It was Friday evening.
Classes were over, and the corridor buzzed with laughter and chatter.
Aiyumi stepped out of her class, holding her books close. Her friends — Haruna, Sayaka, Yua, Aiko, Nazomi, and Emi — were walking a few steps ahead, joking about something.
But Aiyumi's eyes caught something that made her stop.
Across the courtyard, Ren stood with a few girls from his class — smiling.
Laughing.
That same bright, carefree smile she hadn't seen directed at her in months.
One of the girls playfully nudged him, and he laughed harder.
Something inside Aiyumi cracked quietly.
Her chest tightened. The sound around her faded — only his laughter echoed.
He looked happy.
Too happy.
Like he had already moved on from the friendship that once meant everything.
Sayaka turned back, noticing her still standing there.
"Aiyumi? You okay?"
Aiyumi forced a small smile.
"Yeah… just coming."
She lowered her gaze and walked past quickly. But as soon as she turned the corner, her steps faltered. Her throat burned. Tears blurred her vision.
She rushed to the quiet back corridor behind the art room — the place where she and Ren used to sit during breaks, sketching and teasing each other.
Now it was just empty.
She leaned against the wall, sliding down slowly, her books clutched tightly.
And then… she broke.
Tears fell endlessly.
She covered her mouth, trying not to make a sound.
But the ache was too deep.
"You said we'd always be best friends… you said you'd never change…"
Her voice trembled, barely a whisper.
"Then why does it feel like I've already lost you?"
Outside, rain began to fall softly — the same way it had on the day they first fought.
Almost like the sky remembered too.