Sayuri's not the kind of girl people usually notice.
But when you do, it's impossible to stop.
And lately… I've been noticing everything.
The way she holds her bag a little tighter. The way her eyes drift to the floor when someone walks too close. The way her smile if she ever had one has gone completely still.
Something's wrong.
And it's eating at me.
She's still sitting closer in class. Still near me. But she's… smaller now.
Like she's trying to take up less space.
And not the usual kind of quiet she carries around like armor.
No this is different.
This is a retreat.
Today during homeroom, her pen fell off her desk and she didn't even bend down to pick it up. She just stared at it.
I picked it up for her.
Held it out.
She looked up, startled like she'd forgotten I was real.
"Thanks," she said softly.
Her fingers brushed mine as she took the pen.
Cold.
Not just her hands. Her everything.
Like whatever warmth she'd found before whatever trust had started to grow between us had been sealed back behind glass.
Something happened.
I'm sure of it.
But she won't say.
And I don't know how to ask without breaking whatever fragile peace we have.
Kaori's been watching me more closely, too.
She's subtle. Always has been.
But I know her tells.
The slightly longer glances. The forced cheer in her voice. The way she leans a little too close when talking, like she's reminding everyone she still belongs beside me.
But it's not working.
Because every time Kaori tries to draw my attention, I find it drifting back to Sayuri.
And every time I look her way, I wonder
What did Kaori do?
I don't have proof.
But I've seen this before.
Kaori doesn't scream. She doesn't bully the way movies show it.
She breaks people softly. Privately.
With words that don't sound cruel until they echo hours later.
At lunch, I sat at the edge of our usual group.
Itsuki was talking about some weekend plans, and Yuto was trying to get me to join.
I nodded along, laughed at the right moments, but my eyes were scanning the courtyard.
And there she was.
Sayuri.
Alone. Again.
Only this time she wasn't eating.
Just sitting there with her hands in her lap, eyes on nothing.
I stood up before I realized what I was doing.
"Be right back," I told them.
Kaori turned immediately.
"Souta, where are you going?" she asked, way too lightly.
I smiled back. "Library."
It wasn't a lie.
Just… not the reason.
I didn't go to her.
Not yet.
I just walked past, slow enough to see her expression.
Blank. Not sad. Not angry.
Just… like someone had told her she didn't belong here.
And worse?
She believed them.
I wanted to sit beside her again.
Slide a drink across the table like before.
Say nothing and hope she knew that silence could still mean I see you.
But something in her posture made me stop.
Like she was bracing.
Like even kindness might hurt her now.
And that broke something in me.
Later that day, I passed her in the hallway.
She didn't look up.
So I did what I've never done before.
I said her name.
Quietly. Barely above the noise.
"…Sayuri."
She stopped.
Turned slowly.
Her eyes met mine for just a second.
And I swear I saw it.
The flicker.
Of relief?
No.
Of fear.
She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something.
But nothing came.
She just nodded once and kept walking.
I stood there for a long time.
Watching her leave.
Wishing I had the courage to ask what happened.
To tell her I'd protect her if she let me.
But I didn't.
Not yet.
Because I don't want to be another weight on her shoulders.
I want to be the reason she breathes easier.
And right now?
She looks like she's forgetting how.