On a tranquil day, a 15-year-old Komi could be seen writing a letter in her room.
"Dear Shoji,
how are you? And has aunt Chiyo recovered?
Tomorrow marks the day we'll enter high school. I'm anxious but also hopeful, will I be able to make new friends? Though even if I don't, I still have you.
And Shoji, make sure your grades don't drop again! Else wise, I will be angry 😡😡!
Take care,
Shouko"
Shoji Akiyama is Komi's pen pal that was designated to her in 3rd grade. Over the span of 7 years both her and Akiyama have kept contact, a stark contrast to her classmates who have been dropped, or dropped their pen pals in a matter of weeks.
For the socially inept Komi, a pen pal was a blessing, she didn't have to talk in voice but instead was able to connect to someone her age through letters. Days on end she waited for a response from Akiyama, the both of them occasionally exchanged up to 5 letters a week, albeit the volume of letters usually only amounts to twice a week.
Sometimes she wondered what kind of person is Akiyama? She has seen how her classmates, or their pen pals, quickly lost interest in exchanging letters with a person they will likely never ever meet and ceased writing letters. But whatever the reason might be, Komi was happy having a friend, even if it's just through letters.
While Komi wondered about such things, Akiyama was wrapping up the paperwork for transferal of guardianship.
Akiyama's guardian, aunt Chiyo, recently had a stroke and was delivered to the hospital. Unbeknownst to Komi, Chiyo didn't make it.
Akiyama, now an underage orphan again, had nowhere he could go. Although saddened by the loss of his aunt, he was somewhat used to his loved ones dying.
Akiyama's parents died in a car crash when he was just 7 years old, Akiyama himself miraculously survived the crash and was adopted by his aunt, his Mother's sister. His other relatives all turned their back on him, believing that Akiyama was a star of misfortune.
As an impressionable child, Akiyama couldn't bear the remarks his relatives made about him, quickly believing, that he truly is a bringer of misfortune. Shunning himself from any interaction with strangers, whether be it classmate or teacher. His aunt Chiyo, having no kids of her own, treated Akiyama like her own. She encouraged him to find friends, to not give in to the prejudice of being a star of misfortune, only to fall on deaf ears. Akiyama never tried to make friends, the only friend he had, one that he hasn't ever met, therefore believing that he shouldn't be "inflicted" by his curse, was Komi, his pen pal.
Similar to 8 years ago, none of his relatives were willing to take him in, his grandfather, however, proposed, that he should live with him until he finds him a flat. As it turned out, even his grandfather believes in the prejudice of him being a bringer of misfortune...