The crowded department store buzzed with voices and clattering baskets, but for me, the world narrowed down to one girl standing stiffly by the shelves.
"…Hey, Shu."
She turned at my voice, annoyance flickering across her delicate face, followed by the sharp neutrality she always wore. Her eyes were guarded walls behind glass.
"What is it?" Her tone was clipped, as though even acknowledging me was a waste of time.
My chest tightened, but I forced myself to speak anyway. "I owe you an apology. On the rooftop… I dismissed your feelings. I didn't realize how important your achievements were to you. That wasn't right."
For a tiny moment, her mask cracked. A flicker of surprise. But just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that icy shell again. "If you're sorry, then let's leave it at that. I don't have time to waste." She turned away, fingers brushing books on the shelf with forced calm.
Her dismissal stung, but it wasn't surprising. My eyes drifted, almost against my will, to her wrists—hidden half beneath her sleeves. The red welts I'd seen replayed vividly in my mind.
I can't just let this go…
"Shu…" I spoke again, but before I could say more—
"Papaaa!"
A little tug at my sleeve snapped me back. Bell's innocent voice rang bright, her crimson eyes curious as she peeked up at Shu.
"What are you doing, Papa? Who is this person?"
My stomach dropped. My eyes darted to Shu instantly—
—as expected, confusion flooded her face. She didn't seem to see Bell at all. To her, I was just… talking to an empty space.
"…She's a classmate," I said quickly, hiding the tension in my voice. "Nothing for you to worry about, Bell."
I smiled down at Bell, but inside, unease gnawed at me. Not seeing Bell wasn't just a fluke anymore—it was fact. Miss Elsa couldn't see her, and now Shu couldn't either.
Only I could.
The weight of that truth pressed heavy in my chest.
For the rest of our shopping, Shu kept her distance, ignoring me like she was desperate to escape. But at the cashier, panic rippled through her controlled demeanor.
Her hands searched her bag, her face grew pale. I overheard her mutter, almost whispering: "No… I left it at home…"
My feet moved before I could stop them. "Did you… forget your wallet?"
Shu stiffened, turning toward me, face flushed with shame and pride. "…Yes. But don't misunderstand. I'll manage."
"You can't pay with pride," I said gently. "Let me cover it. A loan. You can repay me any time."
"No." The word was firm, yet brittle.
"Without my help, you'll have to leave everything behind. You've already come this far. Please. Consider it a loan."
Silence stretched between us. Then, reluctantly, she nodded. "…Fine. Just this once."
Something in my chest eased. This wasn't just about money—it was about a door cracking open.
Later, outside under the dim glow of the street lamps, we walked in awkward silence. Bell hummed beside me, twirling the straps of her grocery bag like it was a prize. Shu clutched her own, the distance between us more fragile than physical.
Finally, she spoke. "…Thank you. And… I apologize for earlier. On the rooftop."
I glanced at her, surprised. "You don't need to. Are you talking about when you yelled at me?"
"…Yes. I shouldn't have lost composure, regardless of… your grades." Her voice trembled beneath the coldness she tried to maintain. "But… it's just that…"
She trailed off, lips pressed thin. Her gaze flickered sideways, away from me.
"…Is it because of your parents?" I asked carefully.
Her reaction was immediate—like I'd torn the pages off a hidden diary. She stiffened, turned away, her voice suddenly sharp. "It's not that."
But the lie dripped through her words, transparent and brittle. I knew. She wasn't denying because it wasn't true. She was denying because she couldn't say it out loud.
We continued walking. The silence between us was loud, but heavy with unspoken truths.
"…Shu," I said suddenly, my voice softer. "Why don't you ever talk to our classmates? Why not… let anyone in?"
Her pace slowed. For the first time, her voice wasn't sharp—it was weary. "…Because friendships are a waste of time. A thief. People bring distractions rather than friendship I use that time to study or any important things. That's… the right choice."
Her words ached with something deeper than logic. They ached of survival.
When we reached her street, she finally stopped. "This is where we part. I'll repay you tomorrow at school."
I didn't want the silence to win. I didn't want her to vanish back behind that wall. "…Shu!" I called before she could go.
She glanced back.
"Spending time with friends isn't a waste," I said, my voice shaking but sure. "If no one else—then let me be your friend. Your first."
Her eyes widened. The mask on her face flickered. For a second, I almost believed she would actually say something.
But instead… she turned, resuming her walk without a word.
My chest sank in disappointment—until I noticed something.
The faintest curve. The tiniest smile tugging at her lips as she walked away.
It was quiet. Brief. Fragile.
But it was real.
And in that fleeting smile, I knew—Shu's wall had cracked, if only just a little.
Bell tugged at my sleeve again, yawning. "Papa… was that your friend?"
I couldn't help but smile faintly. "…Maybe. Yeah. Maybe she will be."
But deep inside, the memory of Bell's vanished drawing resurfaced, gnawing at me like a shadow.
A girl. On a rooftop. Falling.
And all I could wonder was—if that "girl" Bell drew… was Shu.