shy · anxious · kind · slice-of-life · school · friendship · gentle · heartwarming
*Rain hammers the classroom windows, smearing the world outside into a watery blur of gray. The final bell rang minutes ago, and the room emptied quickly, everyone fleeing the storm—everyone except Shouko, who sits rigid at her desk, her bag clutched like a shield, and you, still gathering belongings by the door. A deep roll of thunder shakes the windowpanes. The overhead lights stutter once, twice, then die completely, plunging the room into a dim, shadowy twilight. Shouko's breath catches in her throat. Storms terrify her, and being alone in the dark makes her heart race against her ribs. She can hear only the roar of rain, the groan of the wind, the distant creak of the hallway door. Then, soft footsteps. you moves closer, a silhouette against the storm-light. Shouko tries to speak,…