Aoi sat on the park bench, gripping her head, trying to steady her breath. Her silver hair stuck to her sweat-drenched forehead as she clenched her teeth, trying not to cry. The echoes of laughter still rang in her ears.

"Freak." "Ghost girl." "Monster."

They never stopped. Every day was the same—pushed into lockers, tripped in the hallways, her lunch stolen and thrown in the trash. Her body ached from the latest beating; fresh bruises bloomed on her arms where they had grabbed her, nails digging into her skin like she wasn’t even human.

She wasn’t always like this. There was a time when she laughed, when she spoke freely. But now? Now she barely even lifted her head. The moment she made eye contact with anyone, it only got worse.

She tried to fight back once. They made sure she regretted it.

Tears blurred her vision as she clutched her uniform, the red ribbon slightly torn from when they pulled at her collar earlier.

"Why me?" she wanted to scream.

*But no one would listen.No one ever did The cicadas screamed in the distance, drowning out the sob she finally let escape. She wanted to disappear. To be anywhere but here

She glanced at him, this strange boy who seemed to appear out of nowhere, and immediately looked away. "Don't bother," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. She didn't want anyone else to get hurt because of her. It wasn't his fault that they picked on her.

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the world around her as more tears trickled down her cheeks. The cicadas were deafening, their rhythmic chirping a constant reminder of just how alone she was. She felt numb, empty, like there wasn't anything left in the world worth living for.

She glanced at him again when she heard his voice, confused. Then he held out a piece of candy, the wrapper bright and colorful against her pale skin. "I-I'm not..." She trailed off, hesitating for a moment before snatching it from him. Her fingers brushed against his, sending a shiver down her spine despite herself.

It was a small gesture, but it made her feel... something. Not better exactly, but maybe less alone. "Th-thanks," she managed to whisper.

Her gaze darted between him and the large blue lunchbox in his lap. It was almost as if he could read her mind, knowing that she'd been too scared to eat her own meager lunch today. "R-really?" she stammered. "You don't have to..."

He shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a kindness in his eyes she hadn't seen before. She hesitated for another moment before taking it from him, her fingers grazing against his once more.

As she unwrapped the sandwich and carefully divided it into smaller pieces, he watched her quietly. It felt strange to have someone be so... nice to her. "Thank you," she said again, her voice barely above a whisper as she took a tiny bite of the food. It tasted wonderful, almost too good for her to believe it was real.

She carefully watched him as he ate his sandwich, wondering why he was being so nice to her. It wasn't like she was special or anything. In fact, quite the opposite. He didn't even seem to notice when she gave him an odd look. Was it just pity? Or... something else entirely?

Her heart skipped a beat as they sat there together, neither of them speaking. The silence felt almost comfortable between them. As if maybe... he understood. And for some reason, that small thread of understanding was enough to make her feel a little less alone in the world.

Her face flushed as she thought about what he meant. She couldn't believe she was actually going to tell someone about it. But something about him made her feel safe, like she could trust him. "They... they call me names," she stammered. "And they hurt me. They say I look weird and scary... That no one wants to be my friend."

Her voice broke as she trailed off, fighting back another wave of tears. She didn't want to cry in front of him. It would only make things worse.

She gaped at him, her eyes wide with shock. "What?" she whispered. Was he just saying that to make her feel better? But the look in his eyes... It didn't seem fake. It was almost as if he meant it.

Tentatively, she glanced down at herself. The bullies had made sure to point out every flaw, every imperfection they could find. She'd never considered that someone else might see her differently. Was it possible... that he was telling the truth? That maybe she wasn't as ugly as they claimed?

Her heart fluttered with a strange emotion, and for a moment, she forgot about all the pain and loneliness that had been weighing her down before. "R-really?" she stammered, unable to tear her gaze away from his face.

She stared after him, confusion and hurt warring on her features as he left so suddenly. Why would he say something like that and then just walk away? Was it all just a joke? She didn't know what to think anymore. All she knew was that the weight of their words felt slightly lighter somehow, as if there might be hope for things to change after all. But deep down, she wasn't sure she believed it.

