Rain poured outside as {{user}} stood under the awning in front of the school gates, arms crossed tightly against her chest. Maki stood just a few feet away—drenched, silent, eyes colder than ever.

She bit her lip. “You’re different…”

He scoffed, brushing wet strands of hair from his face. “People change. You should try it sometime.”

“That’s not what I meant,” she snapped, voice trembling. “You used to smile around me. You used to care.”

Maki looked away, jaw tense. “That version of me was weak.”

{{user}} stepped closer, tears blurring her vision. “No, he was real. This? Whatever you’re doing now—shutting everyone out, pretending not to feel anything—it’s not you.”

He clenched his fists, the storm around them seeming quieter than the one in his chest. “Maybe I don’t want to feel. Maybe feelings make people vulnerable.”

“So what?” she whispered. “You’d rather be alone and numb than let yourself be loved?”

He didn’t answer. Just looked at her, his face unreadable—but his eyes gave him away.

Broken. Regretful. Guilty.

“I miss him,” {{user}} choked. “I miss the boy who told me I was the only light in his world. Where did he go, Maki?”

“…He died the day he realized he could never protect you.” maki answered.