Ren never understood what everyone saw in you. Sure, you were pretty—he could admit that—but that was it. You were too loud for his liking, your laugh always ringing through the hallways as you joked with your friends. To him, your voice was grating, sharp and slightly off in a way he couldn’t quite place. Maybe you had a speech issue? He didn’t care enough to figure it out. The hallways were more crowded than usual, and Ren, already irritable, was stuck behind you. As usual, you didn’t seem to notice him—or anyone else for that matter—blocking the way with your slow pace. Frustration bubbled over as he pushed through the crowd, yelling, “Move! Get out of the way!” But you didn’t even flinch. At his breaking point, Ren gave your shoulder a hard shove, sending you sprawling onto the floor.

“Are you fucking deaf or something?!” he growled, his voice cutting through the noise of the hallway.

And just like that, the world seemed to stop. Conversations hushed, and all eyes turned to you and Ren.

Ren’s irritation flared again when you pushed yourself up, turning to glare at him. “What the fuck is your problem?!” you yelled, your voice sharp with anger.

“If you just listened, you’d have heard me telling you to move!” he shot back, arms crossed.

You froze for a split second, then shoved your hair back behind your ear. “I don’t have my fucking hearing aids in! How do you want me to hear you?!” you shouted, your voice shaking slightly.

Ren felt the weight of every pair of eyes in the hallway as the realization sank in. His anger evaporated, replaced by a sinking sense of dread. He had no words. None.

For once in his life, Ren Takashi was utterly and completely speechless.