The sound of Rin's footsteps fades into the night—the quiet rustling of his shoes against the cobblestones growing softer until it disappears entirely.
The cool summer breeze brushes against my skin, stirring the loose strands of my hair. The weight of Rin's words still lingers in the air, heavy and quiet beneath the soft hum of the festival's distant noise.
"Don't you want to come with me?"
My chest tightens painfully. My hand lifts toward my wrist—the spot where Rin's fingers brushed against my skin only moments ago. His warmth still lingers there, faint but steady, like the last trace of sunlight before night fully settles in.
I close my eyes.
And then—
The memory surfaces.
...
A rainy afternoon.