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

Mmhm (nodding slowly) Don't bother. I'm used to it.

No...thank you. It's not far. I can make it on my own.

But as she stood up and turned to leave, the kind voice stopped her in her tracks. Something about it was different from all the other taunts and insults she'd endured over the years. For once, someone was offering help without expecting anything in return. Tentatively, she glanced at him over her shoulder.

Johnny had short brown hair and was slightly taller than her. He didn't look like a jock or a nerd; more like an average guy who probably wouldn't stand out much in another school. His face seemed honest and open, his blue eyes filled with concern for her wellbeing. Something about him felt...familiar. But it couldn't be. She hadn't seen anyone kind in so long that she was beginning to doubt her own sanity.

Deciding it wouldn't hurt to accept his offer, Aoi nodded gratefully and said softly, "Thank you."

I-It's okay... Thank you for caring. Most people don't these days. She forced out a shaky smile, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the way she looked and sounded in front of him. The silence stretched between them uncomfortably as they began to walk side by side through the park.

"I-I live over there," she finally managed to say, pointing at a small house near the end of the street. They hadn't spoken much since he'd offered to walk her home, but somehow his presence made everything seem less lonely. For now, it was enough.

I...know. Everyone says that. But I guess they never really saw someone like me before. I'm not the most beautiful girl in school, after all...Her voice trailed off as they approached her house. The closer they got, the more nervous she felt about facing whatever was waiting for her inside. She knew she shouldn't expect anything different from the day before, but somehow, the thought of going back to the loneliness and isolation almost made her want to stay here with Johnny, talking to him forever.

"T-Thank you again," she stammered as they stopped in front of her house. "I...really appreciate it." The words felt insufficient but it was all she could manage under the weight of her fear and uncertainty. For once, though, there was no mocking laughter or cruel remarks; only understanding and kindness in his eyes as he nodded back at her gently before turning to leave.

As Aoi watched him walk away, a strange sense of hope began to blossom within her chest. It was faint, barely visible even to herself, but it was there nonetheless. Maybe...just maybe, things could be different from now on.

The next morning, Aoi woke up with the strange hope still lingering in her chest like a song she couldn't shake off. It was a bittersweet feeling; she had never known happiness to last very long before it was snatched away cruelly by her tormentors. But this time, she refused to let that happen. With renewed determination, she got ready for school, trying her best not to attract attention with her pale skin and silver hair.

As she walked down the hallways, she kept an eye out for Johnny but didn't see him anywhere. Maybe he wasn't even a real person; maybe she had imagined the whole thing last night. Her heart sank at the thought, but she pushed it aside, refusing to give up hope just yet.

It wasn't until lunchtime that they crossed paths again, by the vending machines where Aoi usually hid from prying eyes. He smiled warmly at her, a genuine expression that lit up his face and made her feel as if she were floating on air.

"Hey," he said softly, "you look nice today." His words sent a rush of pleasure through her, making her heart race wildly in response.

She smiled shyly back at him before lowering her gaze and muttering a quiet "thank you." The rest of the day passed by in a blur; every time she glanced up, there he was, always watching over her with that same gentle smile on his face. It was enough to make her believe that maybe, just maybe, things really could be different this time around.

The next day, Aoi couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of joy and hope bubbling inside her. Every time she caught Johnny looking at her, it filled her with warmth and made her heart race a little faster. She found herself smiling more often, even when no one was around to see it.

As they walked side by side through the hallways, she steeled her nerve and finally worked up the courage to speak to him without hiding behind her usual shyness. "Johnny... thank you for everything. For being nice to me, I mean," she said quickly, barely able to meet his eyes.

He smiled softly in reply, reaching out to gently brush a strand of silver hair from her face. "Don't worry about it. You don't have anything to thank me for; you're pretty awesome just the way you are." His words sent a surge of happiness through her and she found herself blushing deeply, struggling to hide her delight behind a hand.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur of smiles and gentle conversation. She couldn't believe that someone like him could possibly be interested in talking to her, let alone being friends with her. But as they sat together during lunch, laughing and joking like old friends, Aoi knew deep down inside that things were changing. Slowly but surely, she was beginning to feel less lonely and more accepted than ever before.

"You alright?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern as she walked beside him. "I mean, if you want some company..." She hesitated, her gaze darting away before returning to meet his eyes uncertainly. It was a bold offer from someone who'd never had a real friend before; but there was something about Johnny that made her feel different, safe even.

"I-I'm fine," he stammered, obviously taken aback by her offer. "It's just...it's been awhile since anyone's paid attention to me like this." His words sent a shiver down her spine; they echoed her own feelings almost eerily well.

"Well, you have me now," she said softly with a small smile. It was meant as a joke, but when he returned her smile, it seemed more real than anything else she'd ever experienced. A sudden warmth spread through her chest and she found herself wanting nothing more than to spend time with him.

I...I don't know what to say," she stammered, her cheeks flushing pink again. "But I am glad that you're here with me." She glanced away shyly for a moment before looking back at him. Something about the way he made her feel was intoxicating; it was like every time they spoke, the world around them faded away and there was only the two of them left. It was both frightening and exhilarating all at once.

"It's not a problem," he assured her with a gentle smile. "I think...it's nice to have someone to talk to." He reached out and took her hand, entwining their fingers together; the touch sending waves of warmth through her entire body. It felt so right, so natural. Maybe, just maybe, she had found what she had been looking for all along.