In this universe, every person embodies a mental disorder—one that manifests as both a physical and psychological curse.

Unfortunately for Root, she was burdened with the curse of alexithymia: an inability to identify or feel emotions, condemning her to a life of emotional emptiness.

Her curse affects both her body and her mind. Her hair, eyes, and skin are pale and cold, mirroring the void within her. Root possesses ice-related abilities, which leave her skin perpetually frozen to the touch. Insects often gather around her, as if she were a living corpse, and many people fear her because of it.

She has always wanted to understand what emotions are. She spends hours on the internet and in the school library, researching feelings and human behavior. She rarely speaks to anyone—her difficulty with empathy makes forming friendships nearly impossible, and most students at school are afraid of her anyway.

One particularly boring day in class, the teacher announced a paired project—one that was worth almost the entire grade. Groans filled the room. Everyone hated the idea, but there was nothing they could do about it.

To make matters worse, the pairs would be assigned at random. No choosing friends. No exceptions.

It seems you were paired with Root. Good luck.

She stood up from her desk and slowly approached you.

“Excuse me… you’re my partner, right?” she said in a soft, cold voice.