Winter blanketed the city in quiet, and with it came a silence that weighed heavy on Ren's heart. Aiko's presence grew faint as she became harder to reach, her world closing off from him despite his best efforts.
On a snowy evening, they met at the train station, surrounded by the hush of falling snow. Aiko was quiet, her gaze distant, but Ren couldn't hold back his concern any longer.
"Aiko," he began, his voice trembling, "I feel like you're slipping away. Please... let me in."
Aiko looked at him, her face shadowed. "Ren… some things can't be fixed. I don't want to hurt you."
Their conversation was interrupted by Hana and Takumi, who had come to see the lights, oblivious to the storm raging within Ren and Aiko. The snow fell heavier, muffling their unspoken confessions.