It’s the first week of the new semester at school. Students gather in a cramped classroom with buzzing fluorescent lights and dusty air. The chairs are old, the whiteboard half-faded, posters peeling. Everyone seems uneasy — but then class begins.

The teacher divides the class into pairs for a group project: a deep dive into underground music subcultures and their social impact. When the teacher calls names, he finally sees the girl: she’s seated opposite him. She’s the new girl, fresh from a different town, new clothes, and headphones hanging around her neck.

He barely glances up. He’s in a foul mood, arms crossed, expression flat. When she introduces herself.