Ren Nakamura didn't believe in fate.
If the world was fair, he wouldn't be the person he was now.
But that night—under a sky heavy with unsaid words—he began to wonder if some people were meant to meet, even if it was only for a short while.
Late Night – Ren's Apartment
Knock. Knock.
Ren sat up in bed, scowling. Who the hell was knocking at this hour?
His apartment was small, cold, empty. No one ever visited.
So when he opened the door and saw Yuki standing there, shivering, eyes red—his breath caught.
"...Hoshino?" His voice came out rough.
She tried to smile. "Hey."
But her voice—it was wrong.
It wasn't playful. It wasn't teasing.
It was fragile.
And that scared him.
He moved aside. "Get in."
She walked past him, arms wrapped around herself. Ren grabbed an old hoodie from the couch and tossed it at her.
She blinked as she caught it. "...This is yours."
"Yeah, no shit. Put it on."
For once, she didn't argue. She just pulled it over her head, the sleeves way too long for her.
Ren sat down across from her. "What happened?"
Yuki stared at the floor.
Silence.
The air felt thick.
Then—quietly, almost too soft to hear:
"I didn't want to be alone."
Ren's chest tightened.
She wasn't saying everything. But he knew that feeling.
The emptiness. The weight. The fear that if you closed your eyes, you'd drown in the quiet.
He exhaled. "Tch. That's a dumb reason."
Yuki let out a weak laugh. "I know."
Another silence.
Then—
"...Want to go somewhere?" Ren muttered.
Yuki looked up. "Where?"
Ren stood, grabbing his jacket. "Anywhere that's not here."
Yuki stared at him for a moment. Then she smiled—just a little.
"...Okay."
1:37 AM – Train Tracks
They walked in silence, past empty streets and flickering streetlights, until they reached the old train tracks behind the city.
The sky stretched wide above them, deep and endless, the stars scattered like forgotten wishes.
Yuki tilted her head back, eyes reflecting the glow of the streetlamp. "Wow…"
Ren shoved his hands in his pockets. "You've never been here before?"
She shook her head. "No. But it's nice."
Ren leaned against a rusted railing, watching her.
For the first time tonight, she didn't look like she was about to break.
"...You gonna tell me what's wrong now?" he asked.
Yuki exhaled, stepping onto the tracks. She balanced on one of the rails, arms stretched out like a tightrope walker.
Then—
"...Ren."
He stiffened. She rarely said his name like that.
Like it was something precious.
Yuki didn't turn around. She just kept walking on the tracks, voice barely above a whisper.
"...Have you ever felt like no matter how much you try, you're always going to be left behind?"
Ren's chest twisted.
She wasn't just talking about herself.
She was talking about him, too.
His grip tightened in his pockets. "Yeah."
Yuki let out a small breath. "Figures."
The wind rustled through the trees. Yuki stopped walking, arms falling to her sides.
Then—
"I wish I could stop time."
Ren blinked. "...What?"
She turned slightly, looking at him over her shoulder.
Her smile was small. Sad. Beautiful.
"If time stopped… we wouldn't have to worry about anything," she murmured. "We could just… stay like this. Forever."
Ren's heart skipped.
Because he understood what she meant.
This moment. This feeling. It was fragile. Temporary.
And he hated it.
"...You're talking nonsense, Hoshino." His voice was quieter than usual.
Yuki turned fully now, tilting her head. "You always call me that."
Ren scoffed. "Because that's your name, dumbass."
She smiled softly. "No."
Ren frowned. "No?"
Yuki took a step closer.
Then another.
Until she was right in front of him.
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Say my name, Ren."
Ren froze.
His throat felt dry. His pulse roared in his ears.
He had never said it before.
Not like this.
Not when she was standing this close.
Not when he knew—once he said it, he wouldn't be able to take it back.
Yuki looked up at him, eyes warm, expectant. Waiting.
Ren swallowed.
His voice came out barely above a breath.
"...Yuki."
She smiled.
And Ren felt like his whole world had just shifted.
3:02 AM – The Walk Back
They didn't talk much on the way back.
They didn't need to.
But as they reached Yuki's house, she turned to him.
"...Thanks, Ren."
Ren scoffed. "For what?"
She smiled. "For not letting me be alone."
Ren looked away. "Tch. Whatever."
Yuki giggled. "See you tomorrow?"
Ren hesitated.
Then—he nodded.
"...Yeah."
Yuki's smile widened. "Goodnight, Ren."
And for the first time, when she turned and walked inside—
He didn't feel like she was walking away from him.
That Night – Ren's Room
Ren lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His heartbeat was still uneven.
His mind replayed her voice—soft, warm, asking him to say her name.
Yuki.
He exhaled sharply, pressing his hand over his chest.
This feeling.
It was dangerous.
Because he knew, deep down—if she ever left, he wouldn't know how to go back to who he was before.