DaoistaEJxHB

Seventeen-year-old Rin Asakura is tired. Tired of pretending, tired of hoping, and tired of waking up to another day that feels the same. On the surface, he is just another quiet student, drifting through high school unnoticed. But inside, he carries an unbearable weight—the fear of being forgotten, the pain of feeling useless, and the exhaustion of existing without purpose.

His world is a cycle of loneliness and self-doubt, where every interaction feels like a performance. He used to believe things would get better, but now, he isn’t so sure. His only solace is in late-night walks, the quiet hum of the city, and the thought that maybe, just maybe, tomorrow won’t come.

But then he meets Aoi, a girl who hides her own scars behind a bright smile. She seems untouchable, always laughing, always surrounded by people. Yet, Rin notices the way her hands tremble when she thinks no one is looking. And somehow, their paths keep crossing.

As their fragile connection deepens, Rin starts to wonder—is it possible to share the weight of suffering? Or will opening up only make things worse?

When the past comes crashing back and secrets unravel, Rin is forced to face the one question he’s been avoiding: Does he want to live, or does he just not want to die?

The Weight Of Tomorrow

The vending machine at the park was old, its lights flickering slightly in the dim evening air. Aoi crouched in front of it, pressing random buttons like a child testing a new toy.

Aoi snorted. "Wow. That's a lot of trust to put in someone you barely know."

Before he could respond, she hit the button and two cans of coffee clattered into the tray. She grabbed one and tossed the other to him. Rin caught it, the cold seeping into his fingers.

They sat on a bench under a streetlamp, the park mostly empty aside from a few joggers and an old man walking his dog. The air smelled like damp grass, and the distant hum of traffic filled the silence.

Aoi popped the tab of her coffee and took a sip. "So, what's your deal?"

"Y'know." She gestured vaguely. "The whole brooding, quiet, 'leave me alone but also don't' thing you've got going on."

That waking up felt like a chore? That every conversation felt like acting? That no matter how many people surrounded him, he still felt alone?

But saying that out loud felt stupid. Like whining.

Instead, he took a sip of his coffee and muttered, "There's no deal."

Aoi rolled her eyes. "Right. And I'm actually a well-adjusted, happy person."

Rin glanced at her. The teasing smile was there, but—so was the shadow in her eyes.

"You're good at faking it," he said before he could stop himself.

Aoi stilled for half a second. Then, she let out a quiet laugh. "Yeah. I know."

The streetlamp above them flickered slightly. A jogger passed by. Somewhere in the distance, a car honked.

"You ever feel like you're just… watching your own life?" Aoi asked suddenly. "Like you're there, but not really there?"

Rin's fingers tightened around the can.

Instead of answering, he looked up at the sky. The stars were faint, barely visible past the city lights.

Aoi sighed. "Forget it. It's stupid."

She glanced at him, and for a brief moment, the teasing was gone.

Then, just as quickly, she smirked. "Damn, Asakura. Didn't know you could be comforting."

He scoffed. "I wasn't trying to be."

Aoi grinned, leaning back against the bench. "Still. Maybe you're not as emotionally dead as you look."

Rin took another sip of his coffee, ignoring her comment. But something in his chest felt… lighter.

They sat there for a while, saying nothing. Just two strangers in a quiet park, sharing a night neither of them wanted to end too soon.

Chapter 4:Two strangers, One night