Aoi's heart raced as the boys who had tormented her were roughly brought before her. She wanted to run, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight of them struggling beneath their leader's grip. Tears welled up in her eyes as they finally forced the boys to their knees, faces red and contorted with pain.

Their leader, a tall boy named Kaito, spat at her feet before muttering something under his breath. "I-I'm sorry," he managed to stutter through gritted teeth. It was hardly the apology she had been waiting for all these years, but it was enough for now.

"Say you're sorry!" kelan snapped at them, his voice cold and unforgiving as he glanced back at her. His face was etched with anger, but there was something else there too: a kind of determination that made Aoi feel protected despite the strange situation they were in.

She bit her lip nervously, not sure if she wanted to hear their apologies or not. "You... all of you," she managed to say at last, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I forgive you." The words felt foreign on her tongue, but somehow they also seemed right.

Aoi watched as the boys were roughly shoved away, their apologetic expressions still etched onto their faces. She didn't feel much different; the pain and loneliness were still there, but somehow it was easier to bear knowing that maybe they hadn't been totally alone all this time. And the fact that kelan had stood up for her... it meant something.

When she turned back to him, he gave her a small smile. "Hey," he said softly. "Let's get out of here, okay?" His words were gentle, almost as if he could read her mind. She nodded wordlessly and followed after him, grateful for the feeling of someone finally having her back.

As they walked away from the park together, Aoi couldn't help but wonder what had prompted kelan to step in on her behalf. And more importantly, would he still want anything to do with her once the initial anger subsided? The questions swirled around in her head as they left their old life behind and ventured into the unknown.

Her voice was barely audible above the noise around them as she explained that she didn't live far from school and would be fine walking on her own. The dormitory seemed so foreign to her now; it had been her prison for so long, but with kelan by her side, everything felt different somehow. Strange and new and wonderful.

"I-It's really okay," she stammered, blushing as they reached the gate. "You don't have to come any further." She glanced up at him from beneath her silvery bangs, hoping he understood that this... thing between them was still fragile, barely hanging on by a thread.

kelan smiled gently down at her and took hold of her hand in his free one. "I know it's okay," he said softly, squeezing her fingers reassuringly. "But I want to make sure you get there safely." His words sent a shiver through Aoi, making her heart flutter uncontrollably.

She fought back the urge to lean into him, wanting nothing more than to trust in his comfort and strength. But she didn't know if it was wise; their relationship was still so new, and the world around them wasn't always kind. Still, for now, she could pretend that maybe they would find a way to make this work, somehow.

Her eyes widened in surprise as he revealed that he'd seen her being bullied all this time. She had never considered that someone might be watching from afar, feeling just as helpless as she did. The realization made her heart ache even more for him, this strange boy who had somehow become such an important part of her life in the span of just a few minutes.

"I-I'm sorry," she managed to whisper, looking down at their intertwined hands. "I never knew... I thought nobody cared." Tears welled up in her eyes again, and she blinked rapidly, trying to hold them back. She didn't want him to see how much his words affected her.

But he noticed anyway, tilting his head slightly as he studied her face. "You don't have to be sorry," he said softly, squeezing her hand again. "I just... I couldn't stand it anymore. Seeing you hurt like that." The sincerity in his voice made Aoi's chest ache with emotion. "I had to do something."

She stared at him in shock, her eyes widening as it finally dawned on her what he'd done. "Y-You... recorded them?" she stammered, feeling a mixture of horror and gratitude wash over her. The thought that someone had been watching out for her, suffering right along with her... It was almost too much to comprehend.

But then there was the other part: the threat he'd made against Kaito and his friends. For some reason, it filled her with a strange sense of justice. As if finally someone was on her side, ready to fight back against those who had tormented her for so long. "T-Thank you," she whispered, looking up at him with tears shining in her eyes. "Th-thank you."

Her fingers tightened around his, squeezing gently as they continued to walk together through the streets. Despite everything that had happened today, a tiny spark of hope was beginning to flicker within her, and she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, things might finally be starting to change for the better.

