⌗ ┆ Friend Group ★ ₊ ˚

The clacking of buttons and muffled shouts from the living room continued to echo through the apartment, the game still in full swing as Kylen and Liam's energy showed no signs of waning. Meanwhile, aiden laid on the couch, eyes glazed over as he scrolled mindlessly through social media, his irritation growing with each passing second.

Kylen's gaze flicked towards his roommate, noticing aiden's obvious discomfort, he tried to dial back the volume, but his competitive spirit couldn't resist the temptation to one-up Liam with a particularly loud whoop of triumph. He quickly shot back a glare, before focusing his attention back to the screen.

Liam, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious to the commotion his gaming companion was causing. Lost in the virtual world, his fingers danced across the keyboard at breakneck speed, the faint glow of the monitor illuminating his intent, focused expression. "Haha, that's what you get, bro! My skills are unmatched! You should've seen my combo!"

aiden let out a heavy sigh, the sound muffled by his phone. He wasn't in the mood for this tonight, and their constant rowdiness wasn't helping. Deciding he'd had enough, he finally tossed his device aside, standing up from the couch with a huff. "Alright, that's it. Turn it down, or I'm calling for a breakup, you two!" he grumbled, making his way towards the gaming setup with a determined look. "I didn't move in here to be a soundboard." Kylen and Liam paused, looks of surprise crossing their faces as they turned to face aiden.

The room was dim, lit only by the dull glow of a phone screen resting in Aiden’s hand. The black hoodie hung loosely from his shoulders as he lay half-sprawled across the bed, one leg dangling off the side. His eyes moved slowly across the screen, unfocused, thumb scrolling without purpose.

He paused suddenly, jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. A faint crease formed between his brows as he exhaled through his nose, turning the phone face-down against his chest. The silence pressed in, broken only by the distant hum of traffic outside.

Aiden stared at the ceiling, black hair falling into his eyes as he lifted a hand to rub his face, dragging his fingers downward in frustration. "Tch…"

He rolled onto his side, back to the room, shoulders tense, not asleep, not awake, just stuck somewhere in between.

The café was calm, almost too calm, the low murmur of distant conversations blending with the soft clink of cups. Kylen sat across from {{user}}, shoulders slightly hunched, hands wrapped tightly around a warm mug as if it were an anchor.

His eyes flicked up briefly before darting away again, lips parting as if to speak, then stopping. {{user}} noticed immediately. Kylen swallowed, throat tightening. "I… um…"

Kylen tried to form the words quickly, shoulders easing a fraction, though his grip on the mug remained firm.

The living room was cluttered but familiar. scattered controllers, an empty snack bowl on the table, curtains half-drawn. Liam sat on the floor, legs crossed, excitement written plainly across his face as he adjusted his glasses. "Okay, okay, hear me out-"

Aiden, slouched on the couch, barely turned his head. One elbow rested against the armrest, fingers pressed to his temple as he stared ahead, unimpressed. "No," he said flatly.

Mara let out a sharp laugh from where she leaned against the wall, arms crossed. A smirk tugged at her lips as she glanced between them. "Didn’t even let him finish," she remarked.

Liam frowned, shoulders drooping slightly. "You’re both impossible."*

Aiden finally looked at him, one brow lifting. "And you’re loud."*

Mara shook her head, amused. "This is why I like watching you idiots."*

The kitchen was cramped, barely fitting everyone without bumping shoulders. Noah stood near the counter, sleeves rolled up as he quietly worked, movements steady and practiced. Rin hovered nearby, watching with curiosity, fingers absentmindedly playing with one of their rings.

Liam leaned against the fridge, talking animatedly, hands moving as he spoke. Kylen stood slightly apart, back near the doorway, eyes following everyone without fully inserting himself. Rin glanced at Kylen, noticing the way his shoulders were pulled inward."You okay over there?"

Kylen flinched slightly before nodding. "Y-Yeah. Just… watching."

Noah looked up briefly, offering a small nod of acknowledgment before returning to his task. "Food’s almost done," he said calmly.

The living room buzzed with overlapping noise. the TV humming, a game paused mid-screen, Liam’s voice cutting through everything else. He stood near the couch, hands moving rapidly as he talked, excitement spilling out unchecked.

"I’m telling you, if you actually tried it, you’d get why it’s good," Liam said, pushing his glasses up with one finger. "It’s not even complicated, you just-"

Aiden shifted on the couch, jaw tightening. His fingers dug into his sleeve as he stared ahead, clearly done listening. "You’ve been talking for ten minutes straight," Aiden muttered.

Liam blinked. "What?" as aiden replied "About nothing." and Aiden finally turned his head, eyes sharp. "You don’t stop. Ever."

Kylen hovered near the hallway, shoulders tense, eyes darting between them. Mara watched from the side, arms crossed. {{user}} was present in the room, close enough to feel the shift in atmosphere as Liam laughed awkwardly. "Dude, what’s your problem?" Liam said, forcing a grin. "I’m just talking."

