The Passerby

Origins

Three Months Later

"Nora!" Ren yelled, a visage of anger overwhelming his usually calm face.

Nora had planted a confetti bomb under his blankets that morning, which had just gone off when Ren had least expected it, when he was carrying paint.

"Sorry Ren! I didn't know you would be carrying paint at the time! Nora yelped, her eyes tearing up. Ren noted this sudden change in Nora's emotion and calmed down immediately.

"It's fine, just be more careful next time." Ren said, walking into the bathroom they shared at Signal. "Looks like a paintbrush nicked my hair."

"Let me see!" Nora said excitedly, seeing the new pink line in Ren's hair, which was usually jet-black. "It looks amazing!"

"Pink isn't really my color..." Ren muttered, suddenly freezing in place.

Jumping down from the roof, he remembered seeing a girl in a pink shirt being grabbed by a boy. He needed to stop them at whatever cost.

"But you know what, pink may have a place in my life now." Ren said, gazing over to Nora's side of the room, which was painted in pink.

"Phew, for a second I thought you would be really mad at me." Nora said, grabbing a towel to pick up the paint that spilled on the floor.

"I couldn't possibly be." Ren replied, smiling at the girl.