Next Door

Tokyo, dusk. The sun sank behind the rows of apartments, painting the sky in hues of pink and violet. The faint hum of cicadas mixed with the sound of distant traffic. Ren walked home from his evening job, his uniform slightly wrinkled, a plastic bag swinging at his side.

Ren (narration):

“Every day ends the same way. The city moves, people laugh, trains run… but for me, it’s just another quiet walk home.”

As he turned into the narrow alley leading to his building, he noticed several boxes stacked outside the apartment next to his. A faint light flickered from within. Someone was moving in.

A girl stood there — hair tied loosely, a soft sweater draped over her shoulders, a calm expression on her face as she placed a potted plant near the door.

Aoi (to herself):

“Finally done… it’s smaller than I thought, but… it feels peaceful.”

Ren stopped briefly, his footsteps echoing on the concrete. She looked up, startled but smiling warmly.

Aoi:

“Oh! Hi— you live here too, right?”

Ren gave a small nod, expression unreadable.

Aoi:

“I’m Aoi. I just moved in next door. Sorry if I make a bit of noise while unpacking.”

Ren:

“…Okay.”

Aoi:

(laughs softly) “That’s it? You’re not very talkative, huh?”

Ren:

“…Guess not.”

She tilted her head slightly, amused, and nodded with a smile that didn’t fade even after his blunt reply.

Aoi:

“Well, I’ll see you at school tomorrow then, neighbor.”

Ren said nothing, simply turned his key in the lock and stepped inside his dim apartment. The click of the door echoed faintly in the hall.

Inside, he placed his bag down and stared blankly at the wall between their rooms. Through it, he could hear faint movements — the sound of her opening boxes, the crinkle of wrapping paper, and then a soft, distant humming.

Ren (narration):

“She moved in alone. No family, no noise, just that voice. Why would anyone choose to live alone in a place like this?”

He looked out the window; faint light seeped through the curtains — her light, bright and warm compared to his dark, quiet room. He lay down on his bed, the faint tune of her humming still lingering in the air.

Ren (narration):

“I don’t understand people like her. They smile so easily, talk to strangers like it’s nothing. I don’t know how to do that anymore.”

The ticking of a clock filled the silence. Outside, the cicadas quieted, replaced by the soft wind brushing through the trees. He turned to the wall once more, listening to the faint sound of her laughter as she accidentally dropped something heavy.

And without realizing it, a small, barely noticeable smile tugged at the corner of his lips — a flicker of warmth he hadn’t felt in years.

Ren (narration):

“She’ll forget about me soon… everyone does. But tonight… somehow, this silence feels a little different.”

The scene fades slowly — Ren lying quietly in the dark, and Aoi next door, sitting by her window, resting her chin on her knees while looking at the moon. Two quiet souls separated by a wall, unaware that destiny had just placed them side by side.

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