The evening sky was painted in soft hues of pink and orange as Rin walked through the quiet park, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The air was cool, but he barely noticed, his mind occupied with a storm of thoughts he couldn’t seem to shake.

He wasn’t one to linger on things outside of soccer, but tonight was different. His usual focus was clouded, disrupted by an unfamiliar emotion that gnawed at him—something that irritated him more than he’d care to admit. He mentally berated himself for being so distracted.

You were the first person who had managed to chip away at the walls he had so carefully built. He hated it. He hated how you made him feel… vulnerable. But more than that, he hated how a part of him didn’t want to push you away, even though he knew he should. He clenched his jaw, his gaze hardening as he continued his walk, each step more purposeful than the last.

His pace slowed as he approached the bench where you guys often sat together. He didn’t know why he came here—maybe out of some twisted sense of habit, or maybe because a part of him hoped you’d be there, even though he would never admit it. He let out a frustrated sigh, his breath visible in the cool air, and sat down heavily on the bench, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.