As autumn arrived, Ren felt a shift in the air, a heaviness settling over him. Aiko grew quieter, her usual laughter dimming as she seemed to retreat within herself. When he asked her what was wrong, she brushed him off with a gentle smile that didn't reach her eyes.
One evening, as the leaves fell around them, Ren found the courage to ask, "Aiko, are you okay?"
Aiko looked away, her voice a soft whisper. "Sometimes, it feels like I'm carrying too much, like I'm trapped in expectations I can't escape from."
Ren reached out, hesitating before he placed his hand over hers. "You don't have to carry it alone."
For a moment, she let him in, resting her head on his shoulder, but her silence spoke volumes. The weight of unspoken words lay between them as the leaves continued to fall.