The first thing Yuuto noticed when he opened his eyes was the sound of rain.
It wasn't the soft, calming kind.
It was the kind that carried weight — heavy drops striking the roof like impatient knocks.
The hotel room was dim, lit only by the glow of the small desk lamp.
The hotel owner was asleep in the armchair, head tilted, his book sliding from his fingers.
Yuuto sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes. His phone was lying on the table beside him.
One unread message.
From Aiden.
> You look peaceful with him.
Don't worry, I won't bother you again.
The words blurred for a moment as Yuuto's vision tightened.
His breath hitched, and for a few seconds, all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart.
No. This wasn't right.
Aiden wouldn't just send this and disappear.
Would he?
He threw off the blanket, his sudden movement startling the hotel owner awake.
"Yuuto? What's wrong?"
"I'll be back," Yuuto muttered, his voice unsteady. He didn't wait for a response before slipping on his shoes.l
The lobby was silent, the air heavy with the smell of rain.
Outside, the streets were nearly empty, puddles forming under the streetlamps.
Aiden's bike wasn't there.
Yuuto dialed his number.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Again.
With each unanswered call, the knot in his stomach pulled tighter.
Where would he go?
Yuuto racked his brain, remembering every conversation, every casual mention of places.
Then it hit him —
Aiden had once told him about a cliffside road.
A place he went to when he "needed to clear his head.
Yuuto grabbed the hotel's spare bike keys from the counter.
The rain soaked him instantly as he sped down the road, the cold wind biting at his skin.
Halfway there, he saw it.
A familiar bike parked on the roadside.
And a lone figure, standing close — far too close — to the cliff's edge.
Yuuto braked hard, his heart pounding as he approached.
The rain blurred his vision, but even through it, he could see Aiden's posture — still, but not at ease.
"Aiden!" Yuuto shouted over the storm.
Aiden turned slowly, rain dripping from his hair, his eyes unreadable
"Why are you here?"
His voice wasn't angry.
It wasn't even cold.
It was… empty.
Yuuto's mouth opened, but nothing came out.
The distance between them felt heavier than the rain.
In that moment, Yuuto knew —
if he didn't act now,
he might lose Aiden for good.