Eriko stood at the edge of the playground, her toes barely touching the worn grass beneath her. The summer rain had just started, the kind that made the world smell like freshly turned earth and brought with it the promise of something new. She was fourteen, tall for her age, with dark hair that always seemed to find its way into her eyes. Today, she wore her school uniform, its pleats swaying in the soft breeze that danced through the trees.It was on days like this, when the sky turned a soft shade of gray, that Eriko felt most at ease. The world seemed to slow down, as if time itself was caught up in the rhythm of the raindrops. She often found herself daydreaming, her thoughts drifting into the spaces between reality and the world that existed only in her mind.Her life was simple, almost too simple. She lived in a small apartment with her mother, who worked long hours at a nearby office. Her father had left when she was young, and though she rarely thought of him, there was a small, empty space in her heart that ached whenever she noticed the empty spot at the dinner table. She had few friends, preferring the company of her books and the quiet solitude of her own thoughts.It was in the middle of this quiet, unassuming life that she first met him. His name was Kaito, a boy from the neighboring school. He was different from anyone she had ever known, with a quiet confidence that seemed to draw people to him. His hair was the color of autumn leaves, a deep, rich brown that caught the light whenever he moved. He had a way of speaking that made everything he said seem important, even if it was just about the weather or the latest manga he was reading.They met by chance, as most things tend to happen. It was after school, and Eriko had sought refuge from the rain under the large cherry blossom tree that stood at the center of the park. Kaito had been there first, sitting on the low stone wall that circled the tree, his head tilted back as he let the rain wash over his face. Eriko hesitated, not wanting to move.