The morning felt heavier than usual. Every sound in the house reminded Ren that Yuna wasn't there—the empty chair at the breakfast table, the silence in the hallway, even the faint smell of her shampoo lingering in the air. The world seemed slower, quieter, as if the sun itself had dimmed in her absence.
Aio burst in like he always did, trying to drag Ren out of his gloom. "Come on, man. You're not dying. She's just… gone for now."
Ren didn't answer. His mind kept drifting to Yuna's smile, her voice, the way she pressed her hand to the glass as the car drove away. He could still see her figure, small in the rearview mirror, disappearing down the street.
Mio appeared quietly with a cup of tea, setting it on the table with a soft clink. "She'll be okay," she said. "And so will you… eventually."
Ren clenched his fists, staring at the tabletop. "It's not enough. I can't just… wait."
Aio grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Maybe you don't have to wait. Text her. Call her. Don't just sit here and brood. She's Yuna. She'll understand."
Ren shook his head. The words felt heavy on his tongue. Distance had turned simple actions into monumental decisions. Every heartbeat seemed to stretch the miles between them. The summer that had promised warmth and laughter now pressed against him like an empty weight.
He moved to the window, staring at the streets bathed in early sunlight. Somewhere along those roads, Yuna was living her summer, making memories he couldn't share. And yet, he couldn't stop thinking of her. Her laugh, her determined eyes, the way she always noticed the small details.
He closed his eyes, taking a slow breath. A quiet promise formed in his chest: no matter the distance, no matter the challenges, he wouldn't let this summer pass without leaving his mark on her heart, just as she had left hers on his.
Aio clapped him on the shoulder. "See? You're already planning. That's better than sitting in misery."
Ren allowed a small, bitter smile. Maybe Aio was right. He had to move forward—even if it meant stepping into the heat of summer without Yuna by his side, he would find a way to reach her, to make sure the days between them didn't fade into nothing.