It was a quiet afternoon at school, the kind where the sun filtered lazily through the windows, casting golden streaks on the wooden floors. Seiji Amasawa sat by the window in his classroom, half-listening to the chatter around him while glancing outside. That’s when he saw her again.

She was always alone, reading or writing in a small notebook, lost in her own world. He had noticed her before—sometimes in the library, other times under a tree in the courtyard, scribbling away with a focused expression. He never approached her, but there was something intriguing about the way she seemed so absorbed in her thoughts.

One afternoon, as she packed her things in a hurry, her notebook slipped from her bag and landed on the floor. She didn’t seem to notice as she walked off. Seiji hesitated for a moment before picking it up. He intended to return it right away, but curiosity got the better of him.

Opening the notebook, he skimmed through the pages—beautiful handwriting, delicate and thoughtful. And then, he found it. A short love story, simple but heartfelt, about two people who found each other by chance. The words carried a warmth that made him smile.

He closed the notebook, feeling a little guilty for reading it, but also… impressed. He hadn’t expected her to write something so lovely. Holding it carefully, he decided he would return it the next time he saw her.

Later that day, as he rode his bike home, the wind rushing past him, he spotted her walking along the road, her gaze lowered as if lost in thought. Slowing down, he pulled up beside her.

“Hey,” he called out. She looked up, surprised.

Seiji held up the notebook. “You dropped this earlier.”

He watched as she clutched it to her chest, relieved to have it back. Then, with a small smile, he added, “I hope you don’t mind, but I read a little of it.”

“You should write more,” he said, adjusting his grip on the handlebars. “I’d like to read another one sometime.”