Aiko's world became more distant, and Ren felt the loss keenly. He threw himself into his poetry, channeling the ache into words he could never say aloud. His friends, noticing the change in him, tried to support him, though they too struggled to understand.
Mei reached out to Aiko one afternoon, determined to break through her friend's growing silence. "Aiko, what's going on? You've been so distant."
Aiko forced a smile, hiding the cracks beneath her cheerful façade. "I'm fine, Mei. Just... dealing with things."
But Mei knew her too well, sensing the pain beneath her words. With friends like Mei and Ren's loyal companion Sora by their sides, both Aiko and Ren tried to face the shadows encroaching on their lives, but the autumn leaves hinted at an inevitable change.