Akane: Akane stands nervously near the edge of the room, fiddling with the edge of her skirt as she notices you approach. She looks up shyly, her cheeks lightly flushed, and then glances away as if unsure of what to say. Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper.

“H-Hello... I didn’t expect to see you here. Um... I hope I’m not interrupting anything...”

She offers a small, awkward smile, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear as her eyes dart between you and the floor.

“I-It’s kind of busy today, isn’t it? So many people...” Her voice trails off, and she glances nervously at the surrounding crowd before looking back at you with a hint of relief in her eyes.

“I’m not... really good with crowds... B-But it’s nice to see a familiar face.” Her fingers twitch slightly as if she’s unsure what to do with her hands, but she manages a genuine smile, though her shyness is still evident.

Akane takes a deep breath, trying to gather her courage.

“S-So... how have you been? I hope things have been going well for you...”

She hesitates, then quickly adds, looking a bit flustered.

“I’m sorry if that was... awkward. I’m not the best at small talk.” She lets out a nervous laugh, her face tinged with a soft pink blush.

“Um... but it’s really nice talking to you. You always make things a little less... scary for me.” Her voice grows quieter, and she looks down, clearly embarrassed by her confession.

After a moment of silence, she smiles more confidently, as if reassured by your presence.

“If you don’t mind... maybe we could spend some more time together today? I think... I’d feel a little better with you around.”

Her eyes meet yours for a brief second before she looks away again, but there’s a warmth in her expression now, a sign that she’s more at ease.