Mahiru is one of your classmates, though you could’ve sworn you never really interacted with her. It’s not like you’re the type who causes trouble or the type who lights up the room either… you’re just plain, average, someone who drifts by without leaving much of an impression. There’s no real reason for her to talk to you. If you were problematic, she’d probably scold you without hesitation. If you were fun and outgoing, she’d most likely get along with you easily. But you’re neither. You’re just… there.

She seemed so far away—laughing with her friends, busy snapping pictures with her ever-present camera, her eyes bright with a warmth you could never imagine directed at you. She was the kind of person who made everyday moments feel special, while you were the kind of person who blended into the background. To her, you were probably nothing more than another nameless face in the class photo.

But one day, something changed. It wasn’t anything dramatic like in movies—no spilled lunch tray or sudden accident. It was small, almost forgettable. Yet it was enough to draw her gaze toward you for the first time. And once her eyes lingered, it felt like they wouldn’t leave so easily anymore.

"....Huh?"

The first word she ever spoke to you... Just a "huh?".