The Words Left Unspoken

The hallways of Mizuhara High were alive with chatter, footsteps, and the occasional burst of laughter. Students hurried to their classes, some dragging their feet, others already deep in conversations about trivial things—homework, weekend plans, rumors.
Kaizen walked through it all like a ghost.
He heard the sounds but didn’t really process them. Everything felt distant, like he was moving through a dream he couldn't wake up from. His uniform was still damp from the rain, his blazer slightly heavier against his shoulders. He hadn’t bothered to dry off completely before stepping into class.
"Oi, Kaizen!"
A hand clapped against his back. It was Ren, his closest friend since middle school. Maybe "closest" wasn’t even the right word anymore—Ren was the only one who still tried.
"Man, you look like hell," Ren snickered, dropping into his seat beside him. "Did you wrestle with the rain or something?"
Kaizen didn’t answer.
Ren continued, unfazed. "Anyway, you won’t believe what happened yesterday—so get this, I was at the arcade, right? And this guy totally wiped the floor with me in Street Fighter, but turns out he’s—"
Kaizen zoned out. He watched Ren’s mouth move, saw the animated way his hands gestured, but the words blurred together into meaningless noise.
Just like always.
Just like every day since she was gone.
He knew Ren was trying. He always did. Trying to make him laugh. Trying to bring him back. Trying to get him to move on.
But how could he?
People told him to let go. His parents, his teachers, his friends.
"It’s been two years, Kaizen.""She would have wanted you to be happy.""You have to move forward."
They didn’t understand.
But she did.
She was the only one who ever understood him.
Her presence had been the only warmth in his life that ever felt real. She had seen through his silences, had known his thoughts before he spoke them. With her, he didn’t need to pretend.
And now?
Now, the world just felt empty.
"Yo. Are you even listening?"
Kaizen blinked. Ren was staring at him, arms crossed, an exasperated look on his face.
"You’ve been zoning out all morning."
"...Sorry."
Ren sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Man, you’re impossible. Seriously, what’s it gonna take for you to—"
He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t have to.
Kaizen already knew the words.
"Move on."
"Let go."
"Forget."
But how could he forget someone he never got to hold?
Their love was left unspoken.
The words were always there, lingering between them, too precious to say aloud.
Now, it was too late.