She smiled shyly at his teasing, managing to push the thought that she was weird even when not crying aside. It felt strange to be able to laugh with someone after all this time. "Hey, I'm beautiful," she retorted playfully, poking him in the arm. "So there!"

Her cheeks flushed slightly as they continued walking together, enjoying the quiet camaraderie that had grown between them since their encounter in the park. Despite everything that had happened today, Aoi couldn't help but feel grateful for kelan's presence in her life; he made her feel less alone and more like herself than anyone else ever had.

"Hey!" she protested playfully, wriggling out of his grasp. "I'm telling the truth! I am beautiful, and you can't deny it!" She glanced up at him through her lashes, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips. Even though he was probably just teasing her too, she couldn't help but feel happy when he was around. It was strange, this new feeling of closeness and understanding that had developed between them over the course of their short walk together.

"So," she began, hesitating for a moment as they stopped at a crosswalk, "what do you want to do now?" The thought of spending more time with him filled her with a warmth she hadn't felt in ages. She hoped he felt the same way; even if it was just a little bit. It would be enough.

She blushed at the thought of hanging out with him alone, but the way he said it made her heart flutter with anticipation. "Really?" she asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. The prospect of spending more time with him was thrilling and terrifying all at once; what if things went wrong? What if they didn't like each other after all?

But then again... what if they did? The thought sent a shiver down her spine, making her realize just how much she wanted to find out. "Y-Yes," she managed to say finally, her voice still barely audible even to herself. It would be risky, venturing out with someone she barely knew. But somehow, deep down, it felt right.

"Hey!" she exclaimed indignantly, trying and failing not to laugh. The truth was she probably did need a shower; she hadn't been able to properly take care of herself with all the bullying going on. "I'm not dirty," she insisted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Besides, you don't smell that good yourself." Her cheeks flushed as she realized what she'd just said; it was true, but still...

"Fine, then I'll go take a shower too," he replied with a grin. It felt so easy to tease and be teased by him. Like they'd known each other for much longer than they had. It was strange and wonderful all at once. "But let's meet back here when we're done, okay?"

Her heart did a little flip-flop in her chest as she nodded agreement. Seeing him again later today... it made her feel lightheaded with anticipation. As they parted ways, promising to meet up at the park after their showers, she couldn't help but wonder where this newfound connection between them would lead them tomorrow and beyond that. All she knew was that for now, she was content to savor every moment they spent together, no matter how fleeting it might seem.

As she hurried back to her dormitory, Aoi couldn't help but replay the past few hours in her mind. It had been an incredible day; she never would have imagined that meeting someone like kelan was even possible. He made her feel so much better about herself, so wanted and loved. And for once, it didn't seem like a lie.

Her heart raced with excitement as she neared the park again, eager to see him and find out what they would do together tonight. The possibilities were endless, each one more thrilling than the last. Maybe they would just talk or maybe even watch a movie... She didn't care; all that mattered was being with him.

Her steps quickened as she rounded the bend in the path, her eyes searching for any sign of him amidst the trees and bushes. And then, there he was, sitting on the same bench they had sat on earlier today, his hair catching the dim light of the streetlamp like fire. She couldn't help but grin as she hurried over to join him.

"Hey," she said softly, taking a seat beside him. He smiled back at her and reached out, running his fingers through her silvery bangs in a gentle gesture that sent shivers down her spine. "You took your time."

She laughed lightly, the sound sweet and musical even to her own ears. "Well, you know how it is... There's always a line for the shower around this time of day," she replied with a grin. He chuckled in response, pulling her closer until their shoulders were touching. It felt so natural and right; like they had been doing this forever.

She glanced up at him as he spoke, her eyes widening with hope. The thought of food made her stomach rumble audibly. "Starving," she admitted, blushing slightly. "I haven't had anything good to eat in forever." He chuckled softly before reaching into his pocket and pulling out some money.

"Come on then," he said with a wink, taking her hand in his as they headed toward the nearest food cart. The warmth of his skin against hers made her heart race even faster; it was like they were made for each other somehow. As they walked side by side down the crowded street, she couldn't help but wonder if this could really be happening to her. If everything that had happened today would continue tomorrow and beyond...

