It was snowing softly.
The kind of snow that felt more like silence than weather.
Chris had his headphones on, the hood of his jacket pulled low. His steps were steady, his eyes... blank. Like he was here, but not here.
He entered the school building.
Whispers followed him like ghosts.
Girls stared, their gazes sticky—eyes filled with daydreams and "what ifs."
Chris ignored them all.
No smirk. No glance. No cocky strut like before.
Just silence.
Time passed, like it always does.
And Chris? He moved through it like a shadow.
---
Art class.
Airi sat in front of him, like always.
Same seating plan. Same awkward air.
Chris didn't talk much. He didn't need to.
His pencil spoke for him. Every line perfect. Every shade intentional.
Across from him, Airi was fighting her sketch.
Lines too light, shading off, proportions a mess.
She looked stressed.
The bell rang. Class ended.
Chris leaned forward slightly, peeking at her page.
"That looks nice," he said casually, voice soft.
Airi's entire body tensed. Her face went red like a warning light.
She quickly closed the sketchbook.
"D-Don't look!" she stammered.
Chris blinked, then looked down politely.
"Oh… okay."
"It's just… bad. Not something people should see…" Airi mumbled.
Chris smiled faintly.
"I love it."
Airi paused. "What?"
"I said I love it."
His voice had no hesitation—just calm truth.
"What do you think art is, Airi?
Art's not perfection. It's someone splashing their soul onto a page.
And I've seen your soul.
It's beautiful."
Airi stared at him like he'd just spoken a language no one else ever had.
And for a second… she forgot how cold it was.
"…Thanks," she whispered, heart pounding.
---
After school.
The halls were clearing. Students were racing toward home, snow crunching beneath shoes, and laughter bouncing off the walls.
Chris stayed behind. In the art room. Alone with his thoughts.
From the window, he caught a glimpse of Airi.
Her small figure walking across the school grounds, bundled in her coat, hands in her sleeves.
He stood up.
"Maybe… I should walk her home," he murmured.
He went to the door. Grabbed the handle.
Locked.
His brows furrowed. "What the hell…?"
He turned to the window, climbed onto the ledge for a better view.
His breath hitched.
Airi was no longer alone.
Seven familiar silhouettes closed in around her like vultures circling a lamb.
His old crew.
---
> "You and Chris have been spending a lotta time together, haven't ya?"
One of them said with a twisted grin.
Airi stepped back. Her voice quiet but firm. "I'm going."
Another guy moved into her path. "Not so fast."
Chris slammed his hand against the window.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!"
They looked up. Smirking.
"Shut the fuck up, Chris," one of them yelled back. "Let us have a little fun."
Chris's eyes sharpened.
Memories flashed like broken glass—his mistakes, his ego, everything he hated about who he used to be.
---
– to be continued
~Rei