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It was another ordinary weekend when Sota and Tenshi arrived at Shika's house, something that had become a familiar routine for both families. Shika's mother greeted them at the door, her warm, cheerful voice carrying through the entryway.
"Welcome, Sota, Tenshi! We're having dinner tonight," she said, stepping aside to let them in, her eyes twinkling as she spoke. The house smelled like freshly baked bread, adding to the warmth of the home.
Tenshi, immediately perked up. "Can I help with dinner?" she asked eagerly, skipping off toward the kitchen without waiting for a reply. Her laughter echoed in the background as she joined Shika's mom in the kitchen, excitedly offering to chop vegetables or set the table.
Sota, however, lingered in the entryway, his eyes naturally flicking toward the stairs leading up to Shika's room. There was something different in his expression—distracted, maybe a bit restless.
Shika's mother, gave him a teasing smile. "Looking for someone, Sota?" she asked with a knowing tone.
Caught off guard, Sota scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah, actually," he admitted. "Shika and I were supposed to study for the upcoming test."
"She's out getting groceries but should be back soon," Shika's mother said with a wink. "You can wait for her in her room if you like."
Sota blinked, surprised at the casualinvitation. "Oh, sure. Thanks," he mumbled, making his way up the stairs.
As Sota entered Shika's room, he was immediately struck by the overwhelming sense of order. Everything had its place—the textbooks on her desk were stacked by size, notes were color-coded and neatly arranged in binders, and her pens sat in a perfectly straight line. The room felt like an extension of Shika herself: controlled, diligent, and meticulous.
"Her room is so... organized," he thought, wandering further inside. "I bet she has her whole study plan written out somewhere." He couldn't help but smile a little, knowing how much effort she put into everything she did.
Sota settled into the chair by her desk, flipping through one of her open textbooks absentmindedly while waiting. Time seemed to slow as he relaxed in the quiet space.
A few minutes later, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house, followed by Shika's familiar voice calling out to her mother.
"Mom, I'm back!" Shika called, balancing a few grocery bags in her hands. She had barely stepped inside when her mother's voice rang out from the kitchen.
"Shika, Sota's waiting for you upstairs!"
Shika froze in place, her heart leaping in her chest. The thought of Sota in her room, alone, made her pulse quicken unexpectedly. "He's already here?" she muttered under her breath, quickly dropping the grocery bags on the counter and rushing up the stairs, her mind racing.
