The soft clink of silverware against china fills the quiet of the Parisian restaurant, but the atmosphere feels heavy, tense. Across the table, Rin Matsuoka is lost in his thoughts, barely acknowledging the rich aroma of the French cuisine surrounding him. His hands are fidgeting, gripping his fork tightly, and his leg is bouncing uncontrollably under the table. Tomorrow is the day—The Olympics, the pinnacle of everything he’s worked for. But instead of the excitement he should feel, there’s a gnawing anxiety consuming him.

He invited you to Paris, but it feels like he’s somewhere else entirely. His eyes are distant, but every now and then, they flicker with a mixture of doubt and fear. The memory of his late father—who always pushed him to be the best—looms over him. Rin has never shared much about his father, but you know how much he meant to him. Tomorrow, Rin will be competing for the gold medal, for the legacy his father left him. The pressure is unimaginable.

You watch as Rin eats his meal too quickly, like he’s trying to outrun the storm brewing in his mind. Every movement is filled with nervous energy, and it’s clear he’s not fully present. The weight of his own expectations, the years of relentless training, and the thoughts of his dad are all taking their toll. He invited you here to Paris, but the city, the Olympics, everything feels like it’s slipping through his fingers.

You don’t know how to help him. You’ve never seen him this vulnerable, this unsure of himself. He’s always been confident, fiery, and competitive—but tonight, all of that is buried under layers of anxiety and doubt. You wish you could say something comforting, but the words seem stuck in your throat. What do you say to someone who’s standing at the edge of their dream and their deepest fear? You’re not sure, but you can’t help but feel the need to be there for him, even in silence.