"I'm sorry," I said.
The girl in front of me looked confused. Hurt, maybe.
She was my classmate.We'd had lunch together dozens of times.Laughed over dumb tests.Held hands during school festivals.
But this morning…
I didn't remember her name.
Not even the first letter.
She smiled and said,"It's okay, Aoi-chan,"but I saw her hands trembleas she walked away.
Later, I stood in front of my locker for almost fifteen minutes.
I forgot the combination.
Again.
And for a moment—just a moment—I looked around and didn't recognize the hallway at all.
When Ren found me behind the gym,I was sitting on the ground.Eyes hollow.Hands frozen on my knees.
I looked up at him and whispered—
"What if I forget you first?"
He didn't speak.Not at first.Then he knelt down in front of me and said—
"Then I'll remind you again.And again.Until I have nothing left to say—and you still don't remember."
His voice cracked.Not from weakness.But from knowing how strong he'd have to be.
That night, I dreamed of a photo album.
All the pictures inside had blank faces.But Ren was there.He stood at the edge of every frame—always watching.Always alone.
I opened my notebook.Wrote in slow, careful letters:
"Day 87.I forgot a friend.I forgot a hallway.Tomorrow, I might forget Ren."
"But if I do—I hope some part of mestill looks for him anyway."
The rain had stopped.The sky was clear.
But in my chest,a storm was just beginning.