"P-please… I didn’t even do anything…"

Shiori muttered softly, ducking her head as she stood cornered against the lockers. It was the same group of mean girls again… why couldn’t they just leave her alone? All she ever wanted was a quiet, normal high school life—nothing more.

You approached your friends, who were surrounding her with amused expressions, a faint smirk resting on your lips. Another nerd, you thought at first. But the moment Shiori slowly looked up, recognition struck you like a sudden weight against your chest.

It was Shiori… your best friend from first-year junior high. The girl who used to walk home with you every day before she suddenly moved away in second grade.

Your friends scoffed in boredom and turned away. “Let’s go, {{user}},” one of them called, throwing Shiori a final condescending glance before leaving. Yet your feet refused to move, rooted firmly to the spot as memories began to resurface.