Their friendship deepened with each passing day, woven together by shared silences and quiet understanding. After school, they often sat together in the library—Arima sketching, Kaori reading, neither of them feeling the need to fill the silence with unnecessary words. There was a peace in their companionship, an unspoken bond that allowed them to simply be.One afternoon, as they sat side by side, Kaori reached over and gently touched his sketchbook, admiring his latest drawing.
"You know, Arima, I think you see the world differently. You notice things most people overlook."Arima glanced at her,
feeling a warmth in his chest at her words.
"Maybe. I just... draw what I feel."Kaori nodded, her eyes soft.
"That's what makes it so beautiful."
For the first time, Arima felt understood, as though Kaori could see past his silence to the emotions he'd kept hidden. And though he didn't say it, he felt grateful for her presence, for the way she seemed to understand him without needing words.