Renji kept walking along the path. The sun hung high and merciless, flooding everything with light without mercy. No shadow dared appear; the world was exposed, raw, like an open wound under a spotlight. The heat pressed on his shoulders, his neck, his eyelids, but he didn't slow his pace. His movements were steady, mechanical, as if his body moved on its own while his mind stayed somewhere far away.
A week ago.
The memory came suddenly, sharp and clear, like a knife sliding under the skin.
It was after classes. The corridors were already emptying. Renji walked slowly, bag over one shoulder, thinking about nothing in particular. Suddenly a girl appeared in front of him Ria.
She blocked his way, tilted her head.
"Come with us."
Renji stopped. Looked at her.
"With who 'us'?"
Ria laughed short, mocking.
"You'll see. Come on, don't be a coward. I want to show you something interesting."
She grabbed his sleeve, pulled lightly. Renji could have shaken her off. He didn't. Something in her tone made him follow curiosity, boredom, or just exhaustion. He went.
They reached the old wing of the school the one where the toilets were rarely used. The door creaked. Inside dim light from a small window, smell of bleach and damp tiles.
There stood Aya.
His Aya.
Almost naked. Shirt unbuttoned, skirt hiked up, underwear on the floor. Her skin looked pale under the fluorescent light, arms hanging limply at her sides. She didn't look at Renji. She looked at the tiles.
Next to her Ken. He stood close, too close. His hand was already on her waist.
Ria leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
"Watch," she whispered. "This is what happens when you're not looking."
Ken leaned in. Kissed Aya on the lips slowly at first, then deeper. His hands moved down her back, under the shirt, over her breasts. Aya didn't push him away. Didn't resist. Just stood there, eyes half-closed, breathing shallow.
Renji didn't move.
He sat down in the corner, back against the cold wall, knees pulled to his chest. A drop of sweat slowly slid down his forehead, then another, but he didn't wipe it. He just watched.
Ken pressed Aya against the sink. Her back arched. He entered her hard, without pause. Aya gasped, but the sound drowned. Ken moved faster. Hands gripped her hips. The sound of skin against skin echoed off the tiles. Aya's head fell back, hair sticking to her neck. She never once looked at Renji.
It lasted minutes. Or hours. Time lost meaning.
When it ended, Ken pulled out, zipped up, patted Aya on the cheek like she was a pet.
"Good girl."
He left. Ria followed, laughing softly as the door closed behind them.
Aya remained. She slid down the wall opposite Renji, knees to chest, arms wrapped around herself. She still didn't look at him.
Renji sat in silence for a long time. Sweat dried on his skin. The fluorescent light buzzed overhead.
Then Aya lifted her head. Eyes red, voice broken.
"Renji… I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
He didn't answer. Just stared at the floor.
Then he stood up.
"That's it," he said quietly.
Aya flinched.
"Renji, please…"
He didn't turn around. Just walked past, opened the door, stepped into the corridor.
From that day on he hadn't said a word to her. Not a glance. Nothing.
Now, on the sun-drenched path, Renji kept walking. The memory no longer hurt. It simply sat inside him cold, heavy, eternal.
The sun kept shining.
It didn't forgive.
To be continued…