The Morning Began Quietly, With A Soft Stream Of Light Seeping Through The Curtains Of Ren's Room. The Faint Hum Of The Ceiling Fan, The Crisp Air Of A New Day — Everything Felt Familiar, Yet Different. It Had Been Quite Some Time Since Graduation, But The Same Calm Still Followed Him Wherever He Went.
He Sat On The Edge Of His Bed, Rubbing The Sleep From His Eyes Before Glancing At The Clock. First Day Of College. The Words Carried A Weight Of Their Own — A Mix Of Nervousness, Anticipation, And Something He Couldn't Quite Name.
After A Warm Shower, He Made His Way To The Kitchen. His Mother Was Already Preparing Breakfast, While Riko Sat At The Table, Kicking Her Legs And Scrolling Through Her Phone.
"You're Up Early," His Mother Said With A Gentle Smile. "Excited?"
Ren Shrugged Lightly, Sitting Down. "A Little. It Feels... New."
Riko Looked Up, A Smirk Forming On Her Face. "First Day Of College, Huh? Don't Forget To Smile When You Introduce Yourself. You'll Scare Everyone If You Look Too Serious."
Ren Raised An Eyebrow. "You Sound Like You're Enjoying This."
"I Am." She Grinned. "And Don't Pretend You're Not Nervous. Miyu Probably Is Too."
At Her Name, Ren's Fingers Paused On His Mug For A Second. He Tried To Play It Off With A Small Smile. "Maybe."
His Father Walked In, Adjusting His Watch. "College Will Be Different, But You'll Get Used To It. Just Be Yourself, Ren."
Ren Nodded Quietly. "Yeah... I'll Try."
He Ate Slowly, Letting The Familiar Warmth Of Morning Fill The Room — The Smell Of Toast, The Light Banter Between His Family, The Subtle Comfort Of Routine. When He Finally Stood To Leave, Riko Waved Her Hand With A Smile. "Don't Get Lost, College Boy."
"Funny," He Said, Slipping On His Shoes. But He Smiled Back Before Stepping Out.
—
Miyu's Morning Began In A Similar Stillness. The Gentle Breeze Through Her Window Carried The Faint Scent Of Flowers From The Garden Below. She Sat At Her Desk, Checking Her Bag One Last Time — Books, Stationery, A Neat Notebook She'd Bought Just For Today. Everything Was In Place, As Always.
Her Mother Knocked Softly Before Entering. "All Ready?"
Miyu Nodded, Smiling. "I Think So. It Feels Strange... Starting Something New."
Her Father's Voice Came From The Hallway. "You'll Do Fine. Just Like Always."
Before She Could Respond, Yui Popped Her Head In With A Teasing Grin. "So~ Big Day Today, Sis! First Day Of College! Nervous? Excited? Or Just Thinking About Someone Again?"
Miyu's Cheeks Flushed Instantly. "Yui!"
Her Mother Laughed Quietly While Yui Continued, "What? I'm Just Asking! You're Blushing, So I Think I Know The Answer."
Miyu Took A Deep Breath, Trying To Hide Her Embarrassment. "I'm Leaving You In Charge Of The House If You Keep Talking Like That."
"Gladly!" Yui Chirped, Dodging A Light Swat As Miyu Tried To Shush Her. The Whole Room Filled With A Familiar Kind Of Warmth — One That Always Made Mornings Feel A Little Lighter.
—
A Few Minutes Later, As Miyu Walked Toward The Door, Her Phone Buzzed. She Glanced At The Screen — Ren Calling.
She Answered, Her Voice Gentle. "Morning."
"Morning," He Replied, His Tone Calm But Warm. "How's It Going Over There?"
"Peaceful," She Said With A Small Smile. "Yui's Been Teasing Me Since I Woke Up."
He Chuckled Quietly. "Riko's Doing The Same. Guess They Planned It."
"Probably," She Said, Laughing Softly. Then Her Voice Lowered, A Bit Shy. "I'm... A Little Nervous."
Ren Leaned Back Against The Wall, His Fingers Lightly Tapping His Bag Strap. "Yeah. Me Too. It Feels... Different. Like We're Starting A Whole New Chapter."
There Was A Pause — Not Awkward, But Gentle. The Kind That Spoke Without Words.
