The rhythmic clanking of metal echoed through the gym as Takumi Anzo and his best friend, Haruto Kenzaki, pushed through their workout routine. Sweat dripped down their faces, but their spirits were high. Between sets, they teased each other, their laughter mixing with the sounds of weights hitting the floor.
"Man, you're getting weaker!" Haruto smirked, nudging Takumi's shoulder. "I swear you could lift more last time."
Takumi scoffed. "You're just salty because I beat you in arm wrestling yesterday."
Haruto rolled his eyes but laughed. It was a normal day, just another evening spent pushing their limits. Until Haruto casually dropped a question that sent a shockwave through Takumi's entire being.
"Hey, Takumi… did you know about Riku Hayashi's girlfriend? What was her name again… oh right, Amiya Renzaki."
The moment that name left Haruto's lips, the world around Takumi seemed to blur. The sounds of the gym faded, the weights, the laughter, even the scent of sweat—everything was drowned in an overwhelming flood of memories.
Her name. Her face. Her voice.
It all came rushing back like a tidal wave, washing over his mind in a relentless surge. A snapshot of her laughing in the school hallway. The way she used to brush her hair behind her ear. The distant yet familiar look in her eyes whenever they crossed paths but never spoke.
Takumi's grip on the dumbbell tightened. His heart pounded, yet his expression remained unreadable.
A long pause.
Then, in a quiet, controlled voice, he simply said, "No."
Haruto gave him a puzzled look, but Takumi had already set his weights down. "I'm heading home. See you later."
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed his bag and walked out of the gym, the cool evening air doing little to ease the storm brewing inside him.
Back home, the house was alive with the usual sounds of his large family. His grandfather and uncles sat in the living room discussing politics, while his aunts gossiped over tea. His cousins played games, their laughter filling the space. It was a scene of warmth and chaos, yet tonight, Takumi felt disconnected from it all.
He went straight to his room, took a quick shower, and joined his family for dinner. His mother served him a plate of his favorite curry, but he barely tasted it. The conversation at the table buzzed around him, yet his mind was trapped elsewhere.
Amiya.
Why did hearing her name still shake him like this?
Dinner ended, and one by one, the family members retreated to their rooms. Takumi, too, stepped into his own space, locking the door behind him. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of his phone screen. He hesitated for a moment before unlocking it.
To be continued…