The Depth of Love

Chapter 3: Distant Encounters

Kai sat at his desk, staring at the digital clock on his bedside table. The first day had passed, and now, he was preparing for another one. He wasn't particularly excited, but the school was new, and there was still so much to figure out. He rolled out of bed and went through his morning routine, feeling a mix of apprehension and quiet curiosity. There were still so many classmates he hadn’t spoken to yet.

One person kept popping up in his mind—Rina. They hadn’t spoken a word to each other, but she sat right in front of him, and her quietness was almost louder than everyone else’s chatter. He had noticed her shy introduction and how she quickly withdrew into herself afterward. But it wasn’t something he dwelled on for long. After all, they were just two people in a room full of others.
Meanwhile, in Rina's World…

Rina woke up early, as usual, keeping to her routine. It was a comforting start to her day: making tea, sketching for a while, and playing soft music in the background. She thrived in these moments of solitude. School, on the other hand, was another story.

Yesterday had been exhausting for her, even though she hadn’t spoken to many people. The social energy required to introduce herself had drained her, leaving her with a lingering sense of discomfort. As she sipped her tea, her mind replayed the day. Faces blurred together, conversations she hadn’t been part of echoed faintly, and then there was Kai. The boy who sat behind her. She hadn’t interacted with him directly, but she had noticed his awkward demeanor, just as she had with many of the other students.

But that didn’t matter. Rina wasn’t at school to make friends. She was there to study, to focus, to succeed—quietly. She’d been in her own world for so long that she had built walls around herself, walls that even she didn’t want to break down.

As she packed her bag for school, she silently resolved to avoid any unnecessary interactions today. The less she had to speak, the better.

At School

The classroom buzzed with activity as the students filtered in. Kai arrived a little later than usual, finding his seat behind Rina. She was already there, scribbling in a notebook, her headphones on. She didn’t look up once as students greeted each other, making small talk before class officially started.

Kai, feeling a bit more comfortable today, greeted a few classmates on his way in. He looked at Rina, wondering if he should say something, but the sight of her completely engrossed in her own world made him hesitate. He sat down quietly, deciding that today wasn’t the day to try to break the ice.

As the class started, Ms. Takahashi went over the schedule for the day, including another group activity later in the afternoon. Kai felt a little uneasy at the thought of working in a group again, especially since he hadn’t made any real connections yet. But he knew he would have to adapt.

Rina, on the other hand, barely registered what Ms. Takahashi was saying. She was absorbed in her notebook, sketching absentmindedly to keep her mind from wandering. The constant noise of the classroom felt overwhelming, even though no one was speaking to her. She preferred the silence of her own thoughts, where she could control the narrative.

Lunch Break

When the bell rang for lunch, Rina was one of the first to leave the classroom. She quickly gathered her things and slipped out, not wanting to get caught in any small talk. She had found a small, quiet spot outside the building where hardly anyone went, and that was where she spent her breaks. Alone.

Kai noticed her leaving quickly but didn’t think much of it. He found himself sitting with a group of students again, making light conversation about the classes and their interests. He was slowly starting to feel a bit more at ease, but there was still something that felt distant about the entire experience. He glanced at the empty seat in front of him, realizing that Rina had vanished the moment she could.

Group Activity

Later in the afternoon, the dreaded group activity began. Ms. Takahashi divided the students into teams once again. This time, Rina and Kai ended up in different groups, which came as a bit of a relief for both of them.

Rina barely engaged with her group. She listened quietly, offering minimal input and nodding along with whatever her groupmates suggested. She didn’t mind being the quiet one; in fact, she preferred it. The less attention she drew to herself, the better.
Kai, on the other hand, was trying his best to connect with his group. He made small talk with the guy next to him, trying to get to know his classmates without feeling too awkward. But his mind wandered back to Rina every now and then. She seemed even more distant today than yesterday. He couldn’t understand how someone could keep to themselves so easily in such a social environment.

After School

As the day ended and students began to leave, Rina packed up her things quickly, eager to leave before anyone could strike up a conversation. She slipped out of the classroom just as Kai stood up to leave. He noticed her retreating figure but didn’t follow. He wasn’t sure if it was just shyness or something deeper that kept him from speaking to her. But whatever it was, it didn’t seem like Rina wanted to talk.

Kai made his way out of the school, walking slowly this time, reflecting on the past two days. He hadn’t made any solid connections yet, but he knew it was still early. His mind wandered back to Rina again, wondering why she seemed so unreachable. He wasn’t sure if he should even try to approach her. Maybe it was better to just leave her alone.

At Home

Rina sat at her desk, sketching once again. The school day had drained her, and she needed the comfort of her quiet space to recharge. She didn’t mind being alone; in fact, she craved it. The thought of making friends or even having simple conversations felt like a chore to her. All she wanted was to focus on her studies and her art, without the distraction of social interaction.

As she sketched, her mind briefly flashed to the boy who sat behind her. Kai. She barely knew him, but there was something about the brief eye contact they’d shared that stuck with her. It wasn’t important, though. She wasn’t at school to make friends. She wasn’t there to get close to anyone. Her walls were firmly in place, and she had no intention of letting anyone in.

Kai, meanwhile, called Ash once again to give him an update on the day. “It’s still weird,” he said. “I’m starting to get to know a few people, but there’s this girl, Rina… She’s different. We haven’t even talked, but she’s always so distant. I don’t know if I should try talking to her or not.”

Ash chuckled on the other end. “Dude, just give it time. Some people are harder to get to know. Maybe she’s just not ready to open up yet.”

Kai nodded, knowing Ash was probably right. “Yeah, maybe. No rush, I guess.”

And so, another day ended, with Kai and Rina continuing on their separate paths, their lives barely brushing against each other.