at him before looking back at Kazuki. "Is it okay?"

He quickly nodded. "Yeah, of course."

As she stepped in, finding a seat near the corner, Kazuki found himself sitting just a little closer than usual. It wasn't anything deliberate—just natural. But as the movie played, there were moments—like when their hands brushed while reaching for popcorn—where his thoughts raced faster than any action sequence on the screen.

For the first time in a while, he wasn't thinking about Houses, competitions, or rivalries. Just this moment.

And somehow, that felt just as thrilling.