A New Smile

Several years had passed since Ryoichi Hayashi’s death. Ren had learned how to survive alone. He cooked his own meals, cleaned the house, and went to school each day. His life was a quiet routine: wake up, go to school, come home, study, and sleep. Day after day, he kept to himself. He barely smiled, barely spoke. But now, in his middle school second year, something changed. One spring morning, the homeroom teacher announced a new student. "Everyone, please welcome our new classmate, Reina Hoshino." Reina was warm and confident, with bright eyes and a kind smile. She introduced herself, and by coincidence, the only empty seat was right next to Ren. At first, Ren didn’t pay much attention. He was used to being alone. But day after day, Reina kept talking to him. She greeted him every morning, invited him to lunch, and sometimes even waited for him after school. Most of the time, he stayed quiet, still afraid of letting people in. He thought that every time he got close to someone, he would lose them again. Then, one rainy afternoon, Ren realized he had forgotten his umbrella. As he stood near the school entrance, unsure how to get home, he saw Reina step beside him. Without a word, she opened her umbrella and said, "We’re going the same way." For the first time in a long time, someone waited for him. They walked home under the rain in silence, but somehow, that silence didn’t feel lonely. It felt like a small beginning. Days became weeks, and weeks became months. Reina became the one person who could make Ren laugh again. Little by little, the walls around his heart began to crack. For the first time since his father’s death, he smiled without thinking twice. And maybe—just maybe—he didn’t have to be alone forever.