The road home felt longer than usual.
Even though the school day had ended, the uneasiness inside me hadn’t.
The laughter in the cafeteria…
The seniors…
Takoru…
Everything kept replaying inside my mind.
I walked quietly beside Yuri while Emmi continued talking about random things, trying her best to lighten the mood.
“I still can’t believe the cafeteria has five different dessert counters!” she exclaimed.
Yuri chuckled.
“You only noticed the desserts?”
“Of course!
They’re important.”
Despite myself, I smiled.
Emmi always had a way of making ordinary moments feel brighter.
Soon, we reached our neighborhood.
“See you tomorrow!” Emmi waved before disappearing into the house next door.
Yuri unlocked our front door.
“We’re home.”
The house welcomed us with silence.
Mom and Dad were both still at the hospital, probably dealing with another long shift.
The faint scent of antiseptic still lingered in the air.
It had always been the scent of home.
But today…
It only reminded me how empty the house felt.
“I’ll make something to drink,” Yuri said.
I simply nodded before walking upstairs.
My room was exactly as I had left it that morning.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains, painting soft golden lines across my desk.
I placed my school bag on the floor and sat quietly on the edge of my bed.
For a long time…
I didn’t move.
My sketchbook rested in my lap, but I couldn’t bring myself to open it.
Instead, I slowly pulled open the top drawer of my desk.
Hidden beneath old pencils and folded papers…
Was a single drawing.
My fingers trembled as I lifted it.
Kiyon.
His smile was just as warm as I remembered.
The messy hair.
The gentle eyes.
The boy who had always admired my drawings.
“…You would’ve laughed if you saw me today.”
A small smile appeared on my lips.
It disappeared almost immediately.
The memory of that afternoon quietly returned…
The sound of sirens.
Panicked voices.
People running.
And the moment my entire world fell apart.
A tear rolled silently across my cheek.
Knock.
“Rubi?”
Yuri’s voice came from outside.
I quickly wiped my eyes and slid the sketch back into the drawer.
“You can come in.”
The door opened gently.
Yuri walked inside carrying two warm mugs.
“I made coffee.”
He placed one beside me before sitting down.
Neither of us spoke.
The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable.
It never was.
After a while, Yuri finally broke it.
“Mom called.”
I looked at him.
“They’re staying at the hospital tonight.”
I quietly nodded.
“They’re busy again…”
“They’re saving someone’s family.”
His answer made me smile faintly.
That sounded exactly like Yuri.
He took a sip of his coffee before looking at me.
“You don’t have to pretend you’re okay.”
The words caught me off guard.
“You’ve been holding everything in since this morning.”
I lowered my eyes.
“…I’m trying.”
“I know.”
His voice was gentle.
“But you don’t have to carry everything by yourself.”
Another silence settled between us.
This time…
It felt lighter.
After a while, I spoke again.
“Yuri…”
“Hm?”
“Why does everyone listen to Takoru?”
Yuri thought for a moment before answering.
“I don’t know much about him.”
“But he’s different.”
“Even the seniors avoid getting in his way.”
He looked directly at me.
“And honestly…”
“I think it’s better if we don’t get involved with people like him.”
I hugged my sketchbook against my chest.
“I don’t want to get involved.”
“I just want to study.”
“I just want to draw.”
“And someday…”
“I want to become an artist.”
Yuri smiled.
“Then that’s exactly what you’ll become.”
He gently patted my head before standing up.
“Finish your coffee before it gets cold.”
“I will.”
After he left the room, silence returned once again.
I opened my sketchbook.
A blank page waited for me.
Normally…
I would draw flowers.
Trees.
The evening sky.
Today…
My pencil moved without asking for permission.
Slowly…
Line after line…
A familiar shape appeared.
Curved.
Smooth.
Cold.
I froze.
It was a motorcycle helmet.
The same black helmet that rested on the desk beside mine.
“…Why?”
I whispered to myself.
I hated motorcycles.
I hated everything they reminded me of.
Then…
Why was his helmet the only thing my hand wanted to draw?
I stared at the page for several seconds before quickly flipping it over.
As if hiding the drawing would make the feeling disappear.
It didn’t.
I closed the sketchbook and looked out the window.
Tomorrow…
I would once again sit beside the boy whose world was built around everything I feared.
And somehow…
That frightened me more than I wanted to admit.
To be continued…
Thank you so much for spending your time with this chapter.
Sometimes the loudest battles are the ones no one else can see.
Rubi is trying to move forward, but some memories refuse to stay in the past.
Thankfully, she has someone like Yuri by her side—someone who quietly reminds her that she doesn’t have to face everything alone.
As for Takoru…
even though he barely appeared today, it’s interesting how someone can leave such a strong impression without saying much.
I’d love to know what you think!
Which moment touched you the most?
Do you think Rubi will slowly overcome her fear?
And why do you think she unconsciously drew Takoru’s helmet?
See you in the next chapter!