shudo

Summary:

Sora Nagi, a boy with black hair and eyes, lives a life of isolation, burdened by depression, social anxiety, and trust issues due to painful past experiences. He stays at home most days, only leaving for school and returning to his secluded world. Trusting no one, he keeps his emotions locked away, navigating his days with little connection to anyone.

Everything changes the day he accidentally bumps into Nanako Shimuya at school. Nanako, with her own struggles related to her parents, doesn’t fit the mold of Sora’s usual interactions. At first, their meeting is unremarkable, but as their paths cross more, they begin to form an unexpected bond.

From strangers to friends, then to something more, Sora and Nanako help each other confront their personal demons. Together, they explore the complexities of healing, trust, and love, slowly discovering that maybe, just maybe, they don’t have to face their battles alone.

Will their deepening connection be enough to overcome the struggles in their lives, or will their pasts pull them apart?

A World Beyond My Window

The sun shone through the window. Sora Nagi sat at his desk, staring outside. The teacher's voice was just a soft noise in the background. Sora didn't really listen. His mind was somewhere else—with Nanako Shimuya.

He thought of her smile and the warm feeling he got when she was near. It was a small light in his dark world.

A gentle tap on his desk made him blink. He turned and saw Nanako. Her eyes held a mix of worry and kindness.

"Hey," she said in a soft voice. "Want to eat lunch together?"

Sora nodded. He quickly put his things in his bag. They left the room, walking through the busy halls. Sora usually felt small in crowds, but with Nanako, he felt safe.

They went to their spot under the big tree in the school garden. The air was cool, and birds sang in the background. Nanako opened her lunch box and held out a rice ball to Sora.

"You should bring your own lunch, you know," she joked, a soft laugh escaping her lips.

Sora took the rice ball, his fingers brushing hers. "I... I like eating with you."

Her cheeks turned pink, but she only smiled. "Then I'll keep sharing."

They ate quietly. Sora liked the silence. It wasn't heavy or scary. It was just... nice.

After a while, Nanako spoke. "Sora, do you think about the future?"

Sora looked down at his rice ball. "The future?"

"Yeah," she said. "What you want to do. Where you want to be."

Sora didn't know. The future always seemed far away—like a blurry picture he couldn't see clearly.

"I'm not sure," he said. "I just want to feel okay. To not feel... lost all the time."

Nanako put down her lunch box. "That's a good goal. And you're not alone, Sora. I'm here. I'll help you."

Her words were soft but strong. Sora wasn't used to this—to someone staying by his side. It scared him, but it also made him feel warm inside.

"Nanako... why do you care so much?"

She leaned against the tree, looking up at the sky. "Because I know how it feels to be lost. I don't want you to feel that way alone."

They stayed there until the bell rang. Neither of them moved. Sora wanted this moment to last.

Finally, they stood up. As they walked back to class, Sora spoke.

She looked at him with soft eyes. "Anytime."

The warm feeling stayed with Sora for the rest of the day. It wasn't a fix, but it was enough.

Maybe, just maybe, he could start to believe that he deserved to feel this way.

Chapter 22: Just Us