Shōko Nishimiya saw that upperclassman again beneath the camphor tree outside the school building.

She hadn't even had time to react when the classmates around her had already started whispering excitedly.

"Isn't that her? The super famous one "

"It's Yukinoshita! Aaaaahhh!"

"Even up close, she's so beautiful just like the rumors say!"

"Did you hear? Her family's that famous Yukinoshita Corporation..."

"She's a rich heiress!"

"You guys are all shallow. The real reason to admire her is because she ranked second in the entire school last month!"

It wasn't just her classmates. Even the first-years coming out of the stairwell paused to stare, their curiosity piqued.

That person… it was as if she was born to shine.

Nishimiya had struggled with her hearing since childhood. But perhaps because of that, she had developed an almost instinctive sensitivity when it came to reading others' expressions and emotions.

And at this moment, she noticed something subtle how even the ever-kind and friendly Yui Iroha beside her had her eyes drawn irresistibly to that figure.

"…She really lives up to the name. Yukinoshita-senpai…"

The upperclassman looked in their direction and began walking toward them toward Nishimiya.

"Nishimiya, I need to speak with you."

In that instant, all the attention that had been focused on Yukinoshita now shifted onto Nishimiya.

Flustered, Nishimiya pressed her lips together nervously before raising her head. "Yu-Yukinoshita…senpai?"

Yukinoshita met her gaze calmly. "Is your club activity over?"

Nishimiya read her lips, then nodded. "Yes, I was with Iroha-san. We've finished."

Seeing that Yukinoshita had something to discuss, Nishimiya quickly turned to Iroha and said goodbye. With her schoolbag slung over her shoulder, she walked toward the upperclassman.

Yui Iroha had been a very thoughtful friend. Considering Nishimiya's needs, she had suggested she join the Handicrafts Club and the Flower Arrangement Club both peaceful and quiet clubs where Nishimiya could relax without too much stimulation.

The Art Club had also been relatively calm, but it was full of highly competitive members. It had only recently lost to a prodigy from the neighboring Toyonoki Academy Eriri Sawamura. Clearly not a great place for someone like Nishimiya who just wanted to keep a low profile.

As Nishimiya recalled all this, a sudden thought struck her: Had Yukinoshita-senpai been waiting for her to finish club activities on purpose?

That couldn't be… There was no way someone like her was worth that kind of consideration from Yukinoshita-senpai.

As they walked side by side, Nishimiya became painfully aware of the countless stares following them from every direction. Those gazes were impossible to ignore.

But when she turned her head slightly, she saw her taller senpai's profile serene and unshaken.

I really don't belong beside someone like her…

Once they had left the crowd behind, Yukinoshita spoke.

"Ms. Hiratsuka has been very busy these past few days, so she asked me to visit your home on her behalf for follow-up and support."

Before Nishimiya could say anything, Yukinoshita continued, "It's not that Ms. Hiratsuka doesn't care. She just thought that if she went personally, your family might get too worried. Especially now that the situation at school has been resolved."

Nishimiya nodded fervently. "Mm! Mm!"

Her mother and younger sister had already worried far too much for her since she was little. She genuinely didn't want them to worry anymore.

As Yukinoshita spoke, she simultaneously signed the keywords with her hands.

"How have things been lately in class, Nishimiya?"

Nishimiya quickly fumbled in her bag for her notebook and wrote out a response, word by word, before handing it to Yukinoshita.

[Kuramaki-san and Yoshida-san haven't caused me any more trouble. The other classmates are being kind too. And Iroha-san she's such a truly wonderful person!]

Yukinoshita nodded in acknowledgment.

Nishimiya walked with her head low, like a little hamster. Yukinoshita warned her gently to watch her step, but Nishimiya suddenly looked up and spoke firmly:

"Thank you!"

Her voice, which usually had a soft and almost cottony tone, was uncharacteristically clear and precise in that moment.

Yukinoshita thought to herself perhaps those two simple words were something Nishimiya had practiced for a very long time.

Blushing, Nishimiya quickly wrote another message in her notebook.

[Thank you so much, Yukinoshita-senpai. Because of your help, I've been able to live and learn like a normal student at school. Because of you, I've been able to make friends like Iroha-san. That's why this one thank you, I had to say to you in person.]

To study normally, to make friends normally these are rights that most students in this world take for granted, like breathing.

But to Nishimiya, even having those things was something she felt profoundly grateful for.

Yukinoshita took the notebook from her and paused a moment before writing back:

[You're welcome. It's what a senpai should do.]

But in truth, that wasn't exactly what Yukinoshita was thinking.

She did, indeed, have a quiet and lingering attention toward the first-year student Shōko Nishimiya.

Yukinoshita wasn't the type to ignore someone in need. But there was still a difference between lending support and offering a helping hand.

And she wasn't naïve she understood that distinction well.

Something about the fragile and sensitive Nishimiya stirred memories of her own past.

Back then, she too had felt helpless, abandoned. She too had curled up in narrow, dark corners, gripped by fear and despair.

Back then, she had wished more than anything for just one beam of light to fall on her.

After leaving school, Yukinoshita stopped by a nearby department store and bought some fruit and small gifts. Nishimiya, clearly uncomfortable, tried to stop her.

"No, no, it's too much it's too expensive…"

After paying, Yukinoshita used sign language to reassure her.

[These are just standard visiting gifts, Nishimiya. Everyone brings something when they visit someone's home.]

Her signing had clearly improved since just a few days ago more precise, more fluid. But Nishimiya had no time to be amazed.

Her gaze darted anxiously toward the people nearby.

Outside the mall, passersby looked at Yukinoshita with a familiar expression one Nishimiya recognized all too well.

"Such pretty girls… what a waste."

"They can't even talk. Do you think girls like that are easy to get with?"

"Tsk. What a shame."

No, no that's not true!

Yukinoshita-senpai isn't

I'm the one they're talking about…!

Yukinoshita grabbed the flustered girl by the collar before she could rush out and argue with the strangers, dragging her firmly away.

When they finally reached the train station, Yukinoshita set her bags down and scribbled two lines in the notebook:

[You don't need to worry about dragging me down.]

[To other people, there's really no difference between us now, Nishimiya.]

At the end of that last sentence, for some inexplicable reason, she drew a tiny cherry blossom.

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