It was a gloomy day in Nada High School. Rain hammered against the building for hours on end. The heavy yet rhythmic of restless students shuffling of students who waited for the long school day to end.
Restless. Nervous.
I have to speak to her. Ren wants to be friends with her.
Just for Ren. Just for Ren.
Repeating in his head like a mantra. Calming himself down. Giving the excuse that it's all for Ren.
Anxiety swirled in his thoughts.
For Furayu, he wished the rain would never stop, in fact he wished time to stop. Having to speak to Natsumi felt like a chore, but it was for Ren.
As he walked through the corridors, an opportunity of a lifetime presented itself. Natsumi walking out of a classroom.
By herself.
She walked steadily through the hallway.
Furayu quickly approached her, his voice filled with nerves.
"U-ugh… Natsumi, do you have a second?"
She seemed to freeze on the spot as Furayu spoke to her.
…huh? Did he just…
No I'm dreaming right?
Slowly turning to him, beet red in the face.
"Y-yeah, what's up?" Her tone hesitant.
Is he gonna ask me out…?
The air between the two grew heavier by the second.
"If you wouldn't mind…" Furyau's eyes shifted nervously. "Could you come to Ren's house with me? I just want to check if she's okay."
He gulped anxiously, hoping she wouldn't find him weird for suddenly asking her out like this.
"It'd feel weird doing that all by myself you see and erm like I thought you and her are friends and all like…" He quickly added on pathetically.
"O-oh… yeah, ugh…" Natsumi faltered, her heart pounding.
Oh… It's just that. I thought he was gonna be asking me o-
Even the thought of Furayu asking her out was heart stopping.
The two slowly walked down the hallways, their footsteps in sync echoing against the walls. Outside, the last streaks of sunlight faded away, the evening embracing them, as they left for Ren's house.
Dusk slowly set in, the streetlights casting long shadows along the pavement. The two walked, an unfamiliar tension grew wafted between them.
Furayu knew he had to break the ice in this situation.
He couldn't handle the silence.
"S-so… how was your day?" Furayu asked, his voice tinged with a nervous edge.
"Yeah. It was good."
Her reply was flat, seemingly uninterested.
However her gaze was fixed on the ground, her fist clenched. Willing herself to stay composed.
Furayu has no idea who I am…
Natsumi…
His long long childhood bride…
She burdened a truth he didn't know yet.
"I need to go get some stuff from the convenience store to grab a couple things for Ren." Furayu said, slowly walking toward the half-lit sign ahead
"Okay…" Natsumi nodded timidly. Her voice was barely audible.
God. My heart is beating so loud…
The dim streetlights gave way to the soft fluorescent glow of the half-lit sign of the store. Stepping inside, the door's chime rang out.
Somewhere behind them, unnoticed, a hooded figure creeped in.
Furayu walked along the aisles, scanning the shelves for medicine and light food for Ren.
A strange presence seemed to linger on him.
But his mind was focused on making sure Natsumi felt comfortable.
"T-the stuff in here seems… like they're good quality." His awkward tone felt like he gave away his intentions.
"If you want anything just pu-" His heart stopped.
Natsumi was just behind him.
Now she isn't there?
His chest tightened with anxiety. He moved quickly through the aisles, his eyes darting left and right.
Meanwhile, Natsumi had just taken a moment to step away and catch a breather outside.
I can't believe I'm with him!
Her thoughts are like a fangirl, squealing at the sight of their idol.
She crouched down, feeling overwhelmed by the situation.
Talking to him! Being with him! Anything with him… Is so fun!
Her face red from excitement. Lost in thought.
"Hello, darling." A low, unsettling voice greeted her.
She turned. A hooded man's face was half hidden by the shadow of his hood.
But his grin stood out.
"You look a little lost. How about you come with me and I'll help."
His arm clamped around her shoulder, pulling her in close.
"G-get away." Her voice weak. Her throat dry from fear.
He steered her towards an alleyway nearby.
That's when Furayu saw them through the store window. His heart thumping.
He bolted through the door, the sound of his footsteps trudging were the only ones he heard, nothing else. Not his heart nor his thoughts intervened.
Moving off of pure instinct.
Ripping the man's arm off of Natsumi and pulling her back to him. Clutching his uniform like it was the only warmth that existed to her.
Everything was silent.
The hooded man's fury started to register with Furayu.
Snapping Furayu right back to reality, realising the situation isn't in his favour.
"Oi, what are you doing!?" The man barked. "Give my girlfriend back!"
Furayu's held onto Natsumi.
"She's mine." He shot back. "You look way too old to be with a high school student."
The hooded man was momentarily thrown off. Furayu's words had drawn attention to the situation.
Heads turned towards them, and the shopkeeper stepped outside.
"What's going on? Leave those students alone!"
His voice boomed through the night.
The man's expression twisted. His teeth gritted together. Spat at Furayu.
A low growl towards the two.
He escaped into the night, melting into the darkness of the night until he no longer was visible.
He's… so… warm… and safe…
She clung to Furayu, her sobs muffled against him. Her fingers trembled. Her mind spinning too fast to process anything that happened.
He's so kind…
Furayu, feeling her shake, slowly tightened his grip on her, keeping her in his arms.
"It's all gonna be okay." He whispered.
Natusmi's fragile walls came crashing down. Her tears gushed out. Soaking his uniform, pressing against him. Leaning on his warmth entirely.
Furayu held her, gently resting his hand on the back of her head.
Something glistened in the corner of his eye.
His gaze shifted downwards.
Natsumi's fragile hands held something so important to him.
The ring.
It seemed fake.
