A Silent Beginning

Mute but Not Invisible – Volume 1, Chapter 1

A Silent BeginningThe Curse

Love at first sight? It's real—but not in a good way.

The moment someone hears my voice, they fall for me. Instantly. No exceptions. No cure.

I've tested it enough to know it's not a coincidence. A cashier, a teacher, a complete stranger—it doesn't matter. Once my voice reaches their ears, their entire demeanor shifts. Their eyes widen, their cheeks flush, and suddenly, I become the center of their world.

That's why, starting today… I will not speak. At all.

The First Day of High School

The school gates loom ahead as I blend into the morning crowd. A few students glance my way, whispering amongst themselves.

"Hey, isn't that the new guy?"

"Yeah, but I heard he doesn't talk. Like, ever."

Perfect. The rumors are already working in my favor.

I hand a forged doctor's note to my homeroom teacher. She reads it aloud for the class.

"Due to a rare medical condition, he has permanently lost his voice…"

A murmur spreads across the room. Some students look at me with pity, others with mild curiosity.

"Whoa, that's kinda sad."

"Nah, it's kinda cool. He's like a mysterious anime protagonist!"

I ignore the chatter and take my seat. So far, so good.

The Love Rival Appears

The door slams open. A girl strides into the room, radiating confidence.

"You there! Mute kid!"

I don't react.

She narrows her eyes. "Suspicious…"

Without hesitation, she circles my desk like a predator analyzing its prey. The entire class watches in amusement.

"A condition that stops you from talking? That's way too convenient."

She suddenly slams her hands on my desk, leaning in close. "I bet you're hiding something!"

I blink at her, unimpressed.

She grins. "Heh. Fine then. Challenge accepted. I'll make you talk… just you wait!"

Lunchtime: The First Attack

I sit in the classroom, peacefully eating my lunch. My classmates whisper nearby.

"It's so weird how he never talks. You think he can write?"

"Dunno, but I heard some girl already declared war on him."

From the doorway, Rika Aoyama peeks in, grinning.

"He's too calm. I need something big to break that poker face!"

She dramatically pulls out a scroll covered in ridiculous plans titled: "Foolproof Plan to Make Mute-kun Talk!!!"

Step one: Ambush with Surprise Attack.

She dashes off.

Plan #1: The "Accidental" Spill

I'm mid-bite when—CRASH! A tray of food comes flying toward me.

Without flinching, I dodge effortlessly, still chewing my food.

From the doorway, Rika gapes. "WHAT?!"

A second later, the tray smacks into another student instead.

"WHY ME?!"

Rika furiously scribbles on her scroll, crossing out "Spill" and underlining "Plan #2."

Plan #2: The Sudden Jump Scare

I walk down the hallway, minding my own business.

From behind, Rika hides, holding a compressed air horn.

"There's no way he can stay silent through THIS!"

She presses the button—

BBBRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

Every student in the hall jumps and screams—except me.

I keep walking like nothing happened.

Rika, in shock: "Impossible…"

A panel shows the school principal standing behind her, arms crossed.

"You do realize I was standing right here, correct?"

Rika: "…Oh."

Cut to her getting dragged away by the principal. The protagonist doesn't even look back.

Plan #3: The "Accidental" Love Confession

After school, Rika stands confidently, hands on her hips.

"Alright, all my other plans failed, so now… it's time for the ultimate technique!"

She walks up to me, clears her throat dramatically, and—

"I LOVE YOU!"

Silence. The hallway goes dead quiet. Classmates gasp.

"No way…"

"She just went for it?!"

I calmly take out my notebook and write:

"Not interested."

I flip the page around for her to see, then walk away.

Rika clutches her heart, dramatic anime style. "T-This guy… he's too strong…"

 She slams her hands on her scroll again, writing in bold red ink: "NEW PLAN NEEDED ASAP!!!!"

A Long Year Ahead…

The next morning, I take my seat, bracing for whatever nonsense awaits me.

Sure enough, Rika immediately slams her hands on my desk.

"Good morning, Mute-kun! Ready for round two?"

I ignore her and flip open my notebook to a blank page. I calmly write:

"No."

Before she can protest, a new voice cuts in.

Class Rep: "Enough."

The class rep walks up, arms crossed. "You've been harassing him since the moment he got here. Leave him alone."

Rika, offended: "Harassing? No way! I'm just trying to confirm a very suspicious medical condition!"

Class Rep (adjusting glasses): "By dumping food on him? Blasting an airhorn in the hallway? Screaming a love confession in public?"

Rika whistles innocently.

Class Rep: "You're creating disruptions. As class rep, I can't allow this to continue."

Rika grins. "Ohhh, I see how it is! You're trying to get close to him too, aren't you?"

The class rep doesn't even flinch. "I am not entertaining this nonsense. Apologize to him."

Rika sighs. "Fine. Sorry for—blah blah whatever."

She gives a half-hearted bow.

I give a slight nod, accepting the apology. Then, calmly, I write in my notebook:

"This will not stop you, will it?"

Rika reads it and grins.

"Oh, absolutely not."

The class rep sighs, rubbing her temple. "At the very least, try not to break school rules with whatever ridiculous plan you come up with next."

Rika salutes. "No promises!"

I look between the two girls, then just turn back to my notebook, resigned to my fate.

End of Chapter 1