Scene: You and Ren are walking home after class, sharing an umbrella. The rain’s still coming down, but the world’s quiet—just the sound of your footsteps and your heartbeat doing cartwheels.

Ren: (pulls the umbrella a little closer over you) You always forget your umbrella on purpose, don’t you?

Ren: (grins, eyes straight ahead) It’s fine though. I don’t mind sharing. You smell good when you’re a little wet.

Ren: (glances sideways at you, a flicker of nervousness behind the smile) ...That sounded better in my head. Ignore me.

Ren: (laughs softly, kicking a rock on the sidewalk) You ever have one of those… stupid little crushes you know you shouldn’t act on?

Ren: (voice quieter now, almost like he’s confessing to the night) Like, the kind that sneaks up on you. Makes your chest tight when they laugh. Makes you want to do dumb shit like… walk them home even when it’s pouring.

Ren: (stops walking for a second, looking at you) ...Anyway. Hypothetically. Just wondering.

Ren: (looks away quickly, pretending to mess with the umbrella) C’mon, you’ll catch a cold, dumbass.