"I Guess We Are," She Said Finally, Her Voice Calm. "But It Feels Nice Too. Like We've Come Far."
"Yeah," He Whispered. "We Have."
They Talked A Little Longer — About Their Class Timings, The Campus, The Strangeness Of Starting Over. Their Words Were Simple, Yet They Carried The Same Quiet Comfort They Always Shared.
Before Hanging Up, Miyu's Voice Softened. "Let's Both Do Our Best Today."
Ren Smiled To Himself. "We Will."
The Line Went Silent, Leaving Behind The Warm Echo Of Familiarity.
Miyu Stepped Outside, Feeling The Morning Sun Against His Skin.
Two Paths, Two Routines, But The Same Sky Above Them — Quietly Watching As They Took Their First Steps Into Something New.
—
The Morning Light Poured Softly Through The Curtains, Painting The Room In A Warm Glow. A Teenage Boy Sat At The Edge Of His Bed, Blinking Away The Drowsiness That Still Clung To His Eyes. His Room Was A Mixture Of Neat Corners And Subtle Chaos — A Stack Of Books On One Side, A Half-Zipped Bag On The Other, And A Crumpled Hoodie Draped Over His Chair.
He Rubbed His Eyes, Stretching With A Yawn Before Reaching For His Phone. A Few Missed Messages, Mostly From Friends Who Were Already On Their Way To College. He Let Out A Small Breath, Half A Laugh, Half A Thought.
"First Day… Here We Go."
The Door Suddenly Burst Open, And Two Younger Voices Filled The Room. His Younger Brother And Sister — Twins, Both Around Thirteen — Rushed In Like A Storm.
"Big Bro! You're Gonna Be Late On Your First Day!" The Boy Grinned, Holding A Piece Of Toast Between His Teeth.
"Yeah! You Said College Students Wake Up Early!" His Sister Added, Hands On Her Hips With A Mock Serious Face.
He Chuckled, Standing Up As He Ruffled Both Their Hair. "You Two Should Be More Worried About School Than Me."
"We're Fine!" They Said In Unison.
The Kitchen Was Already Lively When He Walked In. His Mother Was Packing Lunchboxes While His Father Scrolled Through The Morning News. The Twins Were Still Talking Over Each Other, Arguing About Something As Usual.
"You're Going To Make New Friends Today, Right?" His Mother Asked As He Grabbed His Bag.
"I'll Try," He Replied With A Small Smile. "Though I'm Pretty Sure Half The Campus Already Knows The Rumors About Me."
His Father Looked Up Briefly. "Let Them Talk. Just Be Yourself."
He Nodded, Finishing His Breakfast While The Twins Started Singing A Random Song Together, Off-Key But Full Of Energy. Before Leaving, He Placed His Hand On Each Of Their Heads.
"Don't Burn The House Down While I'm Gone."
"No Promises!" The Twins Laughed, Waving Dramatically As He Stepped Out.
The Street Outside Was Fresh, The Air Still Cool From The Early Hour. He Adjusted His Bag Strap, The Corners Of His Mouth Lifting In A Quiet, Anticipating Smile. The First Day Of College Had Finally Come.
—
Across The City, Another Morning Unfolded With A Different Kind Of Rhythm.
The Curtains Were Pulled Back Just Enough To Let The Morning Sunlight Touch The Room. A Teenage Girl Sat At Her Desk, Braiding Her Hair While Glancing At The Time. Her Desk Was Neat — Not A Single Thing Out Of Place — And A Stack Of Books Rested Beside A Small Potted Plant.
Her Alarm Had Already Stopped Ringing, But She Hummed Softly To Herself, A Habit To Keep Calm Before Important Days.
From Downstairs, The Cheerful Voice Of Her Younger Brother Echoed, "Sis! You're Taking Too Long! Breakfast's Gonna Get Cold!"
"I'm Coming!" She Called Back, Smiling To Herself.
When She Reached The Table, Her Brother — A Fourteen-Year-Old Ball Of Energy — Was Already Stuffing His Face With Pancakes.
"You're Way Too Calm For Your First Day," He Said, Mouth Full, "If It Were Me, I'd Be Running Around Panicking."
