[POV – Sumire]
I don't remember when I got used to being alone.
Maybe it was back on the first day of elementary school. I still remember that feeling, standing in the crowded hallway, everyone chatting and laughing, while I quietly walked with a book clutched tightly to my chest. No one called my name. No one stopped to say hello. I was like a faint shadow, drifting silently from day to day.
Whenever there was an event—like the school festival or group activitie, I always pretended not to care. But the truth is… I was just waiting for someone, anyone, to say:
"Sumire, do you want to join us?"
But no one ever did.
Even when I tried to sit near them, tried to smile, their eyes would always pass over me like I wasn't there. That feeling… like I didn't truly exist in this world.
When I got to middle school, I met Kaori. She was the first person to call my name, the only one who sat with me during lunch, who listened as I talked about books no one else cared about. But even Kaori had her own world, a world I never dared to step into.
I used to think... maybe I wasn't good enough. Not pretty enough. Not interesting enough. I hid behind my long hair, avoided conversations. If no one noticed me, at least… I wouldn't get hurt.
But that day… when it rained, and I couldn't stand up from exhaustion, shivering from the cold… something changed.
Hiro…
He didn't walk past me like everyone else. He ran to me, called my name, worried about me—as if… I mattered.
I had never felt that before. The feeling of someone placing a hand on my shoulder and asking, "Are you okay?" and genuinely meaning it.
He carried me in his arms, like something out of a novel. He took me home, prepared warm water, brought food and medicine… Every little thing he did made my heart tremble.
When he wiped my tears, I could barely believe it was real. That someone was actually seeing me… and caring.
Not because I was beautiful, or stood out. But simply… because I was me.
I never dared to dream too far. I only wished, once, to be truly seen.
And that night, lying next to him in that warm, quiet room, I wanted to hold on to that moment for as long as I could. So… I leaned in, and gently kissed his cheek. Softly. Like a thank you for the miracle he brought into my life.
Maybe tomorrow, when the sun rises, I'll go back to being that quiet shadow again. But that moment… that kiss… was mine. It was real.
And for the first time in my life, I think… maybe I don't want to keep hiding anymore.
---
The next morning...
I woke up to Hiro's gentle voice calling me.
"Sumire, wake up."
His voice was calm and warm—just like the day before.
I buried my face into the pillow, mumbling a soft protest. Honestly, I didn't want to leave this place. Not because of the cozy bed or the warm room, but because… I knew that once I stepped out, I'd return to being invisible again.
But eventually, I got up, brushed my teeth and washed my face with him. He even prepared a new toothbrush just for me. Small things like that… may seem ordinary to others, but to me, they meant the world.
I changed back into my uniform. The clean scent of soap made me feel refreshed. My hair was still clipped gently to the side—just like yesterday. I felt a little shy, but… I didn't want to hide my face anymore. Not when someone had once told me I looked "cute."
We left the house in a peaceful silence. The rain had stopped, but inside me, it felt like the world had been washed anew.
He walked beside me, never rushing. My steps were slow, but he didn't urge me to hurry. It felt like… I was allowed to walk at my own pace.
I wanted to hold onto this feeling… just a little longer.
Then, just a few steps from my house, I took a deep breath.
My hand trembled a little, but I turned to him and spoke softly:
"Um… can we exchange contact info?"
I'd never been the one to take the initiative before. I always waited for others. But with Hiro, I didn't want to just be a passerby. I didn't want yesterday to be the only memory we shared.
He nodded.
We exchanged numbers. A small act, one that others might take for granted but for me, it was a thread. A connection to the real world.
I held my phone tightly in my hand, still feeling the warmth of it.
"Thank you so much, Hiro. I'll be in your care from now on."
I turned toward the door, trying my best to smile brightly. My heart felt full, like it was wrapped in morning sunlight.
Today was a beautiful day.
---
The door closed behind me.
I stood in the hallway for a long while, not moving, my hand still gripping the phone.
The familiar scent of home, the wooden floors, old books, and the faint tea my sister always drank was still there. But something inside me… had changed.
I went to my room, placed down my bag, and sat on the bed. The small hairclip was still in place. I reached up to touch it gently.
A part of me kept replaying that moment this morning, when he nodded, when he took out his phone without hesitation, as if giving me his number was the most natural thing in the world.
No one had ever done that for me.
I opened my phone and looked at my contacts. The name "Hiro" sat quietly there, just one tap away—one tap to message, to call, or simply… to know he was still out there.
I tapped on his name… then backed out. Tapped again… then placed the phone on my pillow and hugged it.
I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to start. But at least now, I had a chance.
I rolled onto my bed, hugging a small pillow. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting soft light on the floor.
It felt… like I was living in a dream I never wanted to wake up from.
"Hiro...❤️"