Rin^^

"...Great..." he mumbled, staring at the storm. "You can borrow mine." A tall boy stood beside him with messy silver hair and calm blue eyes. "I'm Kael." Rin blinked. "You'll get wet." Kael smiled. "So will you if you stay here forever." For the first time in weeks... Rin laughed. The next few months became routine. Kael would wait after class. They'd stop by a small café, share warm drinks, and walk home together beneath one umbrella. Kael never asked why Rin hid behind his hair or why he flinched when people stared. He simply stayed. One afternoon, a group of boys blocked Rin's path. "Why do you dress like that?" "Trying to be cute?" Rin lowered his head, hands trembling. Before he could answer— "Move." Kael stepped between them. His voice wasn't loud. It didn't need to be. The boys exchanged uneasy looks before walking away. Rin stared at the ground. "...You didn't have to do that." "I wanted to." "...Why?" Kael looked at him for a moment. "Because seeing you smile is better than seeing you scared." Rin's cheeks turned bright pink. As autumn arrived, the trees glowed gold around campus. Rin and Kael sat beneath their favorite tree. "I have to tell you something," Rin whispered. He reached up... ...and removed the cat ears. "They're just a headband." Kael blinked. "I know." "...You knew?" "The first day." Rin froze. "Then... why didn't you say anything?" Kael smiled softly. "Because they make you happy." Rin felt tears sting his eyes. No one had ever accepted him without asking him to change. He laughed through the tears. "You're unfair." Kael chuckled. "I've been told that." Winter arrived with the first snowfall. As snowflakes landed in Rin's dark hair, Kael gently held out his hand. "Come on." Rin slipped his hand into Kael's. It fit perfectly. Neither of them spoke. They didn't need to. Sometimes, the quiet moments said everything. And from that snowy afternoon on... Rin no longer hid behind cat ears. Because beside Kael... He finally felt safe enough to be himself.