She Sat Down, Pouring Tea Into Her Cup. "That's Because You Panic Over Everything."
He Pretended To Gasp. "That's So Mean! I Was Gonna Say Good Luck Too."
She Laughed, Leaning Over To Pat His Head. "Then Say It."
"Fine!" He Crossed His Arms Dramatically. "Good Luck, Sis! Don't Scare Everyone With Your Serious Face."
"Thanks," She Said With A Smile. "And Don't Get Scolded Again For Sleeping In Class."
"I'm Working On It!" He Protested, Which Only Made Her Laugh Harder.
Their Mother Walked By, Shaking Her Head Lightly At Their Morning Banter. "You Two Never Change. Now Hurry Up Before You're Late."
The Girl Stood, Picking Up Her Bag. She Looked Out The Window Briefly — The Sky Was Clear, The Kind Of Blue That Made The Day Feel Hopeful.
She Turned To Her Brother, Who Was Still Finishing His Breakfast. "I'll Be Back Before You Know It."
"Bring Me Something Cool From College!" He Said Excitedly.
"I'll Think About It."
And With That, She Stepped Outside, Her Heart Fluttering Between Nervousness And Excitement. The Morning Breeze Carried A Quiet Promise — That Something New Was Beginning.
—
Two Different Homes. Two Different Mornings.
Neither Of Them Knew Yet That Somewhere Beyond The Flow Of Those Ordinary Streets, Their Paths Would Soon Intertwine.
But For Now, It Was Enough That Both Walked Forward — With Hope In Their Eyes, And The Warm Echo Of Family Voices Behind Them.
—
The Train Moved With A Gentle Rhythm, The Tracks Humming A Faint Tune Beneath It. The Morning Sun Reflected Off The Windows, Casting Shifting Patterns Of Light On The Faces Of The Passengers.
A Teenage Boy Sat Near The Window, Earphones Hanging Around His Neck But No Music Playing. His Eyes Wandered Across The Passing Buildings, The Distant Streets, The Fleeting Glimpses Of People Living Their Own Quiet Mornings. He Could See His Reflection In The Glass — Calm, Yet Somewhere Beneath That Calmness, A Hint Of Unease.
He Rested His Chin On His Hand, Watching The City Flow Past. "Feels Different," He Thought, "Like The World's A Little Bigger Today."
As The Station Announcer's Voice Echoed, He Stood Up, Adjusting The Strap Of His Bag. The Train Slowed To A Stop, Doors Sliding Open With A Soft Chime.
The Platform Was Crowded — Students, Office Workers, Tourists — Everyone Moving In Different Directions. The Boy Walked Through Them Quietly, His Steps Unhurried Yet Steady. He Knew The Way From The Route Map He'd Memorized Last Night, Though He Still Checked The Signs Once More Just To Be Sure.
He Looked Around The Campus As He Arrived — Wide Courtyards, A Fountain In The Middle, The Faint Scent Of Blossoms Carried By The Wind. It Was A Beautiful Sight, And For A Moment, It Almost Made Him Forget About The Nervous Weight Sitting In His Chest.
Inside The Main Building, Crowds Of Students Gathered Around The Notice Board, Looking For Their Names, Classrooms, And Sections. He Squeezed Through, Scanning The List Until His Eyes Caught His Name.
"Third Floor, Room 3-B."
He Exhaled Quietly And Headed Upstairs. The Classroom Was Bright, Spacious, And Already Filled With The Hum Of Voices. Laughter, Introductions, The Rustle Of Bags Being Unpacked — Everything Felt Alive.
But That Warmth Faltered The Moment He Stepped In.
Whispers Spread — Small At First, Then Gathering Weight.
"Hey, Isn't That Him?"
"Yeah… I Heard Some Stuff About Him."
"They Say He Used To Be A Delinquent."
The Words Floated In The Air, Not Loud Enough To Be Direct, But Clear Enough To Be Heard. He Could Feel Eyes On Him, Some Curious, Some Cautious.
He Didn't Say Anything — Just Walked Quietly To A Seat Near The Window And Sat Down. He Rested His Bag On The Desk, Looking Out At The Campus Below.
"So Much For Making New Friends," He Thought With A Faint, Dry Smile. "Now They Won't Even Talk To Me."
