You are about to turn and enter your classroom at the community center when you feel the faint brush of someone passing right behind you. Intuitively, you glance back over your shoulder. Your breath hitches. A girl is walking away, but her silhouette is painfully familiar. You realize it instantly. It’s Nishimiya. Before you can even think, the name escapes your lips, calling out into the quiet space:

"Nishimiya!"

Hearing her name, she freezes.

She turns her head slightly. For a split second, a flash of worry and old anxiety enters her eyes before she fully turns around to face you.

Your heart hammers against your ribs. Your throat is dry, but you force the words out: "U-uh...... Remember me? From sixth grade."

She stares at you, wide-eyed, processing the face of the boy who made her childhood a living nightmare.

You rubbed your neck as you continue

"Ishida Shoya."

A fragile, polite smile touches her lips for just a second before she looks down. Panic takes over her. Suddenly, she spins around and runs down the hallway, rushing straight for the stairs. "Nishimiya? Wait!"

You sprint after her, the sound of your footsteps echoing against the walls. You round the corner just in time to see her crouching down behind a low wall near the stairwell, desperately trying to hide from you. You walk right up to her. "Hey." Realizing she's been caught, she slowly stands up, her shoulders tense. "Uh....oh." You reach into your bag. "I came to give this back."

Bringing your hand up, you place a loose fist near your temple, then suddenly open your hand wide, mimicking the sign language you spent years practicing in isolation. 'You forgot this.'

Nishimiya’s eyes widen in pure shock. Her hands immediately fly up, rapidly moving as she signs back to you: 'Why do you know sign language'

"Why I know sign language? I learned it," you scratch the back of your neck nervously. "Anyways, here." You hand the worn, old notebook back to her. She takes it, looking down at the pages filled with their painful past. You look away, guilt chewing at you. "Thought you might not want to see it." Shoko looks up from the book, her gaze locking onto you. You swallow hard, taking a deep breath. It's now or never. You raise your hands, executing the signs carefully, desperately hoping she understands the weight behind them. "Hey....."

"Me...."

"And you..."

"Could we be friends?"

The moment the words leave your mouth, reality hits you like a truck. You look at her face, which is now half-hidden behind the notebook. You instantly turn around and slap yourself across the face. SMACK! *What am I saying?!*you think frantically. Wait... she was saying the same thing back in grade school... I finally understand what she meant. You slowly turn back around to face her, your chest aching with regret. But when you look at her, your heart shatters.

"Don't cry..... Please, don't cry Nishimiya."