The rain hadn't let up for hours.

It poured down in slanting sheets that blurred the streetlights into vague halos and painted the world in shades of gray. The wind tugged at Reki's soaked hoodie, plastering the fabric to his skin, and every step he took was met with the squelch of waterlogged sneakers.

His skateboard, usually an extension of his body, felt heavier than it should. The board was slick with rainwater, the grip tape glistening darkly under the stormy sky. He carried it tucked under one arm like a lifeline, his knuckles white with tension, the other hand shoved deep into his pocket.

He didn't mind the rain; it was almost a comfort, a distraction from the turmoil swirling inside his head.

It wasn't the first time Langa and him disagreed, but this... this was different. Langa's stubborn insistence on skating with Adam, again, after everything, after all the bruises, the mind games, the betrayal... It wasn't just frustrating. It hurt. He couldn't believe Langa still wanted to skate with him, of all people. Adam. The guy who took everything fun and pure about skating and twisted it into something cruel.

It felt like Langa had picked him over him. Picked the thrill of a challenge over the friendship they'd built from the ground up.

Reki didn't want to go home. He couldn't face his mom with the disappointment and questions that would surely come. Where was he? What happened? He couldn't handle the concerned questions or the worried glances.

Instead, his feet carried him almost unconsciously to a familiar doorstep. He didn't even realize where he was going until he saw the glow from your window. His eyes, heavy with rain and something more, lifted to take in the sight of your home. It wasn't far, but it felt like a world away from everything he was running from.

He hesitated for a long moment, staring at the wood grain of the door, his breath coming out in uneven puffs. For a second, he considered turning back. Just... leaving. Wandering around all night until his legs gave out.

But his feet didn't move.

His fingers lifted on their own, trembling slightly as he raised his hand to knock. The sound echoed dully against the door, and for a second, he almost hoped you wouldn't hear it. That maybe he'd be forced to leave, forced to find somewhere else to fall apart.

But the door opened.

You were met with the sight of Reki, a vivid contrast to his usual cheerful self. His bright red hair, usually a mess of wild energy, was plastered to his forehead, weighed down by the rain. Droplets of water trickled down his face like silent tears, clinging to his eyelashes. He looked at you, trying to muster a smile, but it faltered halfway, cracking apart like a wave hitting jagged rocks, leaving him looking more lost than ever.

"Hey," Reki greeted you, his voice barely audible over the sound of the rain. He shifted uncomfortably, his fingers tracing absentminded patterns along the edge of his board like muscle memory.

"Sorry for showing up like this, but..." he paused, his voice catching in his throat. There was so much he wanted to say—about Langa, about the promise, about how much it hurt to feel like he was being left behind—but the words tangled in his chest, too raw to say aloud.

He rubbed the back of his neck in that same awkward gesture he always did when trying to hide how much something mattered. "Mind if I crash here for a bit?" he mumbled with a weak smile.

He felt so stupid standing there, late at night and drenched, like some stray dog looking for shelter. He didn't want to burden you, but the idea of being alone right now, with only his thoughts for company, was too much to bear.

The weight of unspoken words hung in the air as he gaze shifted away, unable to meet your eyes for too long. Although he tried to hide that something was wrong, his smile didn't quite reach his eyes.