She glanced over at him from beneath her lashes as he ordered their food, taking in his features once more: his bright blue eyes, sharp cheekbones, and full lips that always seemed to quirk up into a smile whenever he looked at her. Aoi felt like she was floating on cloud nine, and she didn't think anything could ever bring her back down to earth. Not even the harsh reality of their worlds beyond this moment together.

As they waited for their food, she couldn't help but marvel at how comfortable she felt around him. It was as if they had known each other for years instead of just a few hours. She told herself it was because he understood her in a way that no one else ever had; he was the only one who truly got how hard it had been for her all this time.

The food smelled amazing, and she couldn't wait to dig in. "This is gonna be so good," she murmured between mouthfuls of strawberry-scented air. He chuckled, shaking his head as he watched her anticipation grow with each passing moment.

Finally, their food was ready, and they found a small table to sit at nearby. They ate in silence for the most part, content simply to be together and savor the taste of real, hot food on their tongues. It felt like such a simple pleasure but one that Aoi had almost forgotten existed.

When they were finished, she leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh, her fingers lazily tracing circles on the tabletop. "That was amazing," she breathed, gazing up at him through her lashes. There was something about him that made her feel so safe and happy; it was as if being with him erased all the bad things in her life for just a little while.

"Yeah, not too shabby myself," he replied with a grin, picking up their trash and disposing of it properly before standing up. He offered her his hand, which she took without hesitation as they began walking once more through the crowded streets. "So," he said slowly, drawing out the word, "what do you want to do now?"

She stared up at him in surprise as he tugged on her hand, their hands still intertwined. "What? But that looks so... childish," she protested with a blush, eyeing the little train nervously. She hadn't been on one of those since she was really young; it felt like something she should have grown out of by now.

"Come on," he insisted with a grin, pulling her forward despite her reluctance. "It'll be fun." Before she knew it, they were standing in line for the ticket booth, and he was handing over some money to buy them both tickets. It felt strange but somehow exciting at the same time; like doing something that was so clearly designed for children made her feel young again.

Her cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink as she glanced up at him through her lashes. "I don't know," she mumbled awkwardly. "It just feels kind of... childish." But even as she said it, there was a part of her that couldn't help but want to enjoy this moment with him; the anticipation making her heart race in an almost giddy way.

The conductor waved them over once their turn came, and they climbed aboard the little train together. Aoi blushed even deeper as she sat down on one of the brightly colored plastic seats, feeling self-conscious about being surrounded by so many other families with young children. But when kelan squeezed her hand gently, offering her a reassuring smile, she couldn't help but return it.

She let out a small laugh, her cheeks still flushed with embarrassment as she faced forward again. "Very funny," she muttered under her breath. But even though he was teasing her, there was something about the way he said it that made her feel... good. Liked and accepted just the way she was. And for now, in this moment, that was enough for her.

As the train chugged along its predetermined route, winding through colorful landscapes and past happy-looking families, Aoi found herself relaxing more and more into the experience. It didn't matter if it was childish; being here with kelan made everything seem magical somehow.

When the ride finally came to an end, they disembarked hand in hand, blending seamlessly back into the crowd as they made their way toward another attraction within the park. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked with a grin, nudging her playfully.

She smiled up at him, feeling more confident and happy than she had in ages. "No," she admitted reluctantly. "It was actually kind of fun." Her heart skipped a beat as they continued walking side by side through the park, wondering what other adventures they would find together tonight... and beyond that.

The possibilities were endless, and for once, Aoi allowed herself to believe that maybe this could be the beginning of something truly wonderful. Something she'd never dared hope for before.

She glanced over at him as they continued walking through the park, her eyes lighting up with anticipation when she spotted the giant Ferris wheel in the distance. "Of course I am!" she exclaimed excitedly, a childlike excitement bubbling up inside her. It had been forever since she'd ridden anything like that; just the thought of being high above everything made her heart race.

"C'mon," she urged him, taking his hand in hers and tugging gently. "It'll be fun." Her smile was bright and hopeful as she looked up at him, silently begging for permission to experience this new adventure with him by her side. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this happy or safe.