Echoes of Recognition — The Calm Before the Dream
The first bell of the new week rang across the high school grounds, but something about today felt different. The corridors, once filled with indifferent stares and hushed snickers directed at Ren, were now buzzing with a different kind of energy — awe, confusion, and, for some, quiet envy.
It had only been two days since the Tokyo Tech National Hackathon had ended, but news spread fast. The victory of Ren and Aoi had traveled beyond obscure tech forums and found its way to their school bulletin, student group chats, and even the morning assembly announcements.
"Let's all take a moment to congratulate our very own Aoi Kisaragi and Ren Arakawa," the principal's voice rang through the PA system, formal and proud, "for securing a major win at the Tokyo Tech National Hackathon, and for being selected by the prestigious Meiyo Institute of Advanced Technology for early admission."
Gasps and murmurs erupted in every classroom.
Ren, seated in the back as usual, kept his head low. His hoodie covered part of his face, but there was no hiding from the curious stares now. For years, he had been the "lazy guy" who barely scraped by in tests. Now, he was something else—someone people wanted to understand, or at least gossip about.
Aoi, on the other hand, embraced the spotlight. She smiled confidently as her classmates swarmed around her between classes, asking questions, offering congratulations, and even apologizing for underestimating her.
Still, she kept sneaking glances at Ren through the crowd, her expression softening.
At lunch, she found him alone on the rooftop as expected, staring at the clouds.
"Hey, celebrity," she teased gently, dropping her bag next to him.
Ren chuckled, not looking at her. "I liked it better when nobody noticed me."
"But then we wouldn't have met."
That made him look at her. "Yeah… I guess that part was worth it."
They shared a quiet moment, wind brushing through their hair.
Aoi leaned back on her hands, gaze turned upward. "Can you believe we're both getting into Meiyo? I heard only twenty students from all over Japan got early invitations."
Ren nodded slowly. "It still doesn't feel real."
"I've dreamed about this since middle school," Aoi said, her voice unusually soft. "But I always imagined getting in alone… I never thought I'd be sharing it with someone who understands me."
Ren blinked, unsure how to respond. The warmth in his chest told him he didn't want to ruin the moment with awkward words. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small keychain: a miniature laptop, one he got at his first underground hackathon.
"I want you to have this," he said, offering it.
Aoi's eyes widened. "Ren…"
"It's dumb," he muttered, cheeks reddening. "Just… something to remember this by."
She took it carefully, fingers brushing against his. "I'll treasure it."
That afternoon, they were called to the main office to meet a representative from Meiyo University. A tall, composed woman named Professor Hanabira greeted them with a warm smile.
"We're thrilled to have both of you visit our campus next week. Meiyo is looking for minds that break boundaries — and after your hackathon performance, you've certainly proven yourselves."
They both bowed deeply, expressing gratitude.
Back in the hallway, as they exited, students stared — some in admiration, others in disbelief.
Katsuro, the arrogant tech club leader who had once mocked Ren's slouched posture and quiet nature, stood at the stairs with crossed arms. His smirk was gone, replaced by narrowed eyes. A group of his usual followers whispered behind him, clearly shaken.
"You really were hiding something," Katsuro muttered as they passed.
Ren didn't respond. He didn't need to. His silence said everything.
That evening, Aoi and Ren walked home together, a soft drizzle turning the streets slick and reflective. She held an umbrella for both of them, their shoulders brushing lightly with every step.
"You know," Aoi began, voice quiet under the rain, "we're not exactly just friends anymore, are we?"
Ren's heart skipped. "No… I guess not."
"But we're not something else either."
"Not yet," he said, more confident than he expected.
She smiled, the same way she did when she solved a tricky algorithm. "I like that answer."
As they reached their apartment complex, they paused at the gate.
"Next week," Aoi whispered, "we see our future."
Ren looked at her, the drizzle tracing down his glasses. "And we face it together."
Their hands didn't hold, but they lingered — close, warm, and just shy of something more.