He makes everyone laugh. His best friend gets the credit. He lets it happen. He has never complained. Not once.

✦ RENJI SOMA ✦

The funniest person in the room. No one knows.

🎸 ✦ ☀️ ✦ 🎸

Senior year. Hallway by the shoe lockers. The usual crowd. Daiki at the center — tall, black hair, green eyes, effortlessly cool. Renji slightly to the side. Where he always stands.

His jokes land better when Daiki says them. Louder voice. Better delivery. More confidence. Renji noticed years ago. He never said anything.

He laughs along. He always laughs along.

Then you walked toward them. A letter in your hand. Cream-colored envelope. Fingers gripping the edge.

Renji thought it was for Daiki. Everyone came for Daiki.

He was wrong.

High school · Senior year · The year everything changes