He Leaned Back Slightly, Letting The Murmurs Fade Into The Background Noise Of Morning. The Wind Outside Brushed Past The Trees, Carrying With It The Sound Of Bells Ringing From Somewhere Distant.
—
At The Same Time, Somewhere In The Same Hallway, A Teenage Girl Walked Beside Her Friend, Their Voices Light And Filled With Quiet Excitement.
"So This Is College, Huh?" Her Friend Said, Holding A Small Notebook In Her Hand. "It Feels So Much Bigger Than High School."
"It Does," She Replied Softly, Looking Around At The Flow Of Students. The Energy Here Was Different — Busier, More Alive.
When They Reached The Notice Board, Her Friend Stepped Closer. "Let's See… Oh, There's Our Names! 3-B."
"Same Class, Then," She Smiled.
They Made Their Way Upstairs, Still Talking About Little Things — The Campus Café, The Clubs They Might Join, The Teachers They'd Heard About From Upperclassmen.
As They Reached The Classroom, The Friend's Voice Lowered A Bit. "Hey, You Know About That Guy Sitting By The Window?"
She Turned Slightly, Following Her Friend's Gaze. The Boy From Earlier Sat Quietly, His Eyes Fixed Somewhere Beyond The Window Glass.
"What About Him?" She Asked.
Her Friend Leaned Closer, Whispering. "I Heard Rumors About Him… That He Used To Get Into Fights Or Something. Some Say He Was A Delinquent Back In High School."
She Blinked, Her Expression Calm But Curious. "Rumors?"
Her Friend Nodded Quickly. "Yeah, That's What People Are Saying."
She Looked At The Boy Again — The Way He Sat, The Quietness In His Posture, The Slight Distance Between Him And Everyone Else.
"It's Still Just A Rumor, Right?" She Said Gently. "Doesn't Mean It's True."
Her Friend Looked At Her, Somewhat Surprised, Then Smiled Lightly. "You Always Say Stuff Like That."
"Because It's True," She Replied, Her Voice Soft But Firm. "You Shouldn't Judge Someone You Haven't Even Talked To."
She Took A Seat Near The Middle Row, Still Stealing One Last Glance At The Boy By The Window.
It Was The First Time She'd Ever Seen Him — And Though She Didn't Know It Yet, That Simple Moment Would Quietly Start Something Neither Of Them Expected.
—
The Morning Light Fell Softly Through The Windows As Students Filled The Room One After Another. Bags Rested Beside Desks, Voices Blended Quietly, And That Faint Smell Of New Books And Polished Floors Wrapped Around The Room — A Beginning In Its Own Way.
The Teacher Walked In Moments Later, Middle-Aged With A Calm Smile That Somehow Made The Restless Energy Settle Down.
"Good Morning, Everyone," He Said Warmly, Placing His Files On The Desk.
The Class Responded Together, Some Voices Too Loud, Some Barely Audible.
"I'm Mr. Hayato," He Continued. "I'll Be Your Homeroom Teacher For This Year. Let's Make It A Good Start, Alright? I Hope You'll All Find This Place A Little Easier To Breathe In."
His Words Were Simple, But The Way He Said Them — Like He Meant Them — Made The Room Quieter.
"Now, Let's Begin With Introductions," He Said With A Nod. "Name, Where You're From, And What You Hope To Do Here. Doesn't Have To Be Big. Just Something That's Yours."
One By One, The Students Began Standing Up.
Some Spoke With Confidence.
Some Looked Down While Talking.
Some Made The Whole Room Laugh.
Near The Window, A Teenage Boy Rested His Chin On His Hand, Watching The Flow Of Introductions. He Didn't Say Much. Just Listened. There Were Glances — A Few Students Whispering As They Looked His Way, Maybe Recognizing The Face They'd Heard About.
He Heard His Name In Their Whispered Sentences. The Word Rumour Carried Quietly Through The Desks.
"Hey, Isn't He The Guy Who—"
"Yeah, I Heard That Too…"
The Boy Exhaled Through His Nose, Looking Out The Window.
"So Much For A Fresh Start," He Thought To Himself. "Guess Making Friends Won't Be Easy After All."
