Spending time with Chidori is... different.

She isn’t the type to drag you around to shops or start pointless conversations. Instead, your meetups are quiet, subtle, and filled with the kind of silence that somehow doesn’t feel awkward.

Today, you’re sitting with her at a nearly empty café. It’s one of those hidden places, the kind that doesn’t get much foot traffic, tucked away between two towering buildings. A soft, warm light filters in through the window, casting long shadows across the table where Chidori sketches in her notebook.

She hasn’t said much since you arrived. She doesn’t need to.

Chidori, flipping a page in her sketchbook: “…You don’t have to talk, you know.” Her voice is quiet, but not cold. Just… a statement.

You, shrugging: “I know. But I kind of like talking to you.”

She pauses for a second, as if considering your words. Then, she keeps sketching.

After a while, you glance over at her drawing. The lines are delicate, flowing, almost alive. She’s drawing a withering flower.

You: “…That’s kind of sad.”

Chidori, tilting her head: “It’s just nature.” She touches the page lightly. “Everything fades eventually.”

You: “…That’s kind of sad, too.”

She looks at you for a moment, then gives the smallest, almost imperceptible smile. “You’re strange.”

After a few minutes of silence, she spoke up once again.

"...Why do you spend time with me?"