Chapter 2: The Boy Who Wrote to the Stars

The final bell's shrill ring echoed through the empty hallway as Hikari Aizawa ducked into the sanctuary of the school library. The musty scent of old paper and wood polish wrapped around her like a familiar blanket. Here, between the towering shelves, she could breathe.

Her fingers trailed absently along the astronomy section when something unfamiliar caught her eye - a small, worn leather notebook wedged between two heavy textbooks. No identification, just a single silver star sticker peeling at the edges.

The first page made her heart stutter.

*"The North Star doesn't wander,*

*but I do.*

*Maybe that's why*

*I can never find my way home."*

The handwriting was messy yet deliberate, each stroke pressing deep into the paper. Hikari turned the pages with trembling fingers, each poem more breathtaking than the last. Constellations became metaphors for loneliness, supernovas for heartbreak. Then she reached the final entry:

*"I saw a girl on the hill last night,*

*her silhouette against the sky.*

*She looked at the stars like they might vanish,*

*and I wondered—*

*do I look at her the same way?"*

The notebook slipped from her numb fingers just as a shadow fell across the page.

Ren Kurosawa loomed over her, his usual scowl deeper than usual. Up close, Hikari noticed the faint shadows beneath his eyes, the way his silver-streaked hair fell haphazardly across his forehead. He smelled faintly of coffee and something earthy - like rain on pavement.

"That's not yours." His voice was low, dangerous.

Hikari's throat closed up. "I-I didn't mean—"

He snatched the notebook with surprising gentleness, tucking it protectively against his chest. For a fleeting moment, his dark eyes flickered to the astronomy section behind her before hardening again. "Just forget you saw this."

As he turned to leave, Hikari noticed something impossible - the silver thread connecting him to Aya flickered like a candle in the wind, its glow dimming just slightly before steadying again.

The crisp autumn air bit at Hikari's cheeks as she wandered aimlessly after school, her mind still reeling from the library encounter. Before she realized where her feet were taking her, the cheerful chime of a bell announced her arrival at Stella Café.

The warmth inside enveloped her instantly, along with the rich aromas of roasted coffee and cinnamon. Her gaze landed immediately on Ren behind the counter, his sleeves rolled up to reveal lean forearms as he prepared drinks.

"Well, well," a voice drawled. A sun-kissed boy with a shark tooth necklace leaned across the counter, grinning. "If it isn't Ghost Girl herself."

Ren's head snapped up, nearly dropping the mug he was holding. "What are you doing here?"

Hikari's fingers found her star pendant. "I... heard their hot chocolate is good."

The tanned boy - Kai, his nametag read - barked a laugh. "Sure, sure. Silver Streak, make it extra sweet. Wouldn't want her to disappear on us again."

Ren muttered something unintelligible but reached for a clean mug anyway. The silence stretched as he worked, the steam from the milk curling around his fingers.

"Your poems," Hikari blurted out, immediately regretting it when Ren's shoulders tensed. "They're... really beautiful."

The ceramic mug clattered against the countertop. Ren didn't look up as he pushed the drink toward her, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks."

Hikari wrapped her hands around the warm mug, letting the heat seep into her skin. "Do you... watch the stars often?"

Ren finally met her gaze, and for the first time, Hikari saw something vulnerable flicker in those dark eyes. "Used to."

"Then why—"

"Hey lovebirds," Kai interrupted, tossing a dish towel over his shoulder. "You're gonna stare holes into each other or actually drink that cocoa before it gets cold?"

Ren threw a sugar packet at his head with startling accuracy, but Hikari noticed the tips of his ears had turned pink. Something warm and unfamiliar blossomed in her chest.

The walk home was quieter than usual, the streetlights casting long shadows across the pavement. Hikari's breath hitched when she spotted Ren's silver thread again - it pulsed weakly, straining toward Aya who stood across the street surrounded by friends. Then, impossibly, it twitched. Just slightly. Like a compass needle searching for true north.

"Hikari?"

She nearly jumped out of her skin. Aya Fujisaki stood before her, her usually perfect ponytail slightly windswept. Up close, Hikari could see the genuine concern in her dark eyes.

"You've been avoiding me," Aya said softly. "Did I do something wrong?"

Hikari's stomach twisted. Of course Aya would be kind about it. "No, I just... I'm not good with people."

Aya studied her for a long moment before smiling gently. "Ren was asking about you earlier. Wanted to know if I knew 'the quiet girl from the astronomy club.'" She tilted her head. "I think he likes you."

The warmth in Hikari's chest flared into an inferno, spreading up her neck. As she stammered for a response, something extraordinary happened - the thread between Aya and Ren flickered again, its glow dimming ever so slightly before steadying into a softer light.

Hikari touched her star pendant, her heart pounding. Maybe, just maybe, the stars weren't as fixed as she'd always believed.

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