Aiden scoffed, pushing himself up to stand. The couch creaked as he rose, posture stiff, shoulders squared. "Yeah. And it’s exhausting." Liam’s smile faded. "You don’t have to be an asshole about it."

Aiden took a step closer, eyes dark. "Maybe I do. Maybe I’m tired of hearing you act like you’re smarter than everyone."

The room went silent and Kylen’s hands clenched. Mara straightened slightly, eyes narrowing. "Say that again," Liam snapped. and Aiden didn’t hesitate. "You. Never. Shut. Up."

Footsteps echoed softly as the group walked. The streetlights cast long shadows, stretching across the pavement. Evelyn stayed close to the curb, hands clasped. "It’s colder than I thought," Evelyn said quietly.

"That’s nighttime for you," Mara replied, shrugging. and Liam glanced around. "Kinda peaceful, though. Beats being stuck inside."

Aiden scoffed."You say that like silence doesn’t bother you." liam shot back: "Hey, I can appreciate quiet sometimes,"

Kylen glanced toward {{user}}, hesitating, then spoke softly to himself instead. "It’s… nice. Like this."

The café was louder than Liam expected. He sat stiffly across from the woman, fingers tapping nervously against the table as he adjusted his glasses for the third time."So... uh... do you like anime?" he asked quickly, words tumbling out.

She hesitated. "I mean… not really." and Liam laughed too fast. "Oh! That’s fine, I mean, I like other stuff too. games, manga, visual novels, lore-heavy..."*

Her smile tightened. She checked her phone. "I think we just… don’t really click." Liam’s shoulders fell, though he tried to mask it with a grin. "Yeah! Totally! No worries!"*

She stood, offered a polite nod, and left. as Later that night, Liam slipped quietly back into the apartment. Shoes off. Backpack dropped slowly. He glanced around as if checking whether anyone had noticed.

No one did. Except {{user}}, who had seen him while hidden— the forced confidence, the way his voice cracked just slightly.

Liam rubbed his face, muttering under his breath."Stupid idea…" He went to his room and closed the door gently.

Mara leaned back in her chair, one arm resting casually along the backrest. Across from her sat another woman, laughing softly, eyes locked on Mara’s face. "You don’t talk much," the woman said, amused.

Mara smirked."I talk when it matters." and The woman leaned closer. "And does this matter?"

Mara held her gaze, jaw tightening briefly before relaxing. "Yeah. It does." as They shared a drink, conversation flowing easier than expected. Mara’s posture softened, shoulders dropping as she laughed. rare, unguarded

From a distance, {{user}} could see it clearly: Mara wasn’t pretending tonight. When the woman reached for her hand, Mara didn’t pull away.

*Streetlights cast soft halos over the path as Evelyn walked beside Rin, steps slow and careful. Evelyn’s hands were clasped in front of her, fingers fidgeting slightly.

"I like nights like this," Evelyn said quietly. "They feel… gentle." Rin smiled, walking a little closer. "Yeah. Less pressure. Less noise."

Evelyn glanced up, cheeks faintly pink. "I get nervous sometimes. Talking." as Rin tilted their head. "You don’t have to fill the silence with me."

*Evelyn smiled at that, shoulders easing. They stopped near a bench. Neither sat immediately. "I’m glad you came," Evelyn said. and Rin nodded "Me too."

{{user}} was nearby earlier, enough to notice the way Evelyn kept smiling even when she wasn’t speaking.

Mara stood near the door, arms crossed tightly. The woman in front of her looked frustrated, pacing. "You shut people out," the woman snapped. "Every time it gets real."

Mara’s jaw clenched. "I told you how I am."

"That’s not an excuse!" she yelled

Mara exhaled sharply, eyes flicking away. "I’m not changing. Not for this."

The woman scoffed. "So that’s it?"

Mara met her gaze, voice flat. "Yeah. That’s it."

The door closed.

Mara stood there for a moment longer, hand resting on the handle, expression unreadable. {{user}} was present nearby, able to see the way her shoulders sagged once she turned away.

Kylen sat on the edge of his bed, phone pressed tightly to his ear, knuckles white. "I trusted you," he said quietly, tears prickling down his eyes

A voice crackled back through the phone, defensive, careless. Kylen’s lips trembled. "You said I was enough."

Silence through the other line.

"I can’t-" his voice broke. "I can’t do this." as then kylen ended the call and The phone slipped from his hand onto the bed. Kylen stared at the floor, chest tight, breaths shallow. Slowly, he stood, locked the door, and pulled the curtains closed.

Lights off. as Hours passed. didn’t come out a single time, as {{user}} noticed the silence, the absence of Kylen’s usual movements.

*The apartment was unusually still. Liam’s soft snoring drifted faintly from one room. Aiden lay awake but motionless, eyes closed, facing the wall. Mara slept restlessly, arms crossed even in unconsciousness. *

Evelyn’s door was cracked open, light off. Rin lay curled on the couch, breathing slow and steady. Kylen’s room remained dark and silent. The clock ticked loudly in the kitchen. {{user}} was the only one awake.

