The next morning felt heavier than usual.
Not just for one person—
But for two.
---
Hina walked through the school gates with her head slightly lowered.
Her steps slower.
Quieter.
---
The world around her hadn't changed.
Students still laughed.
Talked.
Lived their normal lives.
---
But for her—
Everything felt distant.
---
"…Hina!"
She heard her name.
But didn't stop.
---
Her friend caught up to her, slightly out of breath.
"Hey! I've been calling you—are you okay?"
"…I'm fine."
"You've said that like five times already."
"…Then believe it this time too."
---
Her tone was calm.
But empty.
---
Her friend frowned.
"…Did something happen?"
A pause.
"…Is it about Ren?"
---
Hina stopped walking.
Just for a second.
---
"…Don't bring him up."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
---
That alone—
Was enough of an answer.
---
"…You guys had a fight?" her friend asked carefully.
"…No."
"…Then what—"
"…We're done."
---
Silence.
---
"…What do you mean 'done'?"
Hina started walking again.
"…Exactly what it sounds like."
---
Her friend stood there—
Unsure what to say.
Because she had never seen Hina like this before.
---
---
Inside the classroom—
The atmosphere was strange.
---
Whispers.
Glances.
Subtle tension.
---
"…Hey, did you hear?"
"…Yeah, about him…"
"…No way, right?"
"…But I saw something online—"
---
Ren sat at his desk.
Silent.
Still.
---
The noise reached him.
But he didn't react.
---
Because his mind—
Was somewhere else.
---
> "…You're just a stranger."
---
Her voice echoed again.
And again.
And again.
---
His grip on his pen tightened slightly.
---
"…Rough morning?"
---
Ren looked up.
Yuto stood beside him.
Casual as always.
But his eyes—
Were sharp.
---
"…You could say that."
---
Yuto leaned against the desk.
"…So, what did you do?"
---
Ren didn't answer.
---
"…Must've been serious," Yuto continued.
"…Hina hasn't looked this bad ever."
---
Ren's expression shifted slightly.
"…She's fine."
---
"…No, she's not."
---
That hit.
---
Yuto sighed.
"…Look, I don't know what's going on between you two…"
He paused.
"…But something bigger is happening."
---
Ren's gaze sharpened.
"…What do you mean?"
---
Yuto glanced around before lowering his voice.
"…Rumors."
---
A pause.
---
"…About you."
---
Ren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What kind of rumors?"
---
"…That you're not who you say you are."
---
Silence.
---
"…And?"
---
"…And that your name isn't even Ren Takahashi."
---
The air felt heavier.
---
"…People are saying weird stuff," Yuto continued.
"…Like you're from some rich family… or hiding something."
---
Ren looked down.
---
"…People talk."
---
"…Yeah," Yuto said, straightening up.
"…but this time… it feels different."
---
Ren didn't respond.
---
Because he knew—
This wasn't random.
---
Someone was pushing it.
---
And there was only one person who would.
---
---
Takumi stood near the window.
Watching.
Observing.
---
His gaze shifted toward Ren.
---
"…Let's see how long you can keep it together."
He muttered quietly.
---
---
Lunch break.
---
Hina sat alone.
---
Her food untouched.
Her eyes unfocused.
---
She didn't notice the whispers around her.
Didn't notice the glances.
---
Because her thoughts—
Were louder than anything else.
---
"…Was I just part of your act too?"
---
Her chest tightened.
---
"…No…"
She whispered softly.
"…It can't all be fake…"
---
But then—
That silence.
---
That hesitation.
---
That answer he never gave.
---
Her hands clenched.
---
"…Why didn't you just tell me…?"
---
---
Elsewhere—
Ren stood in an empty corridor.
---
His phone buzzed.
---
He looked at the screen.
---
A message.
---
Unknown number.
---
> "You should check the situation at school."
---
His eyes narrowed.
---
Another message followed.
---
> "Things are spreading faster than expected."
---
Ren's expression hardened.
---
"…So it's begun."
---
He slipped his phone back into his pocket.
---
His calm—
Was starting to crack.
---
---
After school—
The sky had turned gray.
Clouds gathering.
Heavy.
---
Students slowly left the building.
Groups talking.
Laughing.
---
But not everyone.
---
Hina stood near the entrance.
Alone.
---
As if waiting.
---
Or maybe—
Just unable to leave yet.
---
Her eyes wandered—
Until they found him.
---
Ren.
---
For a brief moment—
Time stopped.
---
Neither of them moved.
---
Neither of them spoke.
---
Then—
Hina looked away.
---
And started walking.
---
Past him.
---
Like he wasn't even there.
---
Ren's chest tightened.
---
"…Hina—"
---
She didn't stop.
---
Didn't even react.
---
That hurt more than anything she said yesterday.
---
Because now—
He truly meant nothing.
---
---
The wind picked up.
---
And in the distance—
A faint sound could be heard.
---
Engines.
---
Multiple.
---
Approaching.
---
But no one paid attention.
Not yet.
---
Not until tomorrow.
---
Because tomorrow—
Everything would change.
---
Everything would be exposed.
---
And the life Ren had built—
Was about to collapse.
---
End of Chapter 12
---