[121] Kiriya's past (2)

The following year, Kiriya found Ren sitting in the park, looking downcast—a rare sight, considering how Ren always carried an endless spark of energy.

Ren stared blankly at the blanket of fallen leaves rustling in the autumn breeze. The light in his eyes, normally so alive, had dimmed. He looked... heavy. A feeling not often seen on the face of someone usually bursting with wild ideas and tireless enthusiasm. Kiriya, watching from the swing beside him, let out a soft sigh before breaking the silence.

"Hey, it's not like you to be like this. Something wrong?" he asked gently, half out of concern, half out of a desire to be there for his friend.

Ren took a long breath, then leaned forward slightly, as if trying to shrink into the wind's chill. "Haah, yeah... I had a fight with my dad," he said quietly.