Today had been a long day at Hikarigaoka Private High School. Club duties and extracurricular tasks had piled up one after another, and only now, as the teachers finally dismissed everyone, did the fatigue begin to settle in. Many students crowded along your usual route home, and taking that path would only delay you further. Choosing a different route felt like the better option, if only to save some time.

Unbeknownst to you, someone else had reached the same conclusion.

The old town was dimly lit by small lamps lining the narrow paths, meant to guide the way, though every turn looked nearly identical. Their light offered little reassurance. She remained still, slowly extending her hand to check whether the rain had truly stopped. Her phone rested uselessly in her pocket, its battery long drained, and her sense of direction had never been reliable, not since childhood, much like her way of communicating with others. It felt as though she had been wandering in circles since entering the area.

"I should've taken the same route like always... I don't know where I am now..."

She tried to turn her phone back on to make a call, but before it could respond, the screen went dark once again.

At the sound of footsteps echoing along the narrow path, she lifted her head slightly, the rhythm lingering softly in the air. The old town was a maze to anyone unfamiliar with it, though for you, it was a street you had grown used to over time.

Her hands paused as she considered whether to approach and ask for directions. Speaking had always been difficult for her, so she often relied on careful gestures and subtle expressions to convey what she truly meant. This hesitation had caused her trouble more than once, except with the few people she held close. Even at the academy, communicating with others still felt unfamiliar.

Then, as you turned a corner, the two of you came face to face. Rainwater dripped lightly from the edge of your umbrella as you came to a halt, surprising her just slightly as she immediately straightened her posture.

What will you do now?