Ryu Kento's eyes snapped open as the sound of his alarm blared beside him. His body tensed, as though the dream had left a lingering weight on him, and for a moment, he couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was off. It wasn't just the oddness of the dream itself; it was how real it had felt—the warmth of the voice, the beauty of the flowers, the sensation of running after her.
He rubbed his eyes and sat up, glancing around his small apartment. The sterile quietness settled in, the same way it always did after he woke. The walls were bare, the furniture sparse—a far cry from what he'd once hoped his home would be. He was alone, as usual. No parents. No family.
"It was just a dream," he muttered, though the lingering sensation of that distant voice made it hard to convince himself. Something in his chest tightened, an ache that had nothing to do with the morning chill.
With a sigh, Ryu swung his legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath his feet. He stared down at his hands for a moment, wondering if there was any meaning to it all. His heart still raced, as if that distant voice was still calling him.
Deciding he needed some fresh air to clear his head, Ryu grabbed his jacket and stepped outside for a jog. The early morning streets were quiet, with only a few cars passing by and the occasional bird fluttering overhead. The cool breeze hit his face, but his mind was too full of other thoughts to appreciate it fully.
Lost in his thoughts, Ryu barely noticed the girl walking toward him until it was too late. He collided with her, a sudden crash of bodies that sent them both stumbling backward. Ryu quickly reached out, steadying her.
"Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," he muttered, his heart pounding not just from the jolt of the collision, but from the surprise of meeting someone, anyone, in such an intimate moment.
The girl, wide-eyed, quickly apologized as well. "No, it's my fault. I wasn't paying attention."
Ryu finally looked at her, and for the first time that morning, his thoughts seemed to clear. She was... pretty, her features delicate but striking, and there was a soft warmth to her presence that made the cold morning feel a little less empty. He opened his mouth to say something—anything—but the words stuck in his throat. She had already started to walk away.
"I... uh, hey!" he tried, but his voice barely rose above a whisper, too late.
She turned back, a small smile on her lips. "Sorry, gotta go. Have a good day!"
And just like that, she was gone, leaving Ryu standing there, staring after her, his heart sinking.
He shook his head, disappointed in himself. "Why didn't you say anything?" he muttered to no one in particular.
Sighing, he continued his jog, the encounter lingering in his mind longer than he expected. By the time he returned home, the world around him was beginning to wake up. He opened the front door, only to find his uncle standing there, smiling warmly at him.
"Good morning, Ryu," his uncle greeted. "You're up early."
Ryu nodded, a small, forced smile on his lips. "Yeah, needed some air."
His uncle chuckled softly. "Well, don't forget to eat something before you go. You're looking a little thin." He reached out, gently tapping Ryu's shoulder in a familiar, comforting way. "You've been running yourself ragged lately, haven't you?"
Ryu didn't answer right away. Instead, he went over to the kitchen and pulled out some bread. His uncle watched him for a moment before stepping closer, his voice lowering just enough for Ryu to hear the concern.
"Ryu, I know you don't talk much about it, but I want you to know I'm here, okay? If you ever want to talk, you don't have to keep it all inside."
Ryu paused, his hand hovering over the jar of peanut butter. His uncle always had a way of making him feel both guilty and comforted at the same time. Ryu never wanted to burden him with his past, with the scars his parents had left on him.
"I'm fine, Uncle," Ryu said quietly, his voice betraying him. He could feel the tension in his chest, the usual weight he carried whenever he thought about his parents. They had been gone for so long, but their absence still hung over him like a shadow he couldn't outrun.
His uncle sighed, the weariness in his eyes apparent. "I know you think you're fine, but you don't always have to carry everything by yourself. Just remember that, okay? You've got me."
Ryu finally turned, offering a weak smile. "Thanks, Uncle."
His uncle smiled back, his face softening. "You're welcome. Now, make sure you don't skip breakfast again. You need it more than you realize."
Ryu nodded, feeling a strange mixture of comfort and guilt. His uncle had done more for him than anyone else ever had, yet Ryu couldn't help but feel like he was letting him down.
After a few more quiet moments, Ryu finished his breakfast in silence, the weight of the conversation lingering. He glanced at the clock. He didn't have much time to get to school.
"I'm heading out," he said, his voice more firm now.
"Take care of yourself," his uncle said, his voice gentle but filled with that ever-present care. "I'll see you later."
Ryu nodded, grabbing his bag and heading toward the door. But before he left, he turned back. "Thanks again, Uncle. I'll be okay."
His uncle waved him off with a smile, and Ryu stepped outside, the weight of the day settling onto his shoulders as he prepared for another day of school. But the memory of the girl from his jog kept creeping back into his mind, making the day feel just a little less ordinary.
---
Ryu entered the school gates, his footsteps heavy, each step echoing in the empty hallway. He wasn't in the mood to talk today. As usual, he sat at his usual spot in class, away from the others. His eyes remained downcast, not a smile in sight. He was used to this solitude. It wasn't like he had many people to talk to.
As he sat, his thoughts wandered again, back to the jog, to the girl he had bumped into. Her smile lingered in his mind, and for a moment, it was the only thing that broke through the fog of his usual routine.
"Hey, Kento!" a voice called from behind.
Ryu looked up just as his two friends appeared, sliding into the seats next to him. They were loud, full of energy, and had a way of pulling him out of his usual shell, even if just a little.
"Why the long face?" one of them asked, chuckling as they gave him a playful shove.
Ryu's lips twitched into a small, genuine smile—something he rarely did. "Nothing," he said, though the smile lingered as his friends continued chatting with him.
Before long, the teacher entered the classroom, signaling the start of class. As the students settled down, the teacher looked around with a welcoming smile.
"Good morning, everyone. I have an announcement before we begin today's lesson. We have a new transfer student joining us. Please welcome her."
The students around Ryu began whispering to each other, some already glancing over to the door with curiosity. The atmosphere in the room shifted.
"She's pretty," someone murmured, and another voice chimed in with a similar comment. "Wow, she's gorgeous."
Ryu barely looked up, but his attention was immediately drawn to the door as the student walked in.
It was the girl from his jog.
Their eyes met.
Ryu froze. His heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be.
The class murmured as the girl stood by the teacher's desk, her eyes meeting Ryu's for a moment longer than was comfortable. There was no mistaking it—she was the same girl.
And Ryu, for the first time in a long while, couldn't breathe.