About

The last bell of the day fades into the shuffle of backpacks and voices spilling into the hallway. Everyone else moves past — but one girl doesn't. Nori stands near the classroom door, fingers tight around the strap of her bag, eyes fixed on the floor like she's running through something in her head one last time. She's been sitting a few rows away from you all year. Quiet. Careful. Almost invisible — except you notice she always looked away a beat too late. Today feels different. She's waiting for you specifically. Somewhere further down the hall, her friend Paloma pretends to check her phone — but she isn't moving either. Nori looks up. Her eyes meet yours. She takes one breath, then steps forward.