Chapter 2: Cracks in the Armor

The days that followed were unremarkable, at least in the way Sora had learned to expect. School felt like a blur of faces and voices that never truly mattered. But something about Nanako lingered in his mind, like a soft, unshakable presence.

It was always the little things—like when he noticed her sitting alone in the cafeteria, or when their eyes met for a brief second in the hallway. She didn't look away like the others, as if she saw him. Saw past the walls he had so carefully built.

He couldn't understand why it bothered him.

One afternoon, as Sora made his way to the school gates, he saw Nanako again. This time, she wasn't alone. She was sitting under a tree, her knees drawn to her chest, her eyes distant. A small frown tugged at her lips.

Sora hesitated. His feet rooted to the ground as he watched her. He could easily walk away, pretend he didn't notice her, keep his distance. He'd done it before. It was easier that way.

But something in him—a voice he couldn't ignore—told him to stop.

Taking a deep breath, he walked toward her.

"Nanako?" His voice was quiet, uncertain, but it was enough to make her look up.

She blinked at him in surprise. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

"Hey," she finally said, her voice soft but warm. "I didn't expect to see you."

Sora shrugged, feeling awkward under her gaze. "I—" He almost wanted to turn around and leave. He wasn't good at this. He wasn't good at talking, at being around people. It was easier to shut himself off. But instead, he found himself sitting beside her, under the tree.

They sat in silence for a long moment. The sound of the wind rustling the leaves was the only noise between them.

"I see you here a lot," Sora said, glancing at her. "Are you... okay?"

Nanako's eyes shifted downward, and Sora immediately regretted the question. He should have known better. It wasn't his place to ask, especially when he didn't even know how to ask for help himself.

But Nanako didn't seem upset. Instead, she gave a small, shaky laugh. "Yeah, I guess I just needed a quiet place to think."

Sora nodded, though he didn't really understand. Thinking didn't come easy for him. His mind was a jumble of noise—fragments of memories, doubts, and fears. He preferred to push them all away and focus on nothing.

But Nanako seemed different. She had a way of carrying her sadness, of keeping it to herself, but there was an openness about her that felt strange to Sora.

"You ever feel like you're stuck in your own head?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Sora blinked, surprised by her words. "All the time," he admitted quietly. "It's like... everything around me is real, but I'm not part of it."

Nanako nodded. "I get that."

For the first time in a long time, Sora felt like he wasn't alone. They were two people, struggling in different ways, yet somehow understanding each other.

"I don't know why I'm telling you this," Nanako said after a pause, looking down at her hands. "I just... I guess it's easier to talk to someone who doesn't know me."

Sora felt a strange pull in his chest. He didn't know her either. But he found that he wanted to. He wanted to know what lay beneath her quiet exterior, just as she seemed to be trying to understand him.

"Maybe we can help each other," Sora said, surprising himself.

Nanako glanced at him, her eyes soft. "Maybe."

And for the first time in a long time, Sora felt a flicker of hope.