The classroom was full, but for Aki, it still felt lonely.

Ren hadn’t looked at him once all morning.

Haru, as usual, was beside Ren — laughing loudly, clinging to his arm like she belonged there. And Aki… he just sat quietly, pretending to read his notebook, though his eyes hadn’t moved in five minutes.

> “I wish I hadn’t said we weren’t close…”

“Why did I push him away?”

He remembered how Ren’s face fell after those words. Since then, Ren had stopped talking to him altogether. Not even a casual “hi.”

Every time Aki tried to approach — in the hallway, during lunch, even after school — Ren would suddenly start talking to someone else. Or walk away.

It was like he became invisible.

---

Days passed like that — quiet war, silent pain.

Until one afternoon on the school playground.

Ren was playing basketball again. His movements were fast, smooth, almost aggressive. He looked good under the sun, laughing with his friends. It was the first time Aki had seen him laugh like that in days.

Yuki, cheerful as ever, came with Aki to watch.

Yuki smiled. “He’s really good at this.”

Aki nodded without answering. His heart felt heavy.

But as Ren noticed them standing by the fence — especially Aki — his eyes narrowed slightly. The laughter faded from his face.

He walked toward them slowly, bouncing the ball.

Ren stopped in front of Aki.

> “You watching basketball now?” Ren said, raising an eyebrow.

Aki hesitated, then softly said, “I like watching you play.”

Ren gave a dry, sarcastic smile.

> “Really? Didn’t think you’d understand basketball at all.”

“I mean, your skin’s like a girl’s — so soft. Probably not good under sunlight.”

He smirked.

Aki blinked, stunned by the insult.

His chest tightened, but he didn’t reply.

Yuki stepped forward. “Hey, that’s not okay—”

But Aki gently placed a hand on Yuki’s arm. “Let it go…”

---

The game started again.

Ren played harder than usual. He was aggressive, quick — every movement had some strange anger behind it. Like he was proving something. Like he was hurting inside.

And when his team won, everyone cheered.

Yuki clapped too, even smiled. But Aki just stood still, clenching his fingers around the bench edge.

After everyone left, Yuki said, “Let’s go, Aki.”

But Aki shook his head. “I want to stay here for a while.”

---

He sat alone again.

The court was empty now, the sun setting slowly behind the trees. Aki pulled out his earphones and started playing soft guitar music from his phone. Music was still his safe place — the only one where words didn’t hurt.

Suddenly…

Footsteps.

He looked up — and there was Ren, sweaty from the match, wiping his face with a towel.

He came and stood in front of Aki.

> “You still here?” he asked flatly.

Aki didn’t reply. He was too surprised.

Ren looked down at him, eyes unreadable.

> “You look a little sad,” Ren said slowly.

“Maybe… you’re upset your boyfriend lost the match today?”

Aki looked up, shocked.

Ren gave him that same cruel little smile again.

> “Don’t worry. Maybe he’s good at other things…”

“Like… I don’t know… in bed or something.”

Then he turned and walked away, laughing quietly.

Aki sat frozen, the words like knives in his chest.

His eyes stung.

He didn’t cry.

But the silence after Ren’s footsteps faded… was loud.

---

To be continued......