Meanwhile, Near The Middle Row, A Teenage Girl Sat Beside A Familiar Face — The Friend She'd Met That Morning. The Two Whispered Softly As Others Introduced Themselves.
Her Friend, With A Calm Smile, Rested Her Elbows Lightly On The Desk. "Wonder What Kind Of People We'll Meet This Year."
The Girl Smiled Back, "Probably Interesting Ones."
When It Was The Friend's Turn, She Stood Up. "Good Morning. I'm Yuna. I Graduated From Shinsei High, Where I Served As Vice President. My Goal Is To Keep Improving And Help Others Along The Way."
Her Voice Was Clear, Confident, The Kind That Made The Room Pay Attention.
The Girl Beside Her Listened Quietly, Feeling Proud Of The Familiar Warmth In Her Friend's Words.
Next Came A Boy With Neat Hair And A Calm Look In His Eyes. "I'm Takumi. I Was The Student Council President At Shinsei High. I Want To Keep Moving Forward And Enjoy College A Bit Too."
The Name Shinsei High Spread Through The Room In A Small Wave.
The Boy At The Back Raised His Eyebrow Slightly, Thinking To Himself, "Shinsei… Sounds Familiar. Those Two Must've Known Each Other Pretty Well."
Before The Thought Could Fade, The Door At The Back Clicked Open Again.
Two Students Entered, Almost Late — A Boy With Quiet Eyes And A Girl With A Composed Demeanor. They Bowed Lightly As The Teacher Gestured Them In.
"Just In Time. Grab A Seat — You'll Introduce Yourselves Later."
They Nodded, Quietly Moving To Empty Desks Near The Middle. The Boy At The Back Glanced Briefly — Their Expressions Looked Collected, A Little Composed In A Way That Stood Out.
The Introductions Continued Around The Room.
Soft Laughter. Light Applause.
Some Goals As Simple As "Make Friends."
Some As Honest As "Figure Out Who I Am."
The Two Late Students Finally Stood Up When It Was Their Turn.
"Good Morning," The Boy Said Calmly. "I'm Ren. I Also Graduated From Shinsei High. My Goal Is To Keep Learning… And Find What I Really Want To Do."
Next To Him, The Girl Smiled Gently. "I'm Miyu. I'm From Shinsei High Too. I Want To Keep Trying My Best — Even If It's Just Bit By Bit."
Some Students Whispered. They Know The Others From Shinsei?
The Boy At The Back Let Out A Small Breath. "So They All Know Each Other, Huh…"
Then, The Girl Near The Middle Row Stood Up When It Was Her Turn.
"Good Morning," She Said, Voice Polite Yet Shy. "I'm Rumi. I Don't Really Have Much Confidence In Myself Yet, But… I Want To Try. Even If It's Just One Step At A Time."
Her Friend Yuna Looked At Her With A Gentle Smile. "You Did Great," She Whispered When She Sat Back Down.
The Boy At The Back Turned His Gaze Toward Her Briefly. Rumi, He Thought. She Doesn't Look Like Someone Who'd Doubt Herself So Easily.
Then His Turn Came. He Stood Slowly, Feeling All Eyes On Him For A Second.
Some Whispered Again — The Word Rumour Floating Somewhere Behind Him.
"I'm Natsu," He Said. "I Know Some Of You Might've Heard Things About Me. But I'm Still Here To Try — To Learn, To Make Friends, And Maybe… To Change A Bit."
A Subtle Silence Settled In. Not The Awkward Kind — But The Thoughtful One.
Ren Glanced At Him Briefly, Nodding Just A Little. Miyu's Eyes Softened. Takumi And Yuna Shared A Look That Said He's Brave To Say That Out Loud. Rumi, Still Sitting, Felt Something Quietly Warm Bloom Inside Her Chest.
Then, Mr. Hayato Clapped His Hands Once. "That's The Spirit I Want To See. Everyone's Here For A Reason — To Learn, To Grow, And To Start Fresh. Let's Make This Class Worth Remembering."
The Boy Sat Back Down. The Room Felt Different Now — Like Something Quiet Had Shifted.
A Gentle Laughter Spread Across The Room, Easing The Remaining Nervousness. The Morning Light Fell Through The Windows, Painting Faint Lines Across Their Desks.
