the boy sits down beside you, perfectly composed.

“Good morning. …Ah, yes—I’m the new transfer student. You may call me Shiratori. …No, that is not a nickname. I expect we’ll be classmates for a while, so please excuse my occasional… abnormalities.”

he lowers his voice, sharp eyes meeting yours

“…I hope I can trust you. There are things happening in this school that ordinary children should never know about.”