Hi.
I'm Ren Mori.
People called me Rain.
Because I'm quiet.
Because I'm independent.
Because I was born on a rainy day.
I don't have a best friend.
I eat alone.
Walk alone.
Do projects alone.
I prefer it this way.
I've been like this since I was young.
Keeping to my self.
Since kindergarten.
It wasn't that anyone minded;
I just don't need them.
Some teachers even joked.
That I was allergic to people.
I laughed..
But sometimes, I wondered if they were right.
—
I've been in this school since kindergarten.
Same halls.
Same classrooms.
Same silence.
And now—
It's the last year.
Grade 12.
Graduation felt close.
Too close.
My life had always followed a routine.
Quiet.
Predictable.
I liked knowing what would happen next.
Nothing unexpected.
Nothing painful.
Everything was fine.
Until…
Yuto Kori.
—
Yuto Kori.
Transferred last year.
Average grades.
Nothing special on paper.
But somehow—
evryone knew him.
Athlete.
Every competition.
Every match.
Always MVP.
Always wining.
People gathered around him without effort.
People talked about him like he belonged in the spot light.
Meanwhile—
I was ranked Top 1.
Since kindergarten.
Years of studying.
Late nights.
Perfect scores.
Still invisible.
No cheers.
No attention.
Hard work stayed quiet.
Talent made noise.
I didn't hate him.
…At least, not yet.
—
First day of Grade 12.
I stepped into the classroom—
And froze.
The desks were arranged
in pairs.
My chest tightened.
Why?
Did that mean.
I had to sit with someone?
Before i could react—
" Ren."
A hand touched my shoulder.
The teacher smiled kindly.
" You've been alone long enough,'' she said gently.
" it's your last year. Make some memories.''
I nodded.
I didn't want to.
"You'll sit at the back," she added.
"With Yuto."
…Of course.
—
He was already there.
Asleep.
Messy hair.
Black, with blonde highlights.
Sweat clung on his neck,
his collar dump
Like he'd come straight
from practice.
I sat down.
Too close.
I moved my desk slightly away.
I didn't want to touch him.
Suddenly-
He moved.
He looked up.
Oh.
My heart skipped.
Did i wake him up?
He glanced down at his shirt,
then stood up.
Took of his jacket.
His shirt.
My breathe caught.
Before i could think,
I shut my eyes immediately.
Idiot.
"Relax,'' he said, amused.
" We're both guys."
A quiet laugh.
Warm.
I heard fabric shift.
Fresh clothes.
"Done," he said.
I opened my eyes.
He looked calm.
Unbothered.
My desk moved.
He pulled it closer.
Our desks touched.
"There,'' he said.
" I'll sit near you."
I stiffened.
"You don't have to,'' i said.
"I want to,'' he replied easily.
—
Class went on.
I couldn't focus.
I felt his presence beside me.
"Ren.''
My name sounded strange from his mouth.
"Yes?''
"That's your name, right?"
I nodded.
"I've seen you before," he said.
"A lot."
…Why?
"You stay late," he continued.
"When everyone else leaves. When the classroom's empty."
My chest tightened.
Why was he watching me?.
"I thought,'' he added casually,
" you're cool."
Cool?
The word landed somewhere deep.
Unwanted.
Uninvited.
"You don't know me," I said.
"And you don't have to pretend."
"Pretend?"
"Like you care," I continued.
"People like you don't."
The bell rang.
—
The classroom filled with noise.
"Yuto!''
"Practice!"
"MVP!"
His friends appeared at the classsroom door loudly.
He stood up.
Then stopped.
"I wasn't pretending," he said.
I didn't look at him.
"…Wait a second," one said, squinting.
"Are you… talking to him?"
Sounds of his friends.
Another leaned over, smirking.
"The quiet top student? Seriously?"
I froze.
They were laughing, yes—but not at me.
I.. I didn't know.
"Who made you sit there?'' One teased.
"You can't just… pick a seat like that!''
"Yeah," another added,
" people might get the wrong idea. You looked… weird."
Yuto sighed.
"You guys are overthinking it," he said calmly.
"It's just a seat."
One snorted.
"Relax? Dude seriously… don't tell me you like him or something!"
Laughter.
My chest twisted.
My fingers tightened around my bag.
He's… smiling at them???
No defending me.
No explaining.
He's…just like everyone else.
Heat rose to my cheeks.
Something fluttered in my stomach.
A tight, panicking, sick kind of flutter.
I stood up.
"I'm leaving," i said quietly.
Yuto looked at me.
"Ren—''
I didn't wait.
I left.
—
That afternoon—
I moved my desk farther away.
When Yuto sat down,
I didn't look at him.
"Ren?" He called softly.
I ignored it.
I answered cold.
Short.
I left school early.
Returned to the silence i trusted.
Because if being near him.
meant being something people laugh at, then distance was safer.
Much safer.
—
But that night—
I remembered his face.
Not angry.
Not mocking.
Just… calming.
And my chest ached in strange way.
Like something fluttered there.
That shouldn't exist.
Like… regret and longing
tangled with irritation.
—
To be continued.
🌸🌧️