No arguments.

No confessions.

No storms.

And yet… something felt different.

I walked home slower than usual.

Not because I was tired —

but because for once, I wasn’t trying to outrun my thoughts.

The streets were calm.

Shops closing.

Lights flickering on one by one like hesitant stars.

Normally, I would’ve kept my head down.

Today, I didn’t.

When I reached home, the door creaked open the same way it always had.

Shoes by the entrance.

Dim lights.

Silence waiting patiently for me.

Nothing had changed.

And yet… the house didn’t feel as empty as before.

I dropped my bag and sat on the couch.

For a long moment, I did nothing.

Then, without thinking, my eyes drifted to the window.

I remembered standing there with her.

Rain tapping against the glass.

Her warmth filling a space I didn’t know could feel warm.

You can run from the world… but not from me.

Her words surfaced again — uninvited.

I pressed my fingers together.

“…Troublesome,” I muttered.

Dinner was quiet.

I ate slowly, noticing things I usually ignored —

the clink of cutlery,

the hum of the fridge,

the way time passed even when nothing happened.

After finishing, I reached for my phone.

Paused.

Put it back down.

I didn’t know who I was trying to avoid anymore.

Later that night, I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling.

The world outside was quiet.

No rain.

No stars.

Just darkness stretching endlessly.

Normally, this was when my thoughts got loud.

Tonight… they were strangely calm.

Am I changing?

The question felt foreign.

Change wasn’t something I believed in.

People didn’t change — they just revealed who they really were when pushed hard enough.

And yet…

I hadn’t walked away today.

I hadn’t shut everyone out.

I hadn’t chosen silence.

That had to mean something.

I noticed my door opening. It was my dad maybe. He opened the door but he didn't dare to step inside and walked away. I couldn't tell if that made me happy or sad.

------

The next morning came faster than I expected.

I woke before the alarm.

Light slipped through the curtains, soft and gentle.

I stared at it for a moment — then sighed.

“…Guess I’m really losing it.” 

I walked outside of my room into the hallway. There, for the first time in many years, I saw my father. I only saw his back side. He noticed me behind him but he didn't turn around so I couldn't tell what his expressions were. I could see he was upto something but I couldn't grasp.

He slowly opened the door and walked outside with his bag.

"Too much unusual things are happening for one day", I exhaled.

At school, things were quieter than usual.

Aika’s seat was empty.

No one mentioned it.

No one asked.

People moved on —

as they always do.

Aira arrived a little later than usual.

She didn’t look at me immediately.

When she finally did, her gaze lingered — cautious, thoughtful.

As if she were checking whether I was still there.

I looked away first.

Not because I wanted to run —

but because I didn’t know how to respond yet.

Lunch break came.

Miyamura sat beside me without asking.

“That punch yesterday,” he said casually, “you hit harder than you look.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

He laughed.

Then, after a pause, he added quietly:

“Thanks… for that.”

I didn’t answer.

But I didn’t tell him to leave either.

After school, the hallway emptied slowly.

I packed my bag, preparing to leave like always.

Then I stopped.

Aira was still at her desk.

Looking out the window.

Waiting — not expectantly, not impatiently.

Just… staying.

I hesitated.

Every instinct told me to walk past her.

To leave things as they were.

To keep distance safe.

But her words echoed again.

You can run from the world…

I exhaled.

“…Hey.”

She turned.

Surprised — just slightly.

“Yes?”

“…You walking home?”

Her lips curved into a small smile.

“I was hoping you’d ask.”

We left the classroom together.

Side by side.

Not close.

Not far.

Just enough.

The sky outside was clear.

No rain.

No stars.

Just the quiet promise of an ordinary evening.

And for the first time…

I didn’t mind staying in it.

---------