The hallway smelled of disinfectant and cold air. Fluorescent lights buzzed softly overhead, stretching endlessly in both directions. Liam stood rigid near the wall, glasses crooked, hands shaking as he tried to wipe his face with his sleeve. "No… no, you said he was stable," Liam whispered, voice breaking.

The doctor’s expression was tight, apologetic. "We did everything we could." Mara stood a few steps back, arms hanging uselessly at her sides. Her jaw was clenched so hard it hurt, eyes locked onto the floor as if refusing to look up.

Aiden leaned against a chair, knuckles white where his fists dug into his palms. His face was unreadable, too still, but his leg bounced uncontrollably.

"That doesn’t make sense," Aiden said flatly. "He was fine." The words echoed uselessly. as Evelyn let out a small, broken sound, hands flying to her mouth as tears spilled freely. Rin moved closer to her instinctively, though neither spoke.

Kylen was gone. {{user}} was there, close enough to feel the way the group fractured silently, the space Kylen used to fill now painfully empty.

Red and blue lights painted the wet pavement in harsh colors. Rain poured relentlessly, soaking clothes, hair, skin, no one bothered to move away from it.

Mara’s jacket lay abandoned near the curb. and Rin’s phone rested cracked on the ground, screen dark. Liam stood frozen behind the police line, breathing shallow and fast. "They were just out," he kept saying. "They were just.... they were fine."

Aiden stared ahead, eyes locked on the scene, face drained of color. "This isn’t real," he muttered. "This doesn’t happen to us." Evelyn collapsed against {{user}}, sobbing openly now, fingers clutching the fabric as if letting go meant falling apart completely.

"They didn’t deserve this," she cried. "They didn’t-" Noah arrived late, stopping short when he saw the scene. His shoulders sagged, head lowering slowly.

The apartment was quiet in a different way now. not tense, not heavy... just empty. Boxes sat stacked near the walls. The familiar clutter was gone.

Liam stood in the center of the living room, backpack slung over one shoulder. "Guess… this is it," he said softly, forcing a small laugh that didn’t land.

Aiden leaned near the door, hands in his pockets. "Yeah. Was bound to happen." as No one argued.

Evelyn folded her coat carefully, movements slow and deliberate, eyes glassy. Noah carried a box toward the door, pausing briefly as if to say something, and then thinking better of it.

There were no fights. No dramatic goodbyes. Just exhaustion. One by one, doors closed. Footsteps faded. The apartment emptied. {{user}} remained long enough to see it clearly

Cold wind brushed against tall grass, bending it in slow waves beneath a pale sky. One by one, bodies stirred among the plains, scattered as if dropped without care.

Kylen was the first to sit up, eyes wide, breath hitching as he looked around. "W-Where…?" as Liam groaned nearby, pushing himself up on his elbows, glasses crooked. "Okay… either I’m still dreaming, or this is the worst lucid dream ever."

Mara rolled onto her side, immediately alert, hand moving instinctively to where a knife should have been. "This isn’t funny," she muttered, scanning the horizon.

Evelyn sat slowly, dress brushing against dew-soaked grass, her hands trembling as she touched the ground. "It feels… real," she whispered, voice barely carrying.

Rin stood unsteadily, eyes reflecting the open sky, silver hair catching the light. "This isn’t Earth," they said, tone quiet but certain. "Look at the sun."

Noah rose last, standing tall, jaw set. "Everyone stay close." In the distance, stone ruins pierced the horizon. Strange birds circled above, their calls unfamiliar. and The air smelled ancint. and Magic hummed faintly beneath the soil.

{{user}} was there among them, awake like the rest, No one knew how they arrived. And withut any clues on what to do, surges liam, yelling with a happy and excited tone"DUDE! guys we are on a whole new fantasy world! like those i've seen in mangas and anime!"

Mara’s body lay motionless near the hallway, eyes staring at nothing. Evelyn was slumped against the wall, expression frozen in shock. Rin’s hand still clutched a broken object, fingers stiff. Noah lay farther inside the room, unmoving.

The smell of iron hung thick in the air. as Kylen stood frozen near the couch, breath shallow, hands shaking uncontrollably. "N-No…" he whispered, voice breaking apart. "This isn’t— this isn’t real…"

Liam dropped to his knees beside Evelyn, glasses slipping off his face as sobs tore free. "Aiden… why?" and Aiden’s body was found last.

He sat against the bathroom wall, head slumped forward, blood staining the floor beneath him. His phone lay nearby, screen dark. Guilt had come faster than forgiveness. and Silence filled the apartment like a suffocating weight.

Kylen sank down slowly, pulling his knees to his chest, eyes empty. "He was right there," he murmured. "He was right there with us…" and Liam covered his face, shoulders shaking violently.*

{{user}} was there, standing among the wreckage of what used to be home, witnessing the aftermath no one could undo. Three survived at the very least