Extra 11: The Future

It was one of those rare quiet moments after school, the sun hanging low in the sky, casting soft orange hues across the empty courtyard. The usual bustle of students had cleared out, leaving only a few stragglers, but for Shen Yu and Lu Zhixuan, time seemed to slow down. They sat on the edge of a low stone wall, the cool breeze ruffling their hair, the world outside of their little bubble quiet and distant.

Lu Zhixuan was uncharacteristically still, his usual teasing smirk absent. Instead, he sat with his hands resting on his lap, his gaze focused on Shen Yu, studying him with an intensity that made Shen Yu's heart skip a beat.

"Do you think this will last?" Lu Zhixuan's voice was soft, almost a whisper, but there was an edge to it—a vulnerability that Shen Yu rarely saw. It was a serious question, one that wasn't just about the fleeting nature of their school romance or the day-to-day routines, but about the bigger picture—the future.

Shen Yu blinked, taken aback by the sudden gravity of the moment. He had never expected Lu Zhixuan to ask something like that. The future? It felt so distant, almost like a concept too abstract to grasp. But as he turned to look at Lu Zhixuan, something in the way his eyes searched his own made him realize that this wasn't a question to be avoided.

For a long moment, Shen Yu didn't speak. His mind raced as he thought about the future—about where they might go after school, what might change as they grew older, what might come between them. But in that moment, as he looked at the boy sitting beside him, he realized that none of those uncertainties seemed as daunting as they once did. Because, for once, he wasn't alone in this.

He met Lu Zhixuan's gaze, his chest warm with something he couldn't quite put into words, and slowly, he nodded. "Yeah," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the emotions swirling inside him. "I think it will."

Lu Zhixuan's lips curved into a soft smile, one that was more tender than teasing, and Shen Yu's heart fluttered at the sight of it. There was something in that smile—a sense of relief, as though the weight of that question had been pressing on him, too, and now it had been answered.

As if to seal the moment, Lu Zhixuan reached out, his fingers brushing against Shen Yu's hand. It was a simple touch, nothing grand or overly dramatic, but in that gesture, Shen Yu felt everything he needed to know. Lu Zhixuan wasn't asking for guarantees, he wasn't looking for a grand promise about the future. All he wanted to know was that Shen Yu was willing to take the chance, to face whatever came next with him by his side.

Shen Yu's heart skipped a beat as he intertwined his fingers with Lu Zhixuan's, their hands fitting together so naturally, like they had always been meant to be there. For the first time in a long while, the future didn't seem so scary. It didn't matter what obstacles might come their way or what challenges lay ahead. All that mattered was that they had each other.

"Whatever comes next," Shen Yu murmured, his voice quiet but resolute, "I want to face it with you."

Lu Zhixuan squeezed his hand gently, his smile widening just a little. "Me too."

The two of them sat there in comfortable silence for a long moment, the weight of their unspoken words hanging between them. It was a strange kind of peace, one that was rooted not in certainty, but in trust—the kind of trust that allowed them to face the unknown together.

Shen Yu glanced over at Lu Zhixuan, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face and the warmth of Lu Zhixuan's hand in his. The future might not be predictable. It might not be easy. But for once, he wasn't afraid. Because with Lu Zhixuan by his side, he knew they could handle whatever came their way. Whatever the future held, they would take it on together.

"I'm glad I'm not doing this alone," Shen Yu whispered, his voice barely above the wind's soft rustling through the trees.

Lu Zhixuan's eyes softened, and he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the side of Shen Yu's head. "You never will be," he replied, his voice full of certainty and affection.

And in that moment, as they sat side by side, the world around them felt like it was exactly as it should be. The future could wait. They had all the time in the world—together.

THE END