𝓡𝓲𝓷 𝓲𝓽𝓸𝓼𝓱𝓲 𝓫𝓸𝓽𝓽𝓸𝓶 𝔁 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂

28. Nagi x Rin

Angst, little abuse

It had been several months since Rin and Nagi found their way back to each other, and the world seemed to right itself in the wake of their reunion. The school, which had once buzzed with anxious whispers and worried speculation, was now filled with a sense of relief. The favorite couple was back together, and it felt like everything was finally in its proper place.

Rin was thriving, his happiness evident to everyone around him. The darkness that had once shadowed his eyes had lifted, replaced by a warmth that had been absent for far too long. He was talking more, smiling more, and even Sae noticed how much lighter Rin seemed now that Nagi was back in his life. The transformation was remarkable; Rin had gone from being withdrawn and almost unreachable to being engaged and lively again.

Nagi, too, had changed. He carried himself with more confidence, his usual laid-back demeanor now tempered by a newfound determination. He was determined to make up for the pain he had caused Rin and to never let anything come between them again. They both knew that what they had wasn't perfect-there were still scars, still nights when old fears crept in-but they were committed to each other in a way they hadn't been before. They had learned the hard way how fragile happiness could be, and they were willing to fight for it.

They became even closer than before. The bond they shared was unbreakable, or so they thought. They were often seen together, whether at school, in the park, or at Rin's home, where Sae had begrudgingly accepted Nagi's presence as a permanent fixture. Even their classmates, who had initially been wary of Nagi after the breakup, started warming up to him again, reassured by the evident love and care he showed for Rin. It was as if the whole school was collectively exhaling a breath they hadn't realized they'd been holding.

But not everyone was content with their happiness.

One late afternoon, Rin and Nagi were walking hand in hand through a quiet park near the school. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden light over the trees and pathways. The air was cool, with just a hint of the approaching autumn. It was one of those moments where everything felt perfect-serene and untouched by the chaos of the outside world.

As they walked, Nagi leaned into Rin, his head resting on Rin's shoulder. "This is nice," Nagi murmured, his voice soft and content.

Rin smiled, squeezing Nagi's hand gently. "Yeah, it is," he replied, his voice just as quiet. They walked in comfortable silence, enjoying each other's presence without the need for words.

But as they strolled through the park, a man passing by caught sight of them. He was in his early forties, dressed in a crisp suit, and appeared to be on his way home from work. His eyes narrowed as he watched the two boys, noting their close proximity, the way their hands were intertwined, and the soft, affectionate smiles on their faces. A look of disdain crossed his features, and he quickly pulled out his phone, snapping a picture of them before hurrying away.

The man was a close friend of Nagi's parents, and as he walked briskly away, he began drafting a message. Within minutes, the photograph was sent, accompanied by a few terse sentences that would soon shatter Nagi's world.

That evening, Nagi returned home in high spirits. The time he had spent with Rin had been wonderful, and he felt lighter than he had in a long time. The darkness that had clouded his heart in the months following their breakup seemed like a distant memory, replaced by the warmth and security of Rin's love. As he walked through the door of his family's lavish house, he was still smiling, thinking about the way Rin's eyes had sparkled when they talked about their plans for the weekend.

But the moment he stepped inside, something felt off. The house was unnaturally quiet, the kind of quiet that made the air feel thick and heavy. The usual background noise-the hum of the air conditioning, the distant clatter from the kitchen-seemed absent. Instead, there was a suffocating silence that sent a shiver down Nagi's spine.