The sun barely managed to pierce through the dirty windows of our chemistry lab in what was left of Tokyo. I looked around at the old benches, each holding memories of experiments long gone. The room was alive with whispers, everyone lost in their own chemical world.

Rin and I, in our dark, emo-inspired outfits, seemed out of place in this sterile setting. We were in our usual corner, plotting. Gone was our typical nonchalance, replaced by a mischievous glint in our eyes.

Rin, her fiery red hair shimmering in the dim light, leaned in. “Are you sure about this?” she whispered, eyeing the seating chart I was holding.

I couldn’t help but smirk, my black hair falling over my face. “Trust me. A few tweaks here and there, and we’ll be with Hiroshi all semester.”

She raised an eyebrow, a sly smile forming on her lips. “You always have a plan, huh?”

I winked at her. “Especially when it involves the most interesting guy in school.”

The bell’s ring signaled the start of class. As everyone settled down, Hiroshi walked in. His blue hair and mysterious aura had the whole room’s attention. Rin and I exchanged knowing looks.

Today’s experiment was everyone’s favorite: creating fog with dry ice. The room was filled with the sound of boiling water and gasps of amazement as the dry ice worked its magic.

Rin, Hiroshi, and I were engrossed in our work. While I monitored the water temperature, Hiroshi jotted down observations. Rin, ever the impulsive one, was handling the dry ice.

“Just a small piece, Rin,” I reminded her, my focus on the thermometer.

But in her excitement, Rin dropped the entire block into the boiling water. Within seconds, the room was engulfed in a thick fog.

Coughs and shouts filled the air as everyone tried to clear the fog. Mr. Tanaka’s voice boomed, “Out, everyone!”

As we rushed out, I noticed Hiroshi’s concerned look. He was searching for me, as he left the room. But then, apparently, he disengaged from the crowd, and made his way back to the foggy lab.

He finally found me when he opened the storage closet door and saw me, sitting in meditation, the fog creating a peaceful cocoon around me. He hesitated for a moment, then joined me, understanding my need for calm amidst the chaos.

There, in that fog-filled closet, we found a moment of peace, together.