🌊 Chapter 16: A Seat by the Wind

The school trip day finally arrived. Everyone was excited, bags packed, and energy high.

The big white bus stood waiting outside the school gate. Boys rushed inside, laughing, choosing seats.

Yuki and Aki stood near the entrance, talking softly.

Just then, Dai walked up to Aki. His face was red with shyness, but he looked determined.

“Aki,” he said, almost whispering, “can I ask something?”

Aki nodded.

Dai leaned closer to his ear and said,

“I... I like Yuki. Can I sit with him on the bus? Please don’t mind.”

Aki looked surprised for a second.

Then, with a soft smile, he replied,

“Of course. It’s okay. Go sit with him.”

Dai grinned and ran toward Yuki happily.

Aki walked to the back of the bus and quietly took a window seat. He plugged in his headphones and began listening to his favorite soft guitar music.

The cool wind blew in from the open window. He closed his eyes for a moment.

Just then, someone walked down the aisle and sat beside him.

It was Ren.

Tall, silent, handsome — his expression calm but unreadable.

He didn’t say a word.

Aki opened his eyes slowly and turned his head slightly.

Ren took one side of Aki’s headphones — without asking — and placed it in his ear.

Same song. Same music. Same silence.

They both looked out of the window.
No words.
Only the soft sound of waves playing in their ears, the breeze brushing through their hair.

Aki's heart began to beat faster.

Ren looked tired.

Slowly, his body leaned to the side — resting gently against Aki’s shoulder.

Aki didn’t move.

Then suddenly, in a sleepy voice, Ren whispered:

“I love you, Aki…”

And he pressed a light kiss on Aki’s neck.

Aki’s eyes widened in shock.

Did he just...?

He turned his head quickly to look at Ren — but Ren had already leaned back, eyes closed again, breathing softly in sleep.

One of the boys sitting nearby had heard it too and looked shocked.

But Aki couldn’t say anything.

His fingers touched the place where Ren’s lips had kissed his neck.

His cheeks turned red.

His chest felt tight.

Was it a dream? Was he sleep-talking? Or... did he really mean it?

He sat frozen, not moving an inch.

Outside the window, the sea sparkled under the sun.

Inside, silence filled the space between them.

But for Aki…
something huge had just changed.

To be continued… 🌊🎧💙