The rooftop of the school was a forbidden zone for most, but for Shino, it was the only place where the air didn't feel like it was pressing against her lungs. She sat on a rusted bench, her back to the fence, the wind whipping her short hair across her face.
She opened her notebook to a fresh page, trying to ignore the jagged tear in the previous one.
The traveler found a high tower. From here, the world looked small. From here, the metal beasts on the roads below were just toys. If she stayed high enough, they could never reach her.
"Writing a manifesto or just avoiding the cafeteria mystery meat?"
Shino jumped, her notebook nearly slipping from her fingers. Standing near the stairwell door was the girl from the hallway—Rika. Beside her was a taller girl with her hair pulled back in a sharp, athletic ponytail, carrying a wooden practice sword in a navy blue bag.
"I... I didn't think anyone came up here," Shino stammered, tucking her pen behind her ear.
"It’s the best spot to hide," Rika said, walking over with a grin that seemed to take up her whole face. "This is Suguha. She’s in the Kendo club, so she basically lives in the gym, but I dragged her out for some actual sunlight."
Suguha gave a polite, disciplined bow. "Nice to meet you, Yuuki-san. Rika mentioned she saw you earlier. You’re the transfer student in 2-A, right?"
Shino nodded, her body tense. She was waiting for the "Why were you acting weird in class?" question. It was the question that always came eventually.
"We saw you in the hall earlier," Suguha continued, her voice soft but steady. "You looked a little overwhelmed. This school is pretty loud, isn't it?"
There was no judgment in Suguha’s eyes—only a calm, observant kindness. It caught Shino off guard. "It’s... a lot bigger than my old school," Shino managed to say.
"Well, you've got the 'Upper Classman Guard' on your side now," Rika said, plopping down on the bench next to Shino. Shino flinched slightly at the sudden proximity, but Rika didn't seem to notice—or if she did, she chose to give Shino space by looking out at the horizon instead of at her. "See those two down there? By the library entrance?"
Shino followed Rika’s pointing finger. It was the boy with the messy hair and the girl with the long, chestnut locks she had seen in class. They were walking together, deep in conversation.
"That’s Kazuto and Asuna," Rika explained. "They’re third-years. Kazuto is a total tech nerd, and Asuna basically runs the student council and the literature club. They’re like the 'parents' of the school. If you ever feel like the walls are closing in, just find them. They have a way of making things feel... quiet."
Shino watched them. They moved with a grace that she envied—a sense of belonging that felt miles away from her own reality.
"I don't think I'm very good at... quiet," Shino whispered, her eyes drifting toward the school parking lot.
A car door slammed shut in the distance. Thud.
The sound echoed off the concrete walls of the rooftop. To Rika and Suguha, it was just a noise. To Shino, it was the sound of a heavy weight falling. It was the sound of her father’s car door closing the night he left. It was the sound of the world shutting her out.
Her hand went to her shoulder, clutching the fabric of her uniform. She felt the ghost of a cold hand there—the person she had pushed out of the way eight years ago. She could still feel the phantom pressure of where she had made contact, right before the world turned into a scream of tires and breaking glass.
"Yuuki-san?" Suguha’s voice was closer now. She was standing, her hand hovering a few inches away from Shino’s arm, but she didn't touch her. She seemed to sense the invisible barrier Shino had built.
"I'm fine," Shino said, her voice sounding thin and metallic. "I just... I forgot I have to call my sister."
"Your sister?" Rika asked.
"Keiko," Shino said, the name acting like a small piece of home. "She’s... still back in my old town. She’s younger. I used to look after her."
"A big sister, huh?" Rika smiled, though this time it was a smaller, more thoughtful expression. "That’s a big job. No wonder you’re so serious."
Shino stood up quickly, gathering her things. "I should go. Thank you for... the spot."
As she hurried toward the stairs, she felt their eyes on her back. It wasn't the heavy, judgmental gaze she was used to. It felt lighter—like they were watching her carry a burden they wanted to help hold, if only she’d let them.
She reached the stairwell and descended quickly, her heart hammering. She needed to find a phone. She needed to hear Keiko’s voice. She needed to remind herself that even if her own world was a blur of trauma and shadows, she had successfully protected one person.
Even if the rest of the world thought she was just a girl looking for attention, Keiko knew the truth.
Shino ducked into a quiet corner of the library, pulling out her phone. Her fingers hovered over the contact name: Silica (Keiko).
She took a deep breath, trying to stop her hands from shaking. She was a writer. She could craft a world where she was brave. Now, she just had to figure out how to live in it.73Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyt3oSnEHX
and then Add to home screen.