Unraveled Ties-Chapter 51: Midnight Messages

Reiji lay on his bed, his phone screen dimly lighting up the dark room. It was already past midnight, yet he was still staring at the ongoing chat with Sena.

Their conversation had slowed down, but neither of them had officially ended it.

> **Sena:** You’re not sleepy yet?

Reiji smirked at the message.

> **Reiji:** You’re the one who texted first.

> **Sena:** Shut up.

He chuckled to himself.

> **Reiji:** Can’t sleep?

> **Sena:** Kinda. I’m used to staying up late, but usually, I just watch stuff or listen to music.

> **Reiji:** What kind of stuff?

> **Sena:** Drama series. Mostly romance.

Reiji raised an eyebrow.

> **Reiji:** That’s surprising.

> **Sena:** What? Just because I like girls, I can’t enjoy a good romance?

> **Reiji:** No, I just didn’t expect you to be into those kinds of things.

> **Sena:** Well, I am.

Reiji smirked.

> **Reiji:** That explains why you’re so confident in teaching me.

> **Sena:** Exactly. I have *experience*.

Reiji shook his head with a small chuckle.

> **Reiji:** Watching romance dramas isn’t experience.

> **Sena:** It is if you pay attention.

Reiji sighed and stretched his arms, his phone still in his hand.

Even though their conversation wasn’t anything special, it felt oddly... comfortable.

He didn’t usually talk to people like this. Late at night, about random things. But with Sena, it was different. It felt easy.

And that realization bothered him a little.

> **Reiji:** Do you do this with Aoi too?

A longer pause than usual.

> **Sena:** No.

Reiji frowned slightly.

> **Reiji:** Why not?

> **Sena:** Aoi isn’t really the texting type. She prefers talking in person.

That made sense. Aoi was the type of person who expressed herself openly. She wasn’t someone who’d sit behind a screen and type out everything she wanted to say.

Still, for some reason, knowing that Sena didn’t do this with Aoi made Reiji feel... strange.

> **Sena:** Why?

Reiji blinked.

> **Reiji:** Huh?

> **Sena:** Why are you asking about Aoi?

He hesitated.

Why *was* he asking?

> **Reiji:** No reason.

> **Sena:** Liar.

Reiji exhaled, rubbing the back of his head.

> **Reiji:** I was just curious.

> **Sena:** Hm.

Her short response made Reiji feel uneasy.

> **Reiji:** Are you mad?

> **Sena:** No. Just wondering.

Reiji sighed.

He didn’t know what he was feeling anymore. He still liked Aoi—he was sure of that. But at the same time, the more time he spent with Sena, the more she occupied his thoughts in ways he didn’t expect.

> **Sena:** You should sleep.

Reiji glanced at the time. 1:37 AM.

> **Reiji:** Yeah. You too.

> **Sena:** Night, Reiji.

Reiji stared at her message for a moment before typing.

> **Reiji:** Yeah, goodnight.

He locked his phone and placed it on his bedside table.

Yet, even as he closed his eyes, his mind remained restless.