(Heaven's Friends)
-Aiko Tanaka – warm, expressive, the one who smiles easily.
-Miyu Sato – observant, a little blunt but protective.
-Haruto Kagawa – easygoing, jokes to lighten the mood.
(Other Classmates They Meet)
-Ren Ishikawa – quiet but thoughtful, listens more than he talks.
-Daichi Mori – open, practical, the type who asks honest questions.
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The rain didn't stop that night.
It softened instead—turning quieter, gentler, as if the city itself was trying not to disturb anyone's thoughts.
Then initially Zane woke up in the middle of the night he then lay awake longer than he wanted to admit. His room was dim, lit only by the orange glow of the streetlamp outside his window.
He rolled onto his side and pulled his blanket closer, but the cold lingered the way it always did—curling around his ribs, settling into places warmth never seemed to reach.
He reached for his notebook.
The pages were worn, corners bent, ink smudged where his hand had trembled too much.
Poetry had always been the only place where he felt allowed to exist fully—where his fear of being forgotten could breathe without judgment.
He wrote without thinking.
Some people feel like winter,
but you feel like the ocean—
cold if you stay too far away,
but gentle if you let yourself sink.
He stared at the words until his vision blurred.
Her eyes again.
Zane shut the notebook and pressed it to his chest, as if it might keep the warmth there.
Eventually, he drifted off to sleep, thoughts filled with her quiet presence and the feeling—however faint—of warmth.
Morning arrived with lingering rain and a sharp, insistent beeping.
Zane groaned as his alarm clock screamed beside his bed.
"Ugh... why is this thing so loud for no reason?" he muttered, slapping at it until the sound finally died.
Before the silence could settle, heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs.
The door burst open.
"GET UP, NOW!"
Zane shot upright.
"Rain—get out of my room! I'm already awake, you don't have to yell!"
His little sister crossed her arms. "Mom told me to get you.
This is the third time your alarm went off, so don't blame me."
"Okay, okay—I'm up. You can go now."
She grinned. "Okay, byeee!"
The door slammed shut as her footsteps disappeared down the stairs.
Zane sighed, running a hand through his hair before heading to the bathroom.
After a hot shower and slipping into his school uniform, he glanced outside.
The heavy rain had faded into a gray mist that clung to the streets of Japan like a lingering thought.
Then Zane made his way through the mist-covered streets, blending into the morning crowd without truly being part of it.
Umbrellas brushed past him, conversations drifted by unfinished, and no one seemed to notice when he slowed or stopped. By the time the school gates came into view, the cold had settled deeper—not just in his bones, but somewhere harder to name.
Then he stood in front of the gates of Seishin High School, shoulders tense beneath his jacket. The building loomed familiar and exhausting—three years of passing faces, whispered rumors, and being the boy people remembered only vaguely.
Or not at all.
He adjusted his headphones but didn't turn the music on. Instead, he watched students stream past in clusters—laughing, complaining about exams, talking about graduation like it was already within reach.
Three months left, he thought.
Three months until everyone leaves.
The fear curled tightly in his chest.
Then he saw her.
Heaven stepped through the gates just ahead of her friends, her hair slightly damp from the mist, pale blue eyes standing out even beneath the dull sky.
Her uniform was neat, but there was something gentle about the way she moved—like she wasn't in a hurry to prove herself to anyone.
Zane froze.
She noticed him before he could look away.
"Oh—hi," she said softly, slowing her steps.
His brain short-circuited.
"Hi," he managed.
Her friends continued ahead, glancing back curiously before disappearing into the building. Heaven stayed behind, hands clasped loosely in front of her.
"You take the same bus as me," she said, more like a realization than a question.
"Yeah. Same stop too."
A pause.
"I'm glad," she added quietly.
The bell rang—sharp and sudden—breaking the moment.
"We should—" Zane started.
"—go," she finished with a faint smile.
They walked inside together.
The classroom smelled faintly of chalk and rain-soaked uniforms. Zane took his usual seat by the window, where the glass felt cool and the outside world seemed closer. He didn't expect Heaven to follow—
But she sat two rows ahead of him.
Close enough.
During class, he couldn't focus. His notebook filled with half-written lines instead of notes.
What if she forgets me?
What if I'm just a passing moment to her?
When the bell rang, chairs scraped loudly across the floor. Zane gathered his things slowly.
Then a shadow fell across his desk.
"Zane?" Heaven asked.
He looked up instantly.
Do you... want to walk to the next class together?"
