If anyone asked Shu whether he fit in BC Sol, his instant answer would be no. He really didn't. BC Sol was not like any other club Shu had seen when the team tournaments occurred. They were a tight-knit group. They weren't individuals separated by their own desires, they were a family with a history of ups and downs. They belonged with each other and Shu was content watching their story unfold as a bystander.

He will be going home soon. The thought of Japan, the sweet, crispy scent coming out of the bakery, the familiar smiles and hellos as he passes people by the street, make him relaxed. He still wonders why he decided to fly overseas, abandoning the comfort home offered. Maybe it was the freedom he needed, maybe to forget the horrible memories that occurred in that place. But there is still the yearning, longing to go back there. Home; where he can easily feel belonged.

Shu walks through the deserted hallway leading to the cafeteria. He doesn't search for his friends, doesn't even question himself where everyone has gone. He had learned quite a few rules throughout his stay in this place, they have a schedule for the three meals — in Raging Bulls though, they could get their meal at any time and no one bothered to check upon them. He used to skip meals to his heart's content.

He stands outside the wooden doors, the knob smoothed with years of using, holding on itself the memories of a lifetime. He hangs back, listening to the laughter emanating from the cafeteria. The bustle of chatter, the sound of plates clinking together, cutlery smacking the trays. He opens the door and steps in.

The inside was warm — heaters chasing away the coldness of the winter. Ange is in her usual spot, handing out the dinner trays, advising everyone to eat their fill. He searches for the familiar faces as he usually does. They are sitting at the same table. The one right beside the windows, overlooking the garden— now a fresh blanket of snow.

He reaches the counter where Ange is making small talk with every member who stops by to grab their dinner. She does the same with everyone, even Shu. And strangely, he found himself looking forward to these small, motherly interactions. "You're late again" Her cheerful voice interferes with his thoughts as she hands him the food tray. The familiar smell of cinnamon and other spices invades his senses.

Shu ducks his head with an apology. "I'm sorry" He smiles sheepishly, taking the tray. "Just got lost in another book"

Ange shakes her head, and ruffles his hair. "You and your books" She says with mock exasperation. "Eat well sweetheart, I'm sure you're going to love my new recipe"

Shu nods, "I sure will" He says walking away from the counter. Valt, who has spotted him, is now waving frantically, screaming his name. This is the most embarrassing part of the routine. He really wished Valt wouldn't put him in the centre of attention.

He places his food tray on the table and sits down, sighing. "You don't have to do that every time I come here, Valt"

Valt grins, "I am just making sure you won't get lost" He bumps his elbow with Honcho who agrees, nodding furiously.

"He's right. We're taking care of you"

Sasha snickers at that and Cuza nudges her to stop. Shu presses his lips into a thin line and surrenders. The beyclub has been overprotective since the series of incidents. There was nothing he could do about it.

He looks around the table with the familiar faces. Some of them were close friends — Honcho and Valt, some he had built a good relationship with — especially Rickson who is one of the most understanding people he had met in his life and Cuza who is always trying to lighten up his mood. There is Silas, they respected each other, that was it. Kitt and Honey still maintained a fair distance, and Sasha rarely talked with him.

He was okay with this dynamic except today there is a new face. Not exactly new considering he is one of the oldest members here, but Free was someone who rarely participated in quality time with the members. He ate whenever he wanted. Slept wherever he wanted. He was free from every sense of the word (pun intended). Free was sitting on the seat across from him, the closest to the window and was staring outside actively ignoring the conversation going on. No one seem to mind his presence, they had gotten used to his comings and goings.

Shu and Free barely talked, just a nod when passing through the halls. But Shu did respect his passion as a blader. He was a role model he used to look upto. "Shu" Valt's voice drives him back to the ongoing conversation.

"Yes?"

Valt munches on his food and drains half of his orange juice before speaking. "I was telling them about that ski trip. The one where we got lost in the snow. Do you remember?"

Honcho snorts, "I mean, if it was you and Xhaka it would be easier to believe. Shu's actually a sensible person-"

"We were six" Shu cuts him off, "So, no I had no idea where we were"

Honcho blinks. "Wait, WHAT?"

Cuza sighs, "Valt, don't leave out the important details. I thought you guys were teens when that happened, not toddlers"

"What did you expect?" Rickson asks, "I mean it's Valt"

"Listen," Valt says, trying to get hold of the conversation. "I'm trying to tell you the story"

"We're all ears" Sasha says, her eyes fixated on her food as she uninterestedly pushes the salad from one side to the other.

"Okay so" Valt starts. Everyone actually looks up, interested in the story. Valt had that effect on people. He was easier to talk with, friendly and open-hearted. He could keep a conversation going while Shu had no idea how to even start one. "We were skiing just beside our parents. It was so much fun." He turns back to Shu, "Remember how Xhaka was so good at it?"

Shu nods, "Yeah"

"Shu and I were just learning. We were falling and all that and Xhaka was teaching us." He leans forward, now narrating the incident using his hands. "Somehow we wandered away from our parents"

"Question," Cuza says, raising his arm. "How did you guys manage that?"

