Chapter 19: Whispers in the Wind

Nanako Shimuya had always believed that high school would be a fresh start. A place where she could focus on her studies, enjoy time with Akio, and maybe, just maybe, make a difference in someone's life.

She hadn't expected that someone to be Sora Nagi.

Talking to him had felt like opening a window in a dark room. There was something about Sora—something fragile yet resilient—that drew her in. She saw the weight he carried, the shadows in his eyes, and she wanted to understand them.

But hope was delicate. And high school hallways were not kind to delicate things.

It began with whispers.

At first, Nanako barely noticed them. She walked through the corridors with Akio, chatting about their favorite books and weekend plans. But as they passed groups of students, she felt it—the shift in the air, the subtle change in tone when they walked by.

"Isn't that her?"

"Yeah, the one with Sora Nagi."

Nanako's steps faltered. Akio noticed immediately.

"Nanako? What's wrong?"

Nanako forced a smile. "Nothing. I thought I heard something."

But as the day went on, the whispers grew. They no longer hid behind cupped hands and lowered voices. They became sharp, like tiny daggers cutting through her day.

"Why would she hang out with him?"

"She must feel sorry for him. Poor girl."

"She's too nice. He's probably just using her."

Nanako's grip on her bag tightened. She kept her head down, focusing on the scuff marks of her shoes against the polished floor. She tried to drown out the voices, but they slipped through the cracks of her composure.

By lunchtime, the rumors had spread like wildfire. Akio sat beside her under their usual tree, her expression clouded with concern.

"Nanako, what's going on?" Akio asked. "People are saying things… about you and Sora."

Nanako bit her lip. "I know. I don't understand why. We just talked, that's all."

Akio frowned. "Do you want me to say something? I can—"

"No," Nanako interrupted. "That'll only make it worse."

Akio hesitated but nodded. "If you say so. But if this keeps up, we need to do something."

Nanako appreciated Akio's support, but her mind was elsewhere. What about Sora? How was he handling this?

She stood up suddenly. "I need to find him."

"Now?" Akio asked.

"Yes. I have to make sure he's okay."

Nanako moved quickly, weaving through the crowd of students. She checked the classroom first—his desk was empty. The library, the courtyard—no sign of him.

Finally, her instincts led her to the rooftop. The door creaked as she pushed it open, and there he was, leaning against the railing, his back to her.

"Sora?" she called softly.

He didn't move.

Nanako approached cautiously. His shoulders were tense, his hands gripping the metal railing so tightly his knuckles were white.

"I heard what they were saying…" she began.

Sora let out a bitter laugh. "Guess you finally see it, huh? This is what happens when someone gets close to me."

Her heart ached at the pain in his voice. She stepped beside him, her gaze on the horizon. The city stretched out before them, the world seeming so vast yet their problems so isolating.

"So? What do you want to do about it?" she asked.

He turned to her, confusion clear in his dark eyes. "What?"

Nanako shrugged, keeping her tone gentle but firm. "Are you going to let them decide how you feel? Let them push you back into your shell?"

He looked away, a storm brewing beneath his calm exterior. "You don't get it."

"Then help me understand."

Her words hung in the air. She wasn't pressing him, but she wasn't backing down either.

Silence stretched between them, filled with the distant hum of life below. Nanako didn't push him further. Instead, she let him wrestle with his thoughts, giving him the space he needed.

After a long pause, she sighed and stood up. "I won't force you to talk, Sora. But just so you know… I'm not going anywhere."

She took a step back, her expression soft but resolute. "When you're ready, I'll be here."

With that, she turned and walked back through the door, leaving Sora on the rooftop.

As she descended the stairs, her heart pounded. She didn't know if her words had reached him. She didn't know if he would ever open up. But she couldn't give up on him—not when he needed someone the most.

And for the first time, as the cool breeze brushed against her skin, Nanako felt that maybe, just maybe, she could be the light in Sora's shadowed world.