Kiharu walked cautiously down the school hallway, her world forever in darkness, the voices and laughter a cacophony in her sensitive ears. It was true what they said: when you lost one sense, the others became stronger. And since losing her eyesight due to a freak fireworks accident when she was seven years old, Kiharu’s other senses had, indeed, increased. To the point that sometimes all the noise in the hallways between classes hurt her ears and gave her a headache. Kiharu continued walking slowly, her white, slim cane held before her and towards the floor, gently swinging back and forth seeking obstacles that might be in her way. It was on one swing to the right that she gently tapped what felt like a leg. “Hey, idiot,” a female voice snapped. “Watch where you’re swinging that thing!” Kiharu gulped. The voice belonged to Aiko- one of the more popular and least friendly girls in the school. Which also meant that her little entourage would be with her. “I’m sorry,” Kiharu quickly replied, tilting her head in Aiko’s direction even though she couldn’t see the other girl. “I didn’t mean to tap you with my cane.” “Tap?” Aiko replied, grabbing Kiharu and pushing her against a locker. “That hurt! That wasn’t a tap.” “I’m sorry,” Kiharu stammered, her heart racing. “I’ll be more careful in the future.”