He refused to believe it. But the more he looked at it. The more he realised it was the real thing
His chest tightened with anxiety, his eyes widened from a shock of adrenaline entering his system.
No way… She's Saki…
How can she be called Saki?
Her name is Natsumi…
He stole another glance. It wasn't a coincidence.
It was the ring.
"Natsumi…" His voice cracked.
His heart, aching for the girl he once loved…
Was in front of him!?
As the minutes passed, Natsumi's crying slowly died down. Furyau still held her closer.
The idea of her being Saki didn't fit well with him. It just didn't feel right.
I have to slip a question or two…
Just to make sure she's Saki…
His thoughts consumed him.
He couldn't remember Saki's first name. It just was on the tip of his tongue.
"Sorry for that…" She muttered, partly muffled by her pressing her face against his shirt.
Furayu struggled to steady his thoughts, the idea that this girl is his childhood bride…
"U-ugh." Clearing his throat. "If you don't wanna come to Ren's house anymore I can completely understand."
Natsumi tugged nervously at his uniform, her cheeks glowing red.
"I'll come, don't worry." Her words were shy.
Both feeling the awkwardness of the moment, instinctively turned their heads away, faces flushed.
The silence between them grew heavier and thick with unspoken emotions.
Slowly walking out into the night, the bright glow of the convenience store was replaced by the flickering streetlamps.
Furayu's heart pounded, each beat flashing him back.
"Natsumi?" He blurted. "What kind of jewellery do you like?" He forced a smile, hoping it sounded casual.
"Yeah, I love my necklace and… I always wear this ring, I got it when I was younger!" Natsumi answered absentmindedly.
She froze.
Did…I just-
Her eyes widened in horror, trying to keep a straight face.
Furayu's throat went dry. Knowing what she had just revealed to her.
"Natsumi…" His voice dropped to a low hush. "Is your last name Saki…"
Her breath caught in the panic. Her face betrayed a tornado of emotions. She opened her mouth but only silence came.
Finally, in a trembling whisper.
"Yes…"
But Furayu's response was nothing like what she expected.
"No way!" He exclaimed, his voice breaking to a childish shrill. "I can't believe it's you!"
She froze. She stared at him blankly.
What should I say? What should I do?
Each question dug deeper into her chest.
She finally broke the silence between the two.
"I'm not her." She said calmly.
Her eyes darted towards the floor, away from his gaze.
Furayu froze, stunned but unconvinced.
"I-it's a common surname, so like…" He softly said, slowly closing the small distance between the two. "The ring… It's the ex-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Natsumi's voice snapped.
"This ring was given to me by my dad!" She yelled, her words ripped through the night.
The weight of the single lie she told, crushed her spirit. Before she even let Furayu properly process what she has said.
She bolted off.
She ran… ran away…
His arms slowly dropped to his side. The reality of what had happened hit him like a truck.
He stood there, still like a statue.
His body numb.
Soft tears trickled down his face. The grief wasn't sharp but felt heavy, suffocating, like a void swallowing him.
It felt as though it was all gone.
Meanwhile, Natsumi felt her feet pounding the ground, carrying her forward. Blindly.
The wind lashed her face, her sobs tearing through the still world filled with silence.
Each breath she took burned her heavy throat.
What the hell did I just do? How am I supposed to fix any of this?
The conversation continually replayed in her mind. Every step she took grew heavier, her sobs slowly breaking into gasps. The sting of what happened had a choke hold on her.
I hope he's okay.
Her guilty conscience weighed her down.
Furayu staggered to his feet, legs trembling.
The night slowly wrapped around him, an endless darkness. Time felt frozen, trapping him in a moment of anguish.
The warmth of his body seemed to drain itself.
What's the point anymore? I should just go home…
But then-
Ren's face pierced the fog. Her pale, fragile body, being weakened further and further surfaced in his mind.
A reminder.
Someone still needed him.
The thought of Ren's suffering reignited something inside of him.
He pressed forward. His steps, slow but firm. Each one carried him closer to Ren's house.
The flickering streetlights stretching long shadows across the path, the air was sharp and icy. But no cold could match the feeling that was burdened in his heart.
The more he moved, the more it felt like he was crawling on hot coal. As thought the street itself was burning him alive through his emotions.
I have to keep moving.
He thought. Keeping his resolve firm.
The night was silent, his thoughts raced louder with every step. Furayu clenched his fists, biting down hard, keeping himself from not giving up to get to her house.
The love he once held for Saki-
No… Natsumi.
Had to die.
The pain hollowed him.
Through the suffocating dark, the view of Ren's house came into sight.
Small rays of light shone through the windows on the second floor. His thoughts swirled. Clinging to the idea that Ren needed help.
His help.
He finally reached her door. Knocking softly against the wood. The sound echoed.
He waited. No reply.
Knocking again, harder this time with more urgency.
Then… A muffled thud. Heavy, uneven footsteps shuffled towards the door.
When it creaked open.
Furayu felt the blood from his face drain.
The girl in front of him was barely recognisable. The only familiar part of her was her bangs and her glasses.
The rest… was a nightmare.
A deep cut across her left brow. A deep bruise marred her right cheek. Her slender arms, once delicate and full of life, were now painted in bruises, from faint pink to a deep purple. Trembling violently, her frail and destroyed body leaned against the frame.
Furayu didn't think.
He moved.
Holding her up.
"Ren, what happened!?" His voice cracked.
She stared at him, empty and unsettling. A soft but weak smile formed from her lips.
The relief she seemed to feel looked like it hurt.
"Oh… it's you." She whispered, her voice delicate, dripping in pain.
Before Furayu could respond. She went limp in his arms.