His heart did something painful and hopeful all at once.
He blinked, surprised. "Me... yeah. I'd like that."
She smiled. "Cool. Let's go."
They walked through the crowded hallway, shoulders almost brushing.
Almost.
The noise didn't reach them. Not really.
For the first time since senior year began, Zane didn't feel invisible.
And Heaven—walking beside him, warmth blooming quietly in her chest—realized she hadn't felt this safe around someone in a long time.
By the time the lunch bell rang, the day already felt heavy.
Classes blurred together—lectures half-listened to, notes half-written. Zane closed his notebook, fingers aching, and stood when Heaven turned around in her seat.
"Lunch?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah."
They walked down the hallway together until the smell of the cafeteria hit them—fried oil and something overcooked.
Heaven wrinkled her nose as they peeked inside.
"...That's it?" she murmured.
Zane glanced at the menu board, then the trays passing by.
"Looks like it."
Neither of them moved to go in.
"There's a 7-Eleven near the school," Heaven said after a moment.
"It's not far."
His eyes lit up slightly. "I'd be okay with that."
She smiled. "Me too."
Outside, the rain had returned—steady and unrelenting. Heaven opened her umbrella automatically, then glanced at Zane.
He reached into his bag—and froze.
"...I think my umbrella finally gave up," he said quietly, pulling out the snapped handle.
The metal was bent, fabric torn like it had surrendered completely.
Heaven blinked... then laughed softly.
"That's really bad timing."
"Yeah," he said, embarrassed. "Sorry."
She hesitated only a second before stepping closer and tilting the umbrella.
"Then we'll share."
Zane's breath caught.
They stood beneath it together, shoulders brushing, the space between them suddenly gone. The umbrella barely covered them both, so Heaven shifted closer without thinking—and Zane followed instinctively.
The rain sounded louder.
The world felt smaller.
Her arm brushed his.
His hand hovered near hers.
Neither of them pulled away.
Zane felt warm—actually warm—for the first time that day.
Heaven!"
She looked up.
"Oh—hey!"
Aiko Tanaka waved as she hurried over, umbrella tilted too far to one side. Miyu Sato walked beside her, careful to avoid puddles, while Haruto Kagawa trailed behind them, hood half-on, half-off.
"Where are you going?" Aiko asked.
"7-Eleven," Heaven replied. "The cafeteria didn't have anything good."
Haruto laughed. "Yeah, we gave up too."
Their eyes shifted to Zane.
"This is Zane," Heaven said gently. "He's in our grade."
"Ohhh," Aiko smiled.
"Nice to meet you, Zane."
"Nice to meet you," he replied, quiet but sincere.
Near the crosswalk, two more classmates joined them.
"Are you guys ditching the lunchroom too?" Ren Ishikawa asked.
"Seems like everyone is," Daichi Mori added with a shrug.
And just like that, the walk became easy. Laughter slipped in between raindrops. Complaints about teachers, tests, and how senior year felt both too fast and too slow all at once.
Zane listened more than he spoke—but no one seemed to mind.
Heaven stayed close to him the entire time.
Inside the 7-Eleven, warmth wrapped around them instantly. The smell of ramen and snacks filled the air. Umbrellas dripped near the door as everyone grabbed whatever looked comforting.
They settled near the window—plastic chairs, steaming cups of ramen, snacks scattered across the table.
"Senior year is exhausting," Daichi said, stretching.
"And scary," Miyu added. "It feels like we're supposed to have everything figured out."
"So what are you most stressed about?" Heaven asked softly.
"Graduation," Ren answered.
"Money," Aiko admitted.
"Not knowing who I am yet," Haruto said quietly.
The table fell into thoughtful silence.
Zane stared into his ramen, hesitated—then spoke before he could stop himself.
"I'm scared of being forgotten."
No one laughed.
They looked at him with understanding instead.
Heaven's fingers brushed his beneath the table.
"I don't think people forget the ones who are kind," she said softly. "Even if they don't realize it right away."
His chest tightened.
For the first time, he believed her.
Outside, rain traced lines down the glass. Inside, warmth lingered—in food, voices, and the quiet way Heaven stayed close.
Under a broken umbrella, something fragile and real had begun.
Zane didn't know why, but a strange feeling settled in his chest—like time had briefly slowed, like the moment was fragile in a way he couldn't explain.
Heaven laughed softly at something Aiko said, and the sound grounded him.
He held onto it.
To the warmth.
To the closeness.
To the feeling of being here, now—
before the rain could carry the moment away.