Early the next morning, sunlight squeezed through a gap in the curtains, drawing a thin golden line across the floor.
The hallway was quiet. So quiet they could hear birds singing outside, the rustle of wind through the treetops by the distant sports field, and the occasional alarm ringing somewhere in the dorm building.
Zhiyan stood in front of a door, his arms folded and his expression calm.
Beside him, Xian Di leaned against the wall, leisurely sipping a cup of coffee he had acquired from who knew where. Suguru Geto stood opposite Xian Di, his hands in his pockets, his gaze drifting between the end of the hallway and the door in front of them.
The three of them had been standing there for nearly half an hour.
"Knock again," Zhiyan said.
Xian Di lowered his coffee cup, raised his hand, and rapped his knuckles against the door three times.
Knock, knock, knock.
No response.
Xian Di knocked three more times.
Knock, knock, knock.
Still no response.
Xian Di turned to look at Zhiyan.
"Asleep or dead?"
Zhiyan did not answer. He stepped forward, nudged Xian Di aside, and raised his own hand to knock.
Knock, knock, knock. "Satoru Gojo."
This time, he used his full name.
A rustling came from inside-as though someone had rolled over in bed, or kicked the covers onto the floor. Then came a muffled sound dragged up from deep in a throat, somewhere between "mm" and "ah."
Then silence again.
Zhiyan's brow twitched slightly.
Suguru Geto leaned forward from behind him, looking at the stubbornly motionless door, the corners of his mouth lifting.
"How about we just break in?"
Xian Di glanced at him.
"Are you serious?"
Suguru Geto shrugged.
"Just kidding."
Xian Di looked away and took another sip of coffee.
"I'm