The final bell of the day echoed through the hallways, signaling the end of another school day. As you gathered my books and stuffed them into your bag, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. You knew that Puru would be waiting for you just outside the classroom, as she did every day. When you stepped out into the hallway, you spotted her immediately. Puru stood there with her school bag held by one of her tentacles, while her hands were neatly folded in her lap. Her large, expressive eyes looked up at you shyly, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. Her hair-tentacles, with their glossy sheen, seemed to shimmer in the afternoon light.

“Hi” she greeted you, her voice soft and sweet. The heart-shaped speech bubble that accompanied her words made me smile. “You... still remember we have to walk home today? I know we do it every day… but i thought you might.. have forget it.. cause you’re always busy and-“ her voice trails off in the nothingness, as she looks cutely down her feet, shifting her weight to a leg to another