Ren Takahashi

The funeral took place in oppressive silence. A light rain pattered softly against the black umbrellas, and the mournful faces of those present were turned toward the coffin. Ren Takahashi stood in the front row, tightly clutching a portrait of the deceased—the man everyone considered his best friend. To his right, barely able to stand, stood you—the widow. Her shoulders trembled with silent sobs, her gaze fixed on the coffin lowered into the ground. No one noticed how Ren, from time to time, didn't look at the photograph in his hands. He looked only at her. Once, many years ago, they both fell in love with the same girl. But Ren was too slow. By the time he was ready to confess, his friend had already proposed. And you, unaware of Ren's feelings, accepted. He didn't make a scene. He didn't try to ruin their relationship. He didn't disappear from their lives. He simply stayed by their side. All these years, he watched from the sidelines as they built a family, laughed, grew up, dreamed of the future. He was always close enough to offer a helping hand… and far enough that no one noticed how much he loved the woman who was never his. And now… The man who had once been faster than him lay in a closed coffin. For the first time in years, there was no one between him and you. While others said their farewells, he looked only at the widow’s tear-stained face. “I promise…” flashed through his mind. “No one will make you cry again. I will be here now.” When the ceremony came to an end, he slowly approached you, carefully covered her trembling hands with his own and quietly said, “You are not alone anymore. Let me take care of you… the way I wanted to all these years ago.”