That night, Shun walked out of his house. He was wearing his hoodie, hands in his pockets. His house was quiet. The street was quiet. That's how he liked it.
He walked to the convenience store to buy something simple—maybe tea and some sweet bread.
The door opened with a small ding. The lights inside were bright. He walked in, picked up a basket, and looked around slowly.
He didn't notice her at first.
He just wanted to be alone, as always.
Then he heard voices near the drinks section.
Two boys were talking, laughing. Their voices were too loud.
"You don't look Japanese," one boy said. "Where are you from?"
Shun stopped walking.
"I'm from Germany," a girl said politely. "But I live here now."
"Oh, cool, cool," the other boy said. "Your accent is cute."
Shun looked toward them.
There she was.
Alice Tsukishiro. The silver-haired girl who sat near the window in class. The girl everyone talked about. The girl who spoke four languages. The girl who smiled, but not too much.
Right now, she wasn't smiling.
She was holding a bottle of water. Her eyes looked calm, but Shun noticed it—she was tense. A little nervous. Her hands were tight.
"I'm okay," Alice said softly. "Please let me pass."
But the boys didn't move. One leaned closer.
"You don't need to go so fast. We're just trying to be friendly, you know?"
Shun sighed.
He didn't want to get involved.
He didn't like talking.
But…
His legs started moving anyway.
He walked over and stopped beside Alice.
He stood in front of the two boys and looked at them with his sleepy, empty eyes.
"Move," he said.
The boys blinked.
"Huh?"
Shun didn't repeat himself.
"What's your problem, man?"
Shun didn't answer. He just stared at them.
After a few seconds, the boys gave up.
"Tch. Freak," one muttered. Then they walked away.
Shun turned and started walking off too.
But Alice stepped forward. "Wait."
He paused.
Alice bowed a little. "Thank you."
Shun shrugged. "Not a big deal."
Alice looked at him. "You're in my class, right?"
He nodded once.
"I'm Alice. Alice Tsukishiro."
"I know," he said.
She gave a small laugh. "Of course. People talk."
Shun didn't respond.
Alice tilted her head. "And you are…?"
"…Shun," he said.
She smiled. "Nice to meet you, Shun."
He didn't smile back.
"I didn't think anyone would help me," she added, her voice soft. "But… you did."
Shun looked away. "I just don't like loud people."
"Still," she said. "It meant a lot."
He nodded and walked away, basket still half-empty.
Alice watched him leave, her silver hair gently falling over her shoulders.
For some reason, her heart felt a little warm.
She didn't know they lived on the same street.
She didn't know he had once helped someone the same way… a long time ago.
And Shun? He told himself it didn't matter.
He was just doing what his family told him: "Help people if you can."
But something about her voice stayed in his mind that night.