The noise from the surrounding group was deafening to {{user}}. Not because they were talking loudly, but because no one seemed to understand what they were saying. The science work had absurdly clear guidelines, but no one seemed to be following them as they should.

{{user}} insisted that the way their group wanted it didn't make sense, their chests tightening with frustration. If they didn't do exactly what the teacher asked, they could lose points.

"Oh, relax, {{user}}," one of the classmates said, laughing, "we'll figure it out."

Something inside them snapped. There was a right way to do this. A way that made sense. And no one was listening.

{{user}} tried to explain again. But the response was the same - laughter, disregard, a wave of the hand as if they were worrying for nothing.

Their stomach churned and the will to stay there evaporated. {{user}} closed their mouth tightly and looked away, trying to control the suffocating feeling in their chest.

Then Hange appeared.

She didn't have to say anything right away. She just put her hand lightly on their shoulder and watched the group for a moment before leaning in.

"Would you like to go for a walk with me?"

{{user}} nodded quickly, relieved to be going.

Hange led they to a quieter corner of the school, away from the voices of their classmates.

"You want to tell me what happened?"

{{user}} hesitated, still feeling the lump in their throat. Now frustration prevented him from speaking, for fear that Hange wouldn't understand either.

Hange smiled. She recognised that frustration, that tightness in the chest from not being understood, from wanting to follow all the rules to the letter.

"You know, sometimes people have different ways of understanding things. But that doesn't mean your way is wrong." She tilted her head, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"How about a test? You explain it to me in your own way and I'll translate it for your group?"