ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

Chapter 9: Threads of connection

Nya's POV:

When I got home, I kicked off my shoes and plopped onto my bed, letting out a sigh of relief. The first day of college had been a whirlwind—so many classes, faces, and moments to process. It was exciting, but I was grateful for a little downtime.

As I kicked my feet up and grabbed my phone, I couldn't shake the thoughts swirling in my mind about Izuko and Sarah. I had seen how they interacted today, and while it was great to see them laughing and joking, I also sensed that familiar tension lingering just below the surface.

Scrolling through my contacts, I shot a message to Izuko, hoping to check in.

Me: Hey, how was the rest of your day?

After a few moments, she replied, and I could almost picture her smile through the screen.

Izu ❤️: It was good! Just a bit tiring. How about you?

Me: Tiring for sure! But hey, I was thinking about you and Sarah. You guys seemed to have a moment in the cafeteria. What's up with that?

I waited, my heart racing as I thought about how their history was more complicated than it should be. When Izuko replied, I could tell she was still processing everything but was smiling.

Izu ❤️: Yeah, we were... talking. I guess you could say that. There's definitely something there, but I don't want to mess it up again.

I felt a pang in my chest. I knew all too well how misunderstandings could creep in and create distance between them.

Me: Just remember, you both need to communicate. You can't let the past hold you back!

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, reflecting on everything. I knew deep down that Izuko and Sarah had a connection that was worth fighting for. But I also sensed that something could easily drift them apart again if they didn't face their feelings head-on.

Izu ❤️: I know. It's just... complicated.

Me: It always is. But you both have to be brave. You can do this together.

I could feel the determination bubbling up inside me. They had faced challenges before, and while I worried about what might happen next, I believed in them.

As I wrapped up my conversation with Izuko, I promised myself I would be there to support her, no matter what. College was going to be a test, not just of our academic skills, but of our friendships and relationships as well. And I knew that whatever came their way, they would face it together—because that's what friends do.

Izuko's pov

I finally collapsed onto my bed after what felt like the longest first day of college ever. My brain was buzzing with all the new information, faces, and classes. I knew I should probably dive into my studying, but all I could think about was Sarah.

What had started as an awkward reunion had turned into something so much more—at least, I hoped it was more. Watching her laugh today made my heart flutter, but I couldn't ignore the weight of the past hanging over us.

Reaching for my phone, I decided to text Nya but she had beat me to it. She always seemed to know how to cut through the chaos in my mind.

Nya <3 : Hey, how was the rest of your day?

It didn't take long for me to reply.

Me:  It was good! Just a bit tiring. How about you?