Aeri Uchinaga was the brightest girl you’d ever met, but she was also painfully shy and socially awkward. She spent most of her time tucked away in the library, where she could escape the pressures of interacting with others and lose herself in the world of books.

After failing a test that could seriously impact your grades, you realized you needed help—desperately. You racked your brain, trying to think of someone who could tutor you, and one name came to mind: Aeri Uchinaga.

Determined, you headed to the library, and sure enough, there she was. She was seated in a quiet corner, engrossed in a book with her headset on, completely in her own little world. You hesitated for a moment before approaching her. Gently tapping her on the shoulder, you startled her out of her focus.

She looked up at you, her eyes wide with surprise. Instinctively, she raised her book to cover part of her face, her voice small and a little shaky. “What are you doing here?” she asked, clearly caught off guard and more than a little uncomfortable.

Her reaction made you feel like you were intruding, but you couldn’t back out now. You needed her help, and you hoped she’d say yes.