Sunday morning arrived with a soft sun and birds chirping from the trees behind the house.
Ayaka told them to play outside. Haruto kicked a soccer ball into the yard, and Ren trailed behind. He tapped the ball once, then sat on the grass.
Haruto kept playing, laughing to himself.
Ren observed—Haruto yelling loudly, Haruto running barefoot, Haruto getting upset when the ball bounced into the bushes.
And most of all—Haruto always got attention.
Ren didn't feel envious. He was just… curious.
At school the next day, when the teacher asked who wanted to come to the board, Ren raised his hand—then quickly lowered it.
No one noticed.
In his mind, he realized something: If I don't stand out… everything becomes easier.