In Renji's small apartment, there was a warm, cozy silence. The soft light of the desk lamp flooded the room with a golden glow, casting long, calm shadows on the walls. On the wide old sofa lay Renji and Aya. She had comfortably settled on top of him, resting her head on his chest and hugging his waist tightly. Her breathing was quiet, warm, and slightly uneven; her chest gently rose and fell in time with his.
Aya stirred a little, lifted her head, and looked up at him from below. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her breathing became a bit faster.
"Renji..." she whispered softly, almost touching his chest with her lips. "Just understand, I didn't want to. I don't love anyone but you. Really... only you."
Renji looked at her calmly, but a flicker of fatigue flashed in his eyes. He slowly exhaled.
"I don't know what came over me," he replied quietly, almost in a whisper. "It's like you're the lowest creature, cheating... and like I'm used to it and can't get away. As if something inside me has been crushed."
Aya pressed herself even tighter against him, burying her face in his chest. Her breathing became hot and intermittent. She hugged him tightly, as if afraid he would disappear.
"I know... I have no forgiveness," she whispered in a trembling voice. "Maybe you'll never forgive me. But know that I don't love him. Not at all. Not one bit. Only you... only you alone."
She raised her head, and their faces were now very close. Aya looked at him with big, moist eyes; her breathing quickened, and her cheeks burned. Renji lay silently, staring at the ceiling, and continued to slowly stroke her hair.
Suddenly, there was a quiet knock at the door. The door was unlocked. It slowly opened, and Raiden and Haruto entered the room. Raiden was holding a bag with cold beer, and Haruto had a large hot box of pizza.
Haruto immediately smiled widely and said cheerfully:
"Whoa! Looks like you guys are making babies here. Are we interrupting? Well, go on, I like it. The atmosphere is fire, straight out of a movie."
Aya suddenly blushed to her ears. She quickly sat up, adjusting her clothes with trembling hands, and shyly covered her face with her palms.
"No, no! Why are you saying that?!" Her voice was high and flustered. "Not now... it's too early... we were just... hugging..."
Raiden sighed heavily, closing the door behind him.
"Haruto, you really are something... Why are you standing there like a statue? Come in already, don't stand in the doorway like a monument."
They took off their shoes and sat down on the sofa nearby. Raiden patted Renji on the head, slightly ruffling his hair.
"Well, how are you, Renji? Hungry, probably? Haha. You look like you were just torn away from something important."
Renji smirked. Aya was still sitting there red and embarrassed, trying to hide behind his shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm starving," Renji replied.
Raiden took out the beer, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV. He opened a bottle and took a big swig. Haruto and Aya each opened a bottle too. Aya took a small sip, still red-faced.
Renji refused the beer and just sat watching the TV.
Haruto washed down the beer and said with a smile:
"Renji, remember how in 9th grade we used to go play football on the field? Those were the times... I've already forgotten. And you know, I was the only one who really stayed friends with you when everyone else turned away."
Renji smirked.
"Yeah, of course I remember. You were always the loudest one on the field."
Aya also smiled, still a little embarrassed.
"So you two are best friends too?"
Haruto washed down the beer and nodded.
"Yeah. What did you think? We've been through a lot together."
Raiden silently drank his beer, staring at the TV. Renji sat pensively.
Haruto suddenly remembered something and said:
"I remember that one classmate... Or rather, Renji, do you remember her?"
Renji looked at him questioningly.
"Who do you mean?"
"Kaoru, of course. She bullied you pretty badly. You didn't tell your parents. I also remember Takumi and Shinya. They treated you badly."
Renji nodded.
"I remember."
Haruto continued, biting into the pizza:
"I heard, Renji... Kaoru's mother turned out to be a prostitute. She went to work at some club for an old man... what the hell was his name... I forgot. Oh, I remember, Takayama Hushi or something. He raped girls there, took over the district, had influence. And basically, the old fart had nothing better to do. Renji, have you heard of him? My dad told me about him."
Renji flinched slightly.
"No, hearing it for the first time. And where did you find out about him? I mean, your dad."
Haruto thought for a moment.
"I have no idea myself. Dad said he knew him once."
"I see..."
Renji turned away and became even more thoughtful.
Aya touched his shoulder with her warm hand.
"Renji, is everything okay?" she asked quietly, her breath close to his ear.
"Yeah, everything's fine. Just thinking."
Haruto suddenly smiled, remembering something warm.
"And remember Genzo's smile at school? So soft, almost unnoticeable. When he smiled, it felt like everything would be okay. Even when everything around was shit..."
Renji nodded quietly.
"I remember. He always had that kind of smile... like he knew something we didn't. Calm. Reliable."
Aya looked at them with interest.
"Genzo... is that the same one who's participating in fights now?"
Raiden nodded, opening a new bottle.
"Yeah. He's changed a lot. But the smile probably stayed the same."
The four of them continued to sit together, drinking beer, eating pizza, and talking quietly. The night was long and viscous. Outside the window, the wind rustled softly, while inside the room it was warm and peaceful.