Current Day Tokyo
The classroom was too loud.
Not loud like shouting. Just constant noise. Chairs scraping. People laughing. Someone tapping their pen over and over like they didn't even notice they were doing it.
I sat near the window, third row from the back.
Same seat as always.
Same view too.
The sky was clear today. No clouds. Just blue stretching out forever. If I stared long enough, it almost felt like I wasn't even here.
"Oi, Ren. You even listening?"
I blinked and looked forward.
Kai was already turned around in his seat, staring at me.
"Oh. Yeah."
"You didn't hear a word I said," he said. "I asked if you did the homework."
"I did."
"Liar."
Ren sighed and reached into his bag, pulling out the worksheet and sliding it onto Kai's desk.
Kai froze for a second, then grinned. "You're actually the best."
"You say that every time."
"And I mean it every time."
He started copying immediately, not even trying to hide it.
Ren leaned back in his chair and glanced at the empty seat beside him.
It had been empty for two weeks.
No one ever sat there.
He didn't mind. It was quiet. No one talking. No one asking questions.
Just space.
The bell rang.
Their teacher walked in, already looking tired.
"Alright, settle down."
Nobody did.
She sighed. "We have a transfer student today."
That got everyone's attention.
Of course it did.
The door slid open.
And then she walked in.
At first, Ren didn't think much of it.
Just another student.
But then she stopped at the front of the class.
Light brown hair, a little messy like she didn't care too much about fixing it perfectly. It sat just above her shoulders.
Her eyes moved across the room.
Not nervous.
Not excited.
Just calm.
Like she had already been here before.
"Introduce yourself," the teacher said.
She nodded.
"My name is Airi."
Her voice was soft, but clear.
"I transferred here recently. Nice to meet you."
That was it.
No extra effort. No trying to impress anyone.
Just simple.
People started whispering.
"She's kinda pretty…"
"Yeah…"
Kai leaned back toward Ren. "Bro."
Ren didn't answer.
Because yeah.
He saw her.
He just didn't feel like saying anything about it.
"Alright," the teacher said. "Let's see… where can we put you…"
Her eyes scanned the room.
Then landed on the empty seat.
Right next to Ren.
"Take that seat."
Of course.
Airi walked down the aisle.
Each step felt louder than it should've.
Or maybe Ren was just paying too much attention.
She stopped beside the desk.
Then looked at him.
"Is this seat taken?"
Her voice was quieter up close.
Ren shook his head. "No."
"Okay."
She pulled the chair out and sat down.
That was it.
No big moment.
Just someone sitting next to him.
Kai turned around again instantly.
"Hey, I'm Kai."
"Airi."
"That's a nice name."
"Thanks."
Kai pointed at Ren. "And this guy is "
"Don't," Ren said.
Kai smirked. "He's just quiet. Don't worry about him."
"I'm not quiet."
"Sure."
Airi didn't react.
She just opened her bag and took out her notebook.
Conversation over.
Kai turned back around, already bored.
Ren glanced sideways.
She was writing like nothing was different.
Like she'd always been there.
It was weird.
Most transfer students tried harder.
She didn't.
She just… existed.
And somehow, that stood out more.
The lesson dragged on.
Ren tried to focus.
But his attention kept drifting.
Not because of anything big.
Just small things.
The sound of her pen.
The way she turned the page.
The slight movement when she adjusted her posture.
Normal things.
But they felt louder now.
Closer.
The bell rang.
Break time.
The classroom exploded into noise.
Kai spun around again. "Alright, now we can actually talk."
"You never stop," Ren said.
"Nope."
Kai looked at Airi. "Where'd you transfer from?"
She paused.
"Another school."
Kai blinked. "…Yeah, I figured that."
"I wasn't joking."
That almost made Ren laugh.
Kai scratched his head. "Right… okay."
Airi stood up.
"I'm getting a drink."
And just like that, she left.
Kai watched her go. "…Yeah. She's different."
"No shit," Ren muttered.
He looked at the empty seat again.
But this time…
It didn't feel the same.
The next few days were quiet.
No big moments.
No sudden friendship.
Just small things.
She came to class.
Sat down.
Listened.
Left.
Sometimes Kai talked to her.
Sometimes she answered.
Sometimes she didn't.
Ren didn't talk to her much.
Not because he didn't want to.
He just didn't know what to say.
And she didn't seem like the type to force it either.
It was quiet.
But not awkward.
Just quiet.
On the fourth day, it rained.
Hard.
Rain hit the windows non stop, filling the room with noise.
Everyone complained.
"I didn't bring an umbrella…"
"Same…"
Kai turned around. "Ren, you got one?"
"Yeah."
"Let me borrow it."
"No."
"C'mon."
"No."
"Fake friend."
Ren ignored him.
The final bell rang.
People rushed out.
Ren packed slowly.
No reason to rush.
Then he noticed.
Airi hadn't moved.
"You're not going?" he asked.
She looked at the window.
"I don't have an umbrella."
"Oh."
Ren stood there for a second.
Thinking.
Then…
"…You can share mine."
The words came out before he could stop them.
She looked at him.
"…Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
She nodded. "Okay."
They stepped outside together.
The rain was loud.
The ground was soaked.
Ren opened the umbrella.
It wasn't big.
So they stood close.
Closer than he was used to.
"…Thanks," she said.
"It's fine."
They walked.
No talking.
Just rain.
Then she spoke.
"You always sit by the window."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Ren thought for a second.
"…It's quiet."
She nodded.
"I like quiet too."
That was the first real thing she said.
Not just an answer.
Something real.
They reached a corner.
"This is where I go," she said.
"Same."
"…Oh."
They stood there for a moment.
"Thanks for the umbrella," she said.
"No problem."
A small pause.
"I'll bring one tomorrow."
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
Another pause.
Then she nodded.
"See you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
She walked off.
Ren stood there for a bit.
Watching the rain.
Then turned and headed home.
The next day, the seat next to him wasn't empty anymore.
And for some reason…
Ren didn't want it to be.