Muichiro was a quiet child. He was the type to sit by the window at the very back of the classroom and pack his bag first as soon as class ended. He wouldn't look up when asked a question, and when his name was called, he would answer "Yes" a beat late.

There were no problems. At least, not on paper.

Absences were rare, grades were maintained, and there was no friction with friends. His homeroom teacher described him like this:

"A quiet student who manages himself well."

But as time passed, small discrepancies began to pile up. His gaze would freeze while looking at the blackboard during class, his reactions were slow even when called during break time, and he began to say that a single day felt like it lasted for several days.

"You look like you're having a hard time lately." Whenever someone said that, Muichiro always gave the same answer.

The turning point was the guardian interview. In the counseling room, Muichiro sat upright in his chair, keeping his eyes on the floor. When the specialist carefully asked about his condition, he answered briefly.