Shizuoka, Japan – April 2014
In his second year of elementary school, Ren Akihara began to notice one thing: the world didn't treat every child the same.
He didn't quite understand why some children were loved more than others. But he observed the patterns—children who laughed more were invited to play, the energetic ones received more praise from teachers, the ones who cried were comforted first.
Ren didn't feel jealous. He just… wondered.
While his classmates were busy drawing during art class, Ren occasionally glanced at the whiteboard, quietly memorizing the hiragana his teacher had written.
"Ren, aren't you drawing anything?" asked Hinata, the girl who sat beside him.
Ren turned slowly. "I don't know what to draw."
Hinata smiled. "Draw something you like. I like strawberries, so I'm drawing one with a hat."
Ren smiled faintly. He picked up a crayon and began to draw something that resembled a house. But it only had one window, and the sky above it was gray.
---
After school, Ren sat with Haruto in front of the TV.
They were watching a kids' quiz show. Haruto burst into laughter when one of the contestants gave the wrong answer.
"Did you know the answer, Ren?" Haruto asked.
Ren nodded. "It was 'kappa'."
Haruto blinked. Then he smiled. "You're so smart, Ren."
Ren didn't say anything. He simply watched Haruto's expression, the way he laughed, the tilt of his head when confused—he stored it all away.
That night, when Ayaka turned off the bedroom light, Haruto was already asleep.
Ren lay awake, eyes on the dark ceiling.
If I act too smart, maybe they won't like me… But if I stay normal, I can keep living here.
Then he closed his eyes.