Aiyumi walked into class with her usual quiet smile —
but her eyes told another story.
She didn't notice,
but from across the corridor, Ren did.
He was standing near the window, pretending to scroll his phone,
his expression unreadable — but his eyes… they followed her every step.
He still cared.
He still remembered everything —
the small laugh when she got excited over her art,
the way she used to scold him for being careless.
But now, he stayed silent.
He thought staying away would hurt less.
Yet every time he saw her forcing a smile,
it felt like someone tightening a knot inside his chest.
During lunch, Aiyumi sat with Haruna, Aiko, Sayaka, Nozomi, Emi, and Yua —
the girls tried to make her laugh, telling random jokes, teasing her like old times.
She laughed for a second…
then her eyes found Ren's class outside the window.
He was there — laughing with others —
but she could see it.
That small glance.
That unspoken care he tried to hide behind his "nothing happened" look.
Inside, both were breaking —
but neither said a word.
💭
Sometimes, it's not distance that hurts.
It's pretending you don't care when you still do —
and watching someone you miss walk right past you like a stranger.