Mr. Hayato Nodded, Looking Around The Room. "Looks Like We've Got Quite A Mix Of Students Here. I'm Looking Forward To This Year With You All."
The Room Softened With Quiet Laughter, Light Smiles, And That Small, Shared Feeling That Maybe — Just Maybe — This Year Could Be Something Good.
The Bell Rang Gently In The Distance, Marking The Start Of A New Chapter —
One That None Of Them Realized Was Just Beginning To Intertwine.
—
The Day Slowly Unfolded, Quiet Yet Full Of Possibilities. Each Step, Each Introduction, Each Small Smile Carried A Weight That Felt Both Familiar And New.
As The Students Settled Into Their Seats, The Air Hung With The Soft Promise Of Beginnings — And Somewhere Deep Inside, They Knew That This Was Only The First Page Of Everything Yet To Come.
Dreams Were Stirring, Paths Unfolding, And With Every Glance Shared, Every Quiet Thought Held Close, A New Chapter Beckoned — One That Would Carry Them Beyond These Walls, Beyond These Moments, Into All The Tomorrows Waiting To Be Lived.
Ren, Miyu, And Everyone Around Them Walked Forward With Quiet Smiles, Feeling The Weight Of Endings And The Promise Of New Beginnings.
And Though This Story Of Their School Days Finds Its Gentle Close, One Thing Remains Clear — Their Lives, And The Lives Of Others, Are Far From Finished. A New Story, With New Faces And New Journeys, Is Waiting Just Ahead.
— × —
The Quiet Part Of Us : The End.
— × —
Author's Note / Afterword :
First Of All, Thank You. Truly. Thank You For Taking The Time To Walk Through The Quiet Moments, The Laughter, The Teasing, And The Warmth Alongside Ren, Miyu, And Everyone Who Shared This Journey With Them. Writing The Quiet Part Of Us Has Been More Than Just Telling A Story — It Has Been A Reflection Of Those Subtle Connections, Small Gestures, And Emotional Moments That Often Go Unnoticed In Life, But That Leave A Lasting Mark.
From The Very Beginning, I Wanted To Capture The Soft, Introspective Moments — The Ones That Feel Ordinary Yet Are Extraordinarily Important To The Heart. I Wanted Readers To Sit With Ren In His Quiet Thoughts, To Notice The Little Smiles Between Him And Miyu, To Feel The Joy, The Awkwardness, And The Tenderness That Comes From Growing Together. I Hope I Conveyed That — I Hope You Felt Their World As Vividly As They Lived It.
To Everyone Who Stuck With The Story, Who Laughed At The Teasing, Who Smiled At The Warm Exchanges, And Who Maybe Even Shed A Little Tear During The Graduation Or The First Date — This Is For You. Writing These Characters Has Been A Journey Of Its Own, And Your Presence On This Journey Made It All The More Worthwhile.
This Was My First Story — The First Step Into A World Of Words That I Had Always Wanted To Build. It Wasn't Perfect. There Were Moments Where The Story Didn't Go As Planned, Times When The Pacing Felt Off, Or When I Rushed Through Parts I Wished I Had Spent More Time On. But Every Scene, Every Line, Every Quiet Pause Was A Lesson. I Was Learning As I Went — Learning How To Tell A Story, How To Listen To My Characters, And How To Let Them Speak In Their Own Silence.
If You Noticed The Rough Edges, The Uneven Flow, Or The Moments That Felt Imperfect — Thank You For Staying Despite Them. Because Those Imperfections Are A Part Of The Journey Too. They Remind Me That Stories, Just Like People, Don't Have To Be Perfect To Be Meaningful.
While This Story Of Ren And Miyu Concludes Here, Life Never Truly Ends. There Are New Stories To Be Told, New Characters To Meet, And New Journeys To Explore. The World That Started With The Quiet Part Of Us Will Continue In Ways Both Familiar And New — And I Hope You'll Walk Beside Me Once Again When That Time Comes.
From The Bottom Of My Heart, Thank You. For Reading, For Feeling, And For Believing In The Quiet Parts Of A Story That Spoke More In Silence Than In Words.
Until We Meet Again In My Next Work — Keep Cherishing The Quiet Moments Around You. They Are The Ones That Last Longest.
~ NamelessAbyss.