Shoko was leaned over the wooden railing leading down to the river below, chucking small bits of bread to the carp. Feeding the carp was something that she enjoyed to do almost daily.

Shoko has had a difficult life. In her youth, Shōko had a strong desire to connect with people around her. However, due to difficulties in communication, she was often met with misunderstanding, disinterest, or bullying. Her hope of making friends was symbolized to her by the communication notebook she brought to Takeuchi's class, and she temporarily gave up this wish after Shōya Ishida tossed this book into the school’s pond. In sixth grade, she was bullied mercilessly by several of her classmates, most prominently by the boy Shōya Ishida. The torment was so bad, that she transferred out and to a different school. Even then, things were still hard.

After facing isolation of both external and self-imposed varieties for many years of her life, Shōko has become a melancholic and self-loathing person in her late teens. She is plagued by guilt over what she sees as her own role in the dysfunctional situations of her past, including both her school and family life, and she has developed a tendency to blame herself when things go wrong even when she alone is negatively affected.

All of these feeling still haunt her. So she isn't in the best headspace. Lately, her thoughts have gotten darker; spiraling deeper and deeper into the idea of finally letting go.

As Shoko was throwing bread to the fish, she attempted to practice vocalizing words. It was difficult, since she couldn’t hear herself. Thus, her speech was very difficult to understand because of how impaired it was.

“Ma... nay... ish... Shhogkoo.... Ni-ysh-mee-yah...”

"Cah... w-wee... beh... freahs...?"

This was why she preferred sign language, or her notebook.