AE STUDIO SPACE Manga

Original manga · Autumn

Before You Fix It

Ren is quick to help. Ritsu needs him to look first—and stay long enough to hear an invitation.

Yokohama, autumn 2026 · University life in Japan

Story & art by AE STUDIO SPACE

Episode: 02 / 03
Pages: 9
Genre: BL · Mystery · Campus life

Read upper balloons first, then right to left.

At the morning orientation exit, Jun introduces himself as an adult computer science classmate. He points to Thursday’s sports-hall notice; Ren folds his own course map, then turns toward him. They choose an ordinary friendship before Ritsu’s afternoon meeting. Jun’s appearance is a new supporting design proposal, not a reused lead face. Ren saves Thursday badminton in his class calendar. After lunch with the orientation group, he takes the courtyard path to the agreed afternoon workroom session, leaving sports plans intact. Jun: I’m Jun. Badminton on Thursday—coming? Ren: Ren. Sure. Don’t expect much.

Ren enters the workroom at the agreed afternoon time. Nao and Ritsu stand a full step back from the harbour board; Aya is arranging wall dimensions. Ritsu shifts slightly in front of the board, then answers too quickly with an easy grin that does not reach his eyes. Nao: Can I see it from the doorway? Ritsu: As long as you ignore the water. It isn’t done. Nao: You’re hiding the bench, though.

From the doorway, Nao points along the painted water’s broad light band toward the empty bench without touching the board. The bench is visibly the same slats, diagonal and single left cup as yesterday. Ritsu watches his hands and shifts half a step toward that part of the painting. Ritsu turns the board slightly away with a quick smile that fades before he answers. Nao stays at the doorway viewing distance and lowers his pointing hand, letting Ritsu choose whether to turn it back. No teacher’s desk, grading sheet or demand to repaint. Nao: The water pulls me past the bench. Is the bench where you want me to stop? Ritsu: I don’t want it to look like a postcard. Nao: Then show me the part you care about. You keep hiding it.

Nao joins Aya at the wall plan. Ren approaches Ritsu at the easel but stays outside the tool space. Ritsu’s brush stops before it reaches the board. Ren: Maybe try two versions and ask which one people like? Ritsu: It isn’t a button. Ren: I meant—

Ritsu lays the brush on the tool table and lets out a quiet breath before speaking. Ren keeps his hands clear of the board and lets his unfinished explanation drop. Ritsu looks at him for the request, without turning cold or raising his voice. Ren takes a small step back and lets the silence last. Ritsu: Could you just look for a minute? Without trying to fix it? Ren: Sorry. I jumped in too soon.

Ren pulls a chair to the clean side of the desk, leaving the painting area clear. He starts to sit at the far end, then checks Ritsu’s face. Ritsu looks at the chair farthest from him, then taps the one at the window end. His brush hand has relaxed. Ren: Would you rather I went? Ritsu: No. Sit here. I can hear you better.

Both look at the board from a distance. Ren’s laptop remains closed. Ritsu glances at the spare chair, then back to the painted harbour bench, his brush hand relaxed. He leaves the sentence about five minutes unfinished with a small smile. Ren smiles at the recognisable habit and stays; he does not need to explain or complete it. Ren: Why that bench? Ritsu: It’s quiet there. I always mean to stay five minutes.

The afternoon light moves across the same window. Ren organizes site notes while Ritsu makes two bench studies, ticks the more open version and leaves both unfinished. A small local winter-show application notice is pinned only beside Ritsu’s work: deadline October 16, decision October 23. Ritsu tells Ren what he is trying for, not why the work will win. He pauses with the pencil above the unfinished study before saying “First time,” then sets it down. Keep the nervous beat small; he does not explain it. They pack their own materials. Ren’s phone shows the breakfast café; Ritsu recognizes it over his shoulder. Ren tilts the screen for him instead of hiding it. Ritsu: I’m applying to a winter show outside campus. First time I’ve tried one. Ren: Then I’m glad you let me see this first. Ritsu: That place does breakfast? I’m coming with you. Ren: I hadn’t worked up to asking you yet.

They carry their bags out through the courtyard. Ritsu stops before the residence turn. Ritsu meets Ren’s eyes. Ren’s answer comes too quickly; he starts to turn, then returns for one more look. Ritsu stays at the junction until Ren takes the residence path. Ritsu: Have breakfast with me tomorrow. Eight? Ren: And then back to work? Ritsu: It’s a date, Ren. The work can wait. Ren: Oh. Yes. Eight. I’ll be there.