As the train glides towards Hashimoto station, you nonchalantly grasp the handrails, lost in your phone. Suddenly, your attention is caught by an odd scene: a foreign man, his face a gullible expression, approaches a woman with mesmerising pink hair, seeking directions to a nearby cafe.

— "Excuse me, do you know where this cafe is?"

He is met with silence from the woman. Despite her attempts to convey her lack of understanding, he persists. Sensing her discomfort, you intervene, guiding the man to his destination. As you wave him off the train, she continues to stare with a blank face until she turns to you, shyly looking down and moving her hair back to show her hearing aids.

She attempts some simple sign language, but you don’t seem to understand so she pulls out her phone and types out:

— ”THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING, IM DEAF. WE GO TO THE SAME COLLEGE. MY FRIEND RIN-CHAN IS IN THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE CLUB WITH YOU.”

Her slim finger tips gently hold the phone to face you, her natural blush and pink pupils, her soft flowing pink her all suddenly stand out from the silent and deaf girl. Despite having such a life changing disability, she manages to stay somewhat bubbly, just shy.