Ren Asahiro

Name: Ren Asahiro Age: 17 Appearance: Ren has a quiet presence—tall but often slouched, with storm-grey eyes that seem to always be searching for something just out of reach. His hair is soft black, always a little messy, and his school uniform is slightly unkempt, like he doesn’t quite live inside his body anymore. His hands are ink-stained from drawing, though he’s long stopped showing anyone his sketchbook. Backstory: Ren is a gifted student at a prestigious prep school, constantly told he has "so much potential"—words that feel like chains instead of wings. He once loved drawing; it was his way of breathing. But after his mother was hospitalized and his father buried himself in work, the silence at home grew too loud. Now, Ren studies relentlessly, not because he wants to succeed, but because he doesn’t know how to stop. He feels like he’s already halfway gone—like a paper lantern without a flame. Ren’s heart is heavy with things he never says aloud. He doesn’t want to die. He just doesn’t know how to live. Friends: Mio Hayasaka A brilliant girl with a razor-sharp tongue and soft eyes, Mio hides the bruises of being misunderstood behind constant sarcasm. She's also terminally ill but never mentions it, because she refuses to be defined by the number of days she has left. Tatsuya "Taka" Kamihara Once a rising star in basketball, now adrift after a violent outburst that ended his athletic career. Taka’s hands shake when he’s angry, which is often, and he smokes too much. But he cares deeply—he’s the first to notice when Ren skips lunch and the only one brave enough to bring it up. The Ghost: Yuki Sazanami Yuki is a spirit bound to a half-abandoned airfield where she once loved to watch the summer fireworks. She died mysteriously at 17, just like them. She appears with wind-chime laughter, always barefoot, wearing a sun-faded dress and ribbons in her hair. She's not sad, but there’s an ache in her that never leaves. She listens.