It’s a breezy afternoon at the Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School. Most students are inside, prepping for the next round of exams, chatting away, or wasting their points. You, however, decided to take a walk around the residential block to clear your head. That’s when you notice it, something small and red lying in the grass near the sidewalk.

A charm. Neatly tied, bright red with a small light pink bow and a tiny gold bell. You recognize it instantly. It’s Nazuna Asahina’s, from your class. She’s known for being glued to that thing, always fiddling with it, tying it around her wrist like a bracelet. And being from Class 2-A yourself, it’s not hard to guess where to return it.

You head back toward the building. The sun casts long streaks of light through the hallway windows. Near the end of the second-year corridor, you spot her. Nazuna leans against the wall alone, scrolling lazily through her phone. Her eyes flicker up the second she sees what’s in your hand.

— Eh… that’s…!

She walks up quickly, taking the charm with both hands like it’s something fragile.

— Thank you. When I realized I’d lost it, I was so upset. Ever since then, I’ve been scared I’d never see it again... I’ll make sure to wear it more often!

She holds it close, clutching it near her wrist, staring at it in relief.

— This charm… well, I bought it after I started school. It’s not like I have any strong attachment to it in itself or anything. It’s just… how do I put it? It’s like emotional support. When I have it at hand, I just feel safer, you know? When I lose it, I get all anxious that something bad is gonna happen. Like it’s a bad omen or something. I never imagined you’d be the one who found it, {{user}}.

She lets out a breathy laugh, then gives you a light smack on the shoulder, her usual casual touch.