Renga Oneshots

Through the Storm

For the past two weeks, Reki had been avoiding me. Every time I tried to talk to him, he would just stare blankly out the window, his attention miles away. I tried at school, hoping for just a moment of connection, but he would brush me off and give me nothing more than a distant glance. I attempted to catch him at Dope Sketch, hoping to talk things through, but he didn't show up for work. It felt like we were drifting further apart, and I couldn't stand it.

I had to know what was going on. My heart felt heavy, aching with every passing day. What had I done wrong? Was it something I said? Did I hurt him in some way? I had no answers, but I couldn't just leave things like this.

Determined to find out, I made my way to Reki's house. I knocked on the door, feeling a mix of anxiety and urgency. Masae answered, her warm smile fading as soon as she saw me.

"Oh, Langa? Are you here for Reki?" she asked with a soft, almost sad tone.

I nodded. "Yeah, is he here?"

She sighed lightly, shaking her head. "I'm afraid he's not. He just left for work. But you can catch him at Dope Sketch. He should be there."

"Thanks, Mrs. Kyan." With a grateful nod, I dashed off toward the shop.

As I ran down the street, my breath came in short gasps. The cool drizzle started to fall, but I didn't care. I couldn't waste any more time—this had to be resolved now. Reki had always been there for me, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing him without knowing why.

Reaching Dope Sketch, I walked inside, only to be met by our boss at the counter. He looked up, puzzled.

"Hey Langa, you here for a shift or something?" he asked, his eyes scanning a list of names on a piece of paper.

"No, I'm not scheduled," I muttered, out of breath. "Is Reki here?"

"He just left to deliver some boards," he replied. "But if you want, you can wait in the back. Just so you know, he's been in a bad mood today. So, you know, tread lightly."

I nodded gratefully, taking the key to the back room. "Thanks."

I spent almost an hour and a half in the back, pacing and stewing over what to say. My mind raced with every possibility, but nothing felt right. Just as I was about to give up, I heard the door open and looked up to see Reki walking in.

He stopped short when he saw me. "L-Langa..." His voice cracked as he turned to leave.

Before he could walk out, I rushed forward and grabbed his wrist, my voice pleading. "Reki, please. Talk to me. You've been avoiding me for two weeks. What did I do wrong? I can't stand this silence. Please..."

I knew I sounded pathetic, desperate even, but I couldn't help it. I needed answers.

He tugged his hand free, turning to face me with an almost vacant look in his eyes. "I'm ignoring you for a reason. Let go. My mom said dinner's ready," he muttered, trying to pull away again.

I felt my heart shatter. "Reki, please! We need to talk. I can't lose you, not like I lost my dad. Please, just talk to me."

Tears started to spill from my eyes as he turned his back on me. I tried to catch my breath, fighting the sting of rejection. "What's the point, Langa? Let me go!" His words felt like a knife.

I watched him storm out of the shop, the rain now pouring down in sheets. Standing there, drenched and heartbroken, I wiped away my tears and stood up. I couldn't let him go like this. Determined, I grabbed an umbrella I'd picked up from the shop earlier—a necessary item in this weather—and made my way back to his house.

I knocked on Reki's door, my heart racing. After a few moments, Koyomi opened it with a scowl.

"You again? What's it now, lover boy?" she scoffed, but I ignored her tone.

"I'm here to see Reki," I said, my voice firm but shaky.

She looked down, noticing Reki's shoes at the door. "Yeah, he's home. Must be in his room. Come in."

I stepped inside, removing my shoes and placing the umbrella by the door.

Masae appeared, her warm smile greeting me. "Ah, Langa! Please, come in. I've got dinner ready if you're hungry. But Reki's in his room. He's been a little moody, so please try not to agitate him." She turned back toward the kitchen.

I nodded, feeling my stomach knot with worry.

I walked upstairs to Reki's room, feeling the weight of every step. I paused outside his door, hearing faint whimpers from within. My heart lurched as I knocked softly.

"C-come in..." His voice was barely audible.

I pushed the door open slowly and stepped into the dimly lit room. The sight before me took my breath away. Reki sat on his bed, tears streaking down his face, his expression raw and vulnerable—something I had never seen from him before.

I took a cautious step forward, but he flinched. "Please don't come near me," he whispered. "I don't want to hurt you."

I didn't know what to say. Instead, I gently sat beside him on the bed, my heart aching at the sight of him like this. His walls were so high, and yet here he was, breaking down in front of me. I placed an arm around his shoulder, hoping to comfort him, but he wouldn't face me.

"Reki, please," I whispered, my hand gently lifting his chin so I could see his eyes. "Look at me."

He turned slowly, his expression a mixture of pain and regret. My hand moved to his cheek, softly brushing away the tears.

"I'm sorry, Langa," he whispered, his voice shaking. "I never wanted to hurt you. I didn't mean to make you sad... Please forgive me."

"Of course, I forgive you," I said, pulling him into a tight embrace. I kissed the top of his head, the weight of everything starting to lift.

"I didn't mean to..." he trailed off.

I shushed him gently. "It's okay, Reki. Just... don't ever do that again."

He nodded against my shoulder, his body trembling.

After dinner, which smelled amazing and tasted even better, we both went upstairs, changed into our pajamas, and lay down on Reki's bed. I played with his hair as he yawned, clearly exhausted.

"I'm so tired," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "I've only slept, like, five hours this whole week..."

"You need rest, baby," I said, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "You've been through a lot. Let's just sleep."

We both drifted off, the exhaustion from the past weeks finally catching up with us. As I lay there, listening to Reki's soft breathing, I thought about everything that had happened. I never imagined that something so small—my broken skateboard—could cause this much turmoil. But Reki's feelings ran deep, and I understood now how much he cared, even if his actions sometimes made it seem like he didn't.

I smiled softly, relieved that we were back to where we belonged.