Chapter 5: The Gravity of Falling

The morning after the festival, Fujisawa Academy buzzed with whispers that clung to Hikari like spiderwebs as she walked through the gates.

*"Did you see Kurosawa with Ghost Girl at the observatory?"*

*"No way—he and Fujisaki are practically dating!"*

*"I heard they were alone together under the meteors—"*

Hikari's shoelaces tangled as she tripped into the shoe locker alcove—right into Aya's path.

Up close, Aya's perfect posture had gone rigid, her dark eyes scanning Hikari with uncharacteristic sharpness. "You and Ren looked close last night." The silver thread at her wrist pulsed once, faint as a dying ember.

Hikari's throat closed. "It wasn't—we just—"

"Relax." Aya adjusted her student council pin with deliberate slowness. "I'm not the villain here." She leaned in, her whisper laced with something almost like pity. "But you should know—Ren Kurosawa doesn't let people in easily. Not after what happened with his—"

"Fujisaki."

Ren's voice cracked like ice. He stood at the end of the hallway, his usual slouch replaced by a terrifying stillness. The scratch on his cheek stood livid against pale skin.

Aya held his gaze for three heartbeats before smiling brightly. "See you at the committee meeting, Hikari!"

The moment she disappeared, Ren's shoulders sagged.

Hikari reached for his sleeve without thinking. "Ren—?"

"Not here." His fingers brushed hers—just barely—before pulling away.

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**Stella Café - Storage Room**

The scent of coffee beans and cinnamon couldn't mask the tension as Ren paced the cramped space. "What did she tell you?"

"Nothing! She just—" Hikari hesitated. "She said you don't let people get close."

Ren barked a joyless laugh. "Coming from *her*." He yanked his wristband off, revealing a jagged scar beneath. "This is what happens when you trust Fujisakis."

Hikari's breath hitched. The scar formed a crude constellation—*Orion's Belt.*

"Third year of middle school," Ren said tonelessly. "Aya's brother dared me to jump the train tracks after class. Said he'd convince his dad to hire mine back at the planetarium." His thumb traced the scars. "Train came early."

Outside, rain began pattering against the window.

Hikari reached for him—

Ren flinched.

The realization struck like lightning: *This is why his thread with Aya exists. Not love. Guilt.*

Old Man Higurashi's voice carried through the door: *"Boy! Your shift started ten minutes ago!"*

Ren stood abruptly. "I need air."

The door slammed behind him, rattling the shelves. Hikari stared at the abandoned wristband—and the faint new thread now stretching *from her own wrist toward the café owner.*

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**Roof of Fujisawa Academy**

Rain soaked through Hikari's sweater as she burst onto the roof. Ren stood at the edge, face upturned like he could drown in the storm.

"You followed me." Not a question.

Hikari wrung out her sleeve. "You left this." She offered the wristband.

Ren didn't move. "Why do you care?"

"Because!" Her voice broke. "Because when you read your poem, I felt *seen* for the first time since Grandma died! Because your stupid leather jacket smells like cinnamon and I—"

Then she was running—three steps through the downpour—and crashing into him.

Ren staggered back, but his arms came up instinctively, catching her. Hikari buried her face in his chest, clinging to his soaked shirt. She felt his heartbeat against her cheek—wild and unsteady.

For a moment, neither moved. Then slowly, so slowly, Ren's arms tightened around her. His chin came to rest atop her head, his breath warm against her rain-damp hair.

"The threads were wrong," he whispered into the storm. "It was always supposed to be you."

Above them, the clouds parted—just enough for a single star to glimmer through.

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