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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 next morning, Rin woke up feeling... different. Not lighter, not happier—just different.

He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying last night in his head.

The conversation. The coffee. The way Aoi's voice softened when she talked about people feeling empty.

With a sigh, he dragged himself out of bed, went through the motions of getting ready, and stepped out into the cold morning air.

Students laughed. Teachers droned on. People moved through the day like it was nothing.

But Rin felt off. Like there was something just outside his reach, tugging at the edges of his mind.

Aoi was in her usual seat, surrounded by friends. She laughed at their jokes, leaned into the conversation like she belonged there.

Rin told himself that was normal. That it wasn't like he expected anything else.

Lunch came. Rin didn't go to the rooftop.

Instead, he sat at his desk, staring at the same notebook he always doodled in when he didn't want to pay attention to the world.

Aoi pulled out the chair in front of him and sat down backward, arms crossed over the backrest. "Oh? So you're just staring at your desk for fun?"

Aoi smirked. "I dunno. Maybe I was expecting someone to say hi after we bonded over deep emotional trauma last night."

Rin frowned. "You didn't even look at me this morning."

Her smirk faltered slightly. But only for a second. "That bothered you?"

Aoi leaned in slightly, her expression unreadable. "Liar."

Rin clenched his jaw. He didn't understand this girl. One second she was making jokes, the next she was digging into him like she was looking for something.

Aoi sighed, tapping her fingers against the desk. "Look, I'm not ignoring you or whatever. It's just—" She hesitated. "You get how it is, right? Some things are easier to talk about when no one else is watching."

Rin met her gaze. And for once, there was no teasing, no smirk—just quiet understanding.

"...Whatever," he muttered, looking away.

Aoi grinned. "Cool. Now, let's go before someone thinks we're actually friends or something."

Rin let out a breath. This girl was exhausting.

But as they walked out of the classroom, he realized something.

It didn't feel as heavy with her around.

Chapter 6:Silence