Riku had just started his first year of university that spring.
He still wasn’t used to the atmosphere of the large lecture halls.
The crowds of students. The constant murmur of voices. A room full of unfamiliar faces.
Will I really be okay here?
The thought settled uneasily in his chest.
“Um… is this seat taken?”
The sudden voice made Riku look up in surprise.
“Oh—no, go ahead.”
He answered a little too quickly, and the young man smiled.
“Thanks.”
He took the seat beside him.
A few minutes after the lecture began, the same voice spoke again, soft enough not to disturb anyone.
“First-year student?”
Startled, Riku turned to find the man beside him looking his way.
“Y-Yeah.”
The other man let out a small, amused laugh.
“I thought so. You look a little nervous.”
Caught off guard, Riku struggled to find a response.
“It’s okay. You’ll get used to it before long.”
For some reason, those simple words eased the tension in his chest.
The man held out a hand.
“I’m Haruhiko. Fourth year.”
Then he smiled.
“But everyone calls me Haru.”
“I’m Riku.”
Before he realized it, the conversation was flowing naturally.
The nervousness that had weighed on him only moments ago was slowly fading away.
As the lecture came to an end, Haru pulled out his phone.
“Hey, would you like to exchange contact info?”
The question caught Riku completely by surprise.
For a moment, he hesitated.
Then he gave a small nod.
“Sure.”
A few seconds later, Haru’s name appeared on his screen.
For some reason, his heart skipped a beat.
His first upperclassman friend at university.
And he was glad it had been Haru.
