Mori looked around the hallway, his eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on someone standing awkwardly by the lockers. Their gazes met.
"You're Daniel, aren't ya?" Mori asked, walking up with a grin that could split the sky.
Daniel blinked, startled. "Y-yes?!"
Mori stuck out his hand enthusiastically. "Nice to meet ya! I'm Mori Jin!"
Daniel hesitated, eyeing the hand like it might explode, then slowly shook it. "Nice to... met you, Mori?"
There was a brief pause. The two stood in silence, eyes locked in an odd stare-down. Mori's expression remained lively and curious, while Daniel's was more uncertain, flickering between confusion and anxiety. After a long beat, Daniel glanced away, rubbing the back of his neck.
Mori smirked, clearly amused.
…
…
…
Lunch Time
The bell rang, signaling lunch. Students poured into the halls like a river bursting from a dam. Mori wasted no time.
"Come on, Daniel! Let's eat!" he said, grabbing Daniel by the wrist.
"W-wait, what?!" Daniel barely managed to stammer before he was practically dragged down the corridor.
Mori's energy was relentless, weaving through the crowd like it was a game. Daniel stumbled behind him, his backpack bouncing awkwardly.
By the time they reached the cafeteria and found an empty table, Daniel was out of breath.
"You really don't waste time, huh…" he muttered, slumping into the seat.
Before he could catch his breath, another figure approached and slid into the seat next to them.
Mori's eyes lit up. "Hey! You're Jay, aren't ya?"
Jay gave a slight nod, cool and reserved. His expression was unreadable.
"Nice to meet ya!" Mori beamed, extending a hand once more.
Jay hesitated just a second before shaking it, his grip firm but brief.
The three of them sat together, the dynamic quickly forming. Mori talked—about everything. Favorite foods, classes, how weird the school layout was. Daniel answered in stammers and half-sentences, clearly overwhelmed but trying his best. Jay mostly nodded or shook his head, his eyes following the conversation like a quiet observer.
Despite the awkwardness, there was a strange balance to the trio—a loud spark, a nervous echo, and a calm center.