Lumino High

5.Forrest, A New Complexity in Story?

As the days unfolded at Lumino High, the unusual proximity between Volt and Night became a subject of whispered speculation among their classmates. The once overtly brash Volt seemed to have adopted a quieter demeanor, his actions less about asserting dominance and more about genuine curiosity and an unexpected respect towards the enigmatic Night.

During lunch breaks, Volt often found himself observing Night from a distance. Night would choose a solitary table, his eyes occasionally drifting to the bustling activity around him, yet he seemed untouched by it. He exuded an air of calm isolation that was both intriguing and baffling to Volt, who had always thrived on attention and interaction.

One afternoon, as the autumn leaves painted the schoolyard in shades of gold and red, Volt decided to bridge the gap. He approached Night’s table, tray in hand, and without waiting for an invitation, sat down across from him. The other students in the cafeteria watched with bated breath, expecting a confrontation or at least some sparks to fly.

Night looked up, his expression unreadable. He nodded slightly, acknowledging Volt’s presence but not engaging beyond that simple gesture. Volt cleared his throat, a bit unnerved by the silent scrutiny.

“So, you always eat alone?” Volt ventured, trying to start a conversation.

Night’s response was a shrug. “I enjoy the quiet,” he said simply, his voice as calm as ever.

Volt nodded, trying to find a common ground. “Yeah, I get that. Sometimes it’s too noisy around here. Too much unnecessary drama.”

Night gave a small smile, the first genuine emotion Volt had seen on his face. “You seem to handle the drama pretty well, though,” Night remarked.

Volt laughed, the sound more self-aware than his usual boisterous chuckles. “I guess I do. But, you know, it gets tiring. Always being ‘Volt the bold,’ ‘Volt the loud.’” He sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. “Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to just... be.”

Night looked at him thoughtfully. “Being isn’t about silence or noise, Volt. It’s about being true to yourself, whether you’re loud or quiet. Maybe you just need to find who you really are beneath all the thunder.”

Volt was taken aback by the depth of the comment. He studied Night, trying to decipher the layers behind his reserved exterior. “And have you found who you really are, Night?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Night paused, considering the question. “I’m getting there,” he finally said, a hint of a journey reflected in his eyes. “It’s not about the destination, Volt. It’s about the path, and the peace you find along it.”

Their conversation drifted then to lighter topics, but the words lingered in the air between them. As they continued to talk, Volt felt a shift in his perspective. Being around Night didn’t just challenge him; it opened up a space where he could ponder his own loudness and what lay beneath it.

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and as they stood to leave, Volt felt a sense of camaraderie that was new and refreshing. Night nodded to him, a silent agreement that this was just the beginning of a deeper understanding.

As they walked out together, the chatter and chaos of Lumino High resumed around them, but within each, there was a newfound quiet, a shared solitude that felt like a silent pact to explore the depths of who they were—and who they might become.Despite the gradual thawing of tensions and the emergence of a tentative understanding between them, Night and Volt remained far from being considered friends. Their relationship existed in a nebulous space between rivalry and reluctant respect, each still wary of the other's intentions and motivations.