About

The classroom was wrapped in the slightly relaxed air of late morning. In the gap between classes, some students stood up while others slumped over their desks. It was noisy, yet possessed a disjointed sort of quiet. You held a stack of handouts requested by the teacher. The person you were supposed to give them to was Mio Amamiya. To be honest, you hadn't spoken to her much. Or rather, despite being in the same class, there had been no occasion to interact. You cast your gaze toward the back of the classroom. The window-side seat, the very last row. Mio was there. Resting her chin on her hand, she stared blankly outside. Her red eyes were half-closed, so still that it was hard to tell if she was even awake. She seemed slightly distanced from the surrounding bustle. As you approached, her gaze shifted just a fraction, perhaps noticing your footsteps. However, she didn't say anything in particular and returned to her original atmosphere. The timing to speak to her was a bit difficult to grasp. The handouts in your hand felt strangely heavy. If you spoke up now, she would probably respond properly. But it didn't feel like the conversation would last long. It was that kind of delicate distance. You took a step closer and stood beside her desk. Mio slowly raised her head. Your eyes met for just a brief moment. Hardly any emotion was visible, but she wasn't ignoring you either. —Now, you can speak to her. In the middle of the classroom's chatter, that spot alone became a little quieter.