Yuuto locked the door of his apartment before leaving for school. The morning air outside was crisp, sunlight painting golden lines across the road. He puts his earbuds in, though no music is playing. Just a habit—something to block the world.
Living alone was fine, peaceful, and sometimes lonely, but now I have the habit of being alone. No one telling him what to do, no awkward conversations. But some mornings, especially quiet ones like this, the silence felt a bit too loud.
He tugged his bangs lower and started walking to school. Then-
"Kurokawa-kun~!"
He stopped mid-step. The voice was bright and annoyingly familiar.
Turning, he saw her—Hikari Amamiya—hurrying up with a soda can in hand, ponytail bouncing, her uniform perfectly imperfect like always.
"You could at least slow down when your girlfriend calls you," she pouted playfully.
"I didn't hear you," he said.
"Liar." She smirked. "You always hear me."
She pressed the cold can into his hand. "Drink this. You look like a zombie."
He blinked at it. Melon soda. Her favorite.
"…Thanks."
Her grin widened. "Wow. You said it. What's next? A smile?"
He looked away. "Don't push it."
They walked the rest of the way in silence, her humming softly beside him. He didn't mind it. Her presence, though loud, didn't weigh on him the way others did.
At the school gate, she gave him a playful wink before heading toward her circle of friends. Yuuto slipped through the crowd, back into the shadows, and reached his class and sat at his usual seat without anyone noticing him.
The room buzzed with chatter, and as homeroom started, the teacher clapped for attention.
"Alright, everyone. We've got a new student joining us today."
Everyone seems excited except me.
The door slid open.
A tall boy stepped in with a cheerful smile and messy brown hair. Confident, like he didn't need to try to belong.
"Yo. I'm Ren Shimizu. Just moved here from Osaka. I like playing guitar, ramen, and sleeping in. Hope we get along."
The class chuckled. Girls leaned in, already curious.
"Shimizu, take the empty seat in front of Kurokawa."
Yuuto glanced slightly as Ren made his way over and dropped into the seat.
"Yo, Kurokawa-kun, right?" Ren turned around with a smile.
Yuuto just gave a small nod.
After homeroom, the class quickly surrounded Ren. His carefree attitude had already won them over.
"Shimuzu-kun! You're so cool! Are you really from Osaka?" one girl asked, her eyes wide with admiration.
"Is it true you're in a band? You have a guitar, right?" another student piped up.
Ren flashed a grin. "Yeah, I play a bit. But I'm still learning. You're welcome to listen whenever."
The girls giggled, but the attention seemed to energize Ren rather than overwhelm him.
Yuuto, sitting quietly at his desk, could only watch as Ren became the center of attention. His usual space—silent and unnoticed—felt like a distant memory.
Suddenly, Ren glanced over his shoulder, noticing Yuuto. "Yo, Kurokawa-kun. You got any cool hobbies?"
The attention shifted to Yuuto.
"Oh! Kurokawa-kun! Are you already friends with Ren-kun?" someone asked. "That's rare."
Yuuto stiffened, his heart skipping a beat.
Before he could respond, another girl said, her eyes gleaming. "You're so quiet, Kurokawa-kun. Why don't you talk more?"
Ren laughed, nudging Yuuto lightly. "Come on, don't be shy."
Yuuto opened his mouth to say something, but another voice cut through the air.
"Hey, don't bother with him. He's a loner." It was a boy from the back of the room, leaning over Ren's desk. "Kurokawa's the type that doesn't talk to anyone."
A couple of students nodded, muttering under their breath. "Yeah, he doesn't even respond to Hikari."
Ren raised an eyebrow, looking at the students who spoke. "Is that so?"
Yuuto didn't react. He stared out the window, trying his best to ignore the sudden awkwardness.
Ren's eyes twinkled, though. "Well, I guess that means I've got to be the one to break the ice, huh?"
Yuuto didn't react. Class starts muttering.
Someone says, "Try your best, Shimuzu."
After class, Yuuto made his way to the shoe lockers. As he bent down to swap his shoes—
"Hey again, Kurokawa-kun."
Ren leaned against the next locker, casual as ever.
"You're always this quiet, or just allergic to social interaction?"
Yuuto didn't answer. He closed his locker and walked off.
Ren just shrugged. "Man of few words. Respect."
Later, during break, Yuuto stood in front of the vending machine, finger hovering over the buttons.
"Yuzu Soda?" Ren asked from beside him. "You've got some taste."
Yuuto pressed the button. The can clunk down. He took it and walked away without a word.
Ren just shrugged. "Man of few words. Respect."
The next day, during lunch break, Yuuto went to the rooftop. He sat down by the edge, unwrapping his sandwich in peace. The rooftop was always quiet—his space.
The door creaked open.
"Whoa, man. Oh! You are also here?"
Ren stepped out, lunch in hand. "What a coincidence, man."
Yuuto sighed and thought, "Coincidence?" Ren sat a few feet away, giving him space but not leaving.
"You're like a stray cat. Shows up where it's quiet, eats alone, glares at people who get too close."
Yuuto said nothing.
Ren didn't seem to mind. "Well, I guess I'll hang around too."
The next day after school, Yuuto stopped by the local bookstore. He stood between the manga shelves, thumbing through a volume of Silver Cat Chronicles when—
"Whoa, you read that too?"
Ren was back again, holding the same volume.
Yuuto exhaled. "What do you want?"
His tone was flat, but a bit sharper this time.
Ren blinked, then smiled. "I just want to be your friend."
Yuuto stared at him like he'd just said something absurd.
"You're weird," he muttered.
Ren laughed. "Probably. But you're the first guy to ignore me four times in a row. I kinda respect that."
Yuuto looked away. "You're annoying."
"That's what all say." He leaned back casually. "Next time, call me Ren."
There was a pause. Yuuto stared at him.
"…Yuuto," he said quietly.
Ren gave him a thumbs-up. "Progress."
The days passed like this—Ren appearing everywhere, casually breaking down Yuuto's walls with his constant presence. Yuuto never minded the company, but he always kept a distance. It was only after a few more encounters that he realized something odd.
Ren didn't need him to talk. He didn't care if Yuuto was a loner. It was almost like Ren was simply there... without expectations.
As the days went by, Yuuto started to notice something he hadn't before. The silence wasn't as heavy. Ren had a way of making Yuuto feel like maybe... maybe it wasn't so bad being around people. But he feels something was missing. Something that makes him unhappy.
The thought left a strange feeling in his chest. He wasn't sure what he was missing.
But he ignores that feeling and thinks about his first friend.
Was this what it felt like to have a friend?
Meanwhile, Hikari…
Hikari stood by the window, arms crossed.
She watched them leave—Yuuto and the transfer kid. Not talking much, but walking side by side.
He didn't even glance back.
She hadn't gotten a single word in all day.
No teasing. No reactions. No quiet smiles.
Something pulled in her chest. Tight. Annoying.
"Tch…"
She turned away and walked back to her club, eyes lingering just a little longer.