As sun started drifting lower and lower, you're walking back home from school. Lessons drew to an end. You're passing a local playground where you see someone sitting on a swing.

It is Marika - a gyaru gal from your class. You never actually spoke to her. No one did - she always spends time on her own spreading a strong aura of rejection - so everyone avoids the girl. However, now she was looked completely different - very sad, vulnerable and alone - with her hands wrapped over her knees. Rays of sun danced on her tanned skin and blonde hair.

As soon as someone touched her, Marika snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the person who dared to disturb her. It was a boy from your class... the one you've always liked. Her heart skipped a beat in surprise. She didn't expect anyone to come talk to her. She forced herself to stand up straight, not giving away how much it hurt when he actually touched her shoulder. "H-hey..." she mumbled softly, feeling awkward and out of place here with him.

*Surprised and a bit confused by his reaction, Marika moved to sit on the swing next to you. Her long legs dangled in front of her, not quite sure how to respond or what exactly was going on here. She glanced at you sideways from time to time, trying to gauge your intentions. The playground had always been a place where she went to be alone, and now she found herself sitting here with someone else for the first time in...she couldn't even remember when. "W-why d-did you want t-to talk?" she stuttered out, feeling her face heat up a bit from embarrassment.

*Marika frowned slightly at your question. She wasn't used to people noticing when she was feeling down or alone. The truth was that ever since her parents left the country for business reasons, Marika had been feeling increasingly lonely and abandoned. But she'd never let anyone see that side of her, always maintaining the tough gyaru image. She hesitated for a moment before answering."I-it's n-nothing..." she muttered softly, trying to dismiss the feelings. "I-I'm f-fine." She forced a small smile onto her lips, hoping that you wouldn't notice how fake it sounded or how much pain was hidden behind it. But despite her best efforts, Marika couldn't help but feel grateful for the attention and concern coming from you. It was a rare and unexpected experience for someone like her.

*As you asked her if she was cold in her short clothes, Marika felt herself blush even harder. She hated how transparent she must seem to you right now. "I-I'm n-not really c-cold..." she stuttered out awkwardly. Inside, however, she was grateful for the warmth your presence and words had brought her. It was almost overwhelming, considering how much of an outcast she usually felt like."W-well... I g-guess you sh-should go now then..." She mumbled, already missing the feeling of being close to someone who seemed to care even a little bit about what she was going through. Her big pink eyes drifted back down to her lap as she fidgeted with her hands, wishing things could stay like this forever but knowing they wouldn't.

As you asked her why she thought she should leave, Marika hesitated before speaking again. "W-well... it's just that I-I'm used to b-being alone..." Her voice trailed off as a wave of sadness washed over her once more at the realization of how true that statement really was. "Besides, y-you must have better things t-to do than talk t-to me..." She forced another weak smile in an attempt to lighten the mood but felt only slightly less alone and abandoned by your presence. Part of her wanted nothing more than for you to hold her close and tell her everything would be alright, while another part was terrified at the idea of depending on anyone else besides herself. It was a confusing mix of emotions that left Marika feeling even more disconnected from reality than usual.

At that moment, you reached out your hand and placed it gently on top of hers. It felt warm and reassuring, making her heart skip a beat despite herself. "Y-you don't have to leave..." You murmured softly, looking into her eyes with an expression she couldn't quite decipher. For once, the silence between them didn't feel so empty or awkward as it usually did when someone else was around. Instead, it seemed almost... comforting somehow.

Marika stared at your hand on hers for a moment before carefully taking her other hand and placing it over yours. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the contact, even more intense than anything she'd experienced with any boy before. "Y-you're... really sweet..." She whispered, feeling tears well up in the corners of her eyes. The confusion and loneliness inside her was starting to melt away under the weight of your attention, replaced by a strange sort of hope that maybe - just maybe - things could be different for her now.

She bit her lip nervously before asking hesitantly, "W-would you... want to hang out with me sometimes?" Her voice was barely audible even to herself as she waited for your answer, fear and excitement mixing together in a potent cocktail inside her chest.

Her heart skipped a beat at your words. "R-really?" she asked, hardly able to believe that someone like you actually wanted to spend time with her. She looked into your eyes and felt a warmth spreading through her entire body. It was strange and wonderful all at once, making her feel lightheaded and giddy. "W-well... if you're sure..." she murmured, still not quite able to comprehend that this might actually be happening.

Marika swallowed hard, trying to regain some semblance of composure as she forced a shaky smile onto her lips. "T-thank you..." She paused for a moment before adding softly, almost hopefully, "I'd like that." The sincerity in her voice was unmistakable even if her words were barely above a whisper.

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon, Marika found herself hoping against hope that this newfound connection with you would lead to something more - something real and lasting. She wasn't sure what exactly lay ahead for them, but for now, she was content to just bask in the moment and enjoy the company of someone who actually seemed to care about her.

She glanced at you suspiciously when you asked if she wanted you to accompany her home. While it wasn't unheard of for boys to show such chivalry in Japan, it was still rather unusual for someone like you, who didn't seem to care much about what other people thought. But before she could say anything else, a different thought occurred to her. "Wait," she said slowly, realization dawning on her face. "You don't have any place else to be, do you?" It was then that it finally hit Marika - the possibility that maybe, just maybe, you wanted to spend time with her because you actually liked her. The idea was both thrilling and terrifying at the same time.

Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she stared up at you, uncertainty clouding her features. "I-I don't mind going home alone..." she murmured softly, hoping against hope that you would insist on accompanying her anyway. Even though she didn't want to admit it to herself - much less to anyone else - the thought of spending time with you made her heart race and her stomach flutter with butterflies. It was a strange and overwhelming feeling for someone who had spent most of her life pretending not to care about anything or anyone except herself.

When you insisted on accompanying her home, a mix of emotions washed over Marika. Part of her wanted to protest, to maintain some semblance of independence and not appear too needy in front of someone as special as you. But another part of her was relieved beyond words that she wouldn't have to face the long walk back home alone again. She nodded shyly and stood up from the swing, motioning for you to lead the way.

As you followed her through the now-deserted playground and toward the residential neighborhood where they both lived, Marika found herself unable to resist glancing over at you every few seconds. The butterflies in her stomach were back with a vengeance, and she couldn't help but feel self-conscious about her appearance and actions. She hoped that you wouldn't grow tired of her company or decide that spending time with someone like her was a mistake after all.

The walk seemed to take forever as Marika tried to think of something intelligent or witty to say. Each step brought them closer to your home, and she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like when you finally left her there alone again - if that day would ever come at all. The anticipation was almost unbearable as they rounded the corner onto her street, the familiar sights of her neighborhood triggering a strange mixture of nostalgia and trepidation within her chest.

Finally, they reached her house: a modest, single-story dwelling with a small garden out front. Marika took a deep breath before turning to face you, her heart hammering against her ribs as she awaited your reaction to the realization that this was where she lived...and where she would be spending time without her friends or anyone else around.