"Xhaka said we should go looking for an easier place to practice," Shu adds, his eyes on the male. "So we just followed him"

Valt was nodding beside him, "And we got lost!" He exclaims. "Like super lost"

Silas groans, "I hope it stayed that way"

Sasha snickers again, "Rude"

Honcho looks pleadingly towards Shu and the albino takes up on the story realising how hopeless Valt is in telling them. "So yes, we wandered a bit too far away from all the crowds and before we know it there was no one around"

"That's how every horror movie starts" Honey says, "It's getting scary"

Shu quietly wonders if he should stop telling it. He has no intention of scaring the kids. "Keep going," Kitt says eagerly. Even Valt, who was there for the incident, was attentive.

"Uh well" Shu continues, "We were spooked and it started snowing heavily. Xhaka wanted us to find a shelter, he was sure someone would come and find us. Valt was in tears and I-"

"You were oddly calm" Valt cuts off. "Like he didn't even flinch"

"That's Shu in a nutshell" Honcho laughs, "I've never seen the guy panic"

"Oh just you wait till the end of the story, it gets real"

Shu huffs, "What do you mean?"

Valt teasingly smiles, "Oh, I don't know. I kind of remember someone clinging to Xhaka and crying for an hour till they found us"

Shu flushes, "He was telling horror stories and I was only six for god's sake"

Honcho was enjoying the banter. He encourages Shu. "Yes, yes, we understand. Keep telling the story"

Shu glares but continues. Unconsciously getting into the story that he starts smiling, even occasionally chuckling as Valt adds a forgotten detail unaware of the dark eyes now transfixed on his face.

Free is bored. He was always bored. It's like he's forever stuck in a perpetual boredom. Despite the situation, he didn't go looking for interesting things. He just practised till he couldn't feel his limbs. It was how he kept himself occupied. Sometimes, he did go to the cafeteria when others were already inside.

Today is one of those rare days he felt he wouldn't mind some company. It was snowing. He couldn't practise outside in the frigid weather. He wanders around the hall until dinner and finally walks in and just plants himself on the chair nearest to the window so that he could watch the snow and eat in peace — as peaceful as it can be when Valt is sharing the table with him.

He doesn't listen to the conversation ongoing. Don't even bother to look up when people come and join them. Only when Shu's voice pipes up does he listen. It's surprise at first. He had rarely heard the male talk or engage with anyone except Valt. Even when he was talking it was just a mere sentence. But today, he seems to be actively contributing to the conversation, having fun even.

He turns his head from the snow towards Shu. His voice zooming in his ears when he finally tunes in to the story. "Xhaka is good at telling horror stories" He says, "And it was really dark" Shu defends himself. Free watches his cheeks, the colour of snow but now tinted with a levelled shade of pink reaching to his ears.

"I'd pay to see you cry" Honcho adds, having fun teasing the albino.

The shade of pink grows darker, "Why?" Shu asks. Free observes the confusion in those scarlet eyes — red as the fiery sun at dawn, red as the autumn leaves when they coat every field. He finds them expressive and alluring. He sees why people call him fiery, passionate. It is in those eyes, the way he looks at everyone, brimming with pure determination.

Honcho is talking again, "You always have that passive-aggressive face on" Honcho bemoans, "Show some emotions, my man"

Shu scowls as if he was taking offence, "I'm not that bad"

He's not, Free thinks watching Shu tunes back into the story. Now a childhood story where he met Valt for the first time when Shu finally notices something is wrong. He stops in the middle of a sentence, his ruby red eyes catching Free's. He falls silent, so do the others.

Free doesn't break his gaze, just stares. His chin resting on his folded arms. His tray — with the finished meal, pushed aside. Shu reddens, "Uh" He says, "Are you actually listening or-"

Free shrugs, "I was just thinking that you're cute"

Shu opens his mouth, closes it again. He presses his lips together and blinks, flustered. Free's lips twitch when his ears flush again. His cheeks almost matching his eyes. Honcho and Valt share a confused glance. Rickson just watched this unfold. Silas had long abandoned the group and gone to sleep. Sasha outright laughs, "C'mon Free. You're a social recluse"

Free glances at her, "And does that bother you?"

"Not exactly. Can't say I am not entertained by your social awkwardness"

Free doesn't bother replying. Another silence ensues and Rickson is the one to break it. "Well, are we continuing with the story?"

"Yes" Free chimes, "Please do" He says, turning his eyes back to Shu.

Shu suddenly stands, too flustered to speak. "I think I'm going to call it a night" He takes his tray and walks out of the table and the next second is gone out of the cafeteria.

"Well" Honcho says, "You scared him away"

Free frowns, "I just said he's cute, what's the big deal?"

"Shu's bad with compliments" Valt says, "Bad to the point it hurts"

Free pushes back and stretches his arms. "Well, that's sad." He says, "Now that only the boring people are left here, I'm going to leave"

"Rude," Sasha says.

"Good night" Honey chirps in with a bright smile. Free nods at her and ruffles her blue locks as he passes by.

"Night"

He walks into his room — which he rarely uses for he prefers the forest better. Falling asleep under the sky filled with stars is far better than the man-made ceilings. He lays on his bed and thinks of Shu, wandering for the first time after his arrival, maybe he should get to know the male better.