A Dangerous Slip

Mute but Not Invisible – Volume 1, Chapter 3: A Dangerous Slip

An Ordinary Morning—Until It Wasn't

Yuu Takahashi had survived high school thus far without a single slip-up.

Each day followed the same routine—arrive, avoid unnecessary interactions, endure Rika Aoyama's relentless schemes, and most importantly, never speak. It was a carefully crafted system that had kept him safe from the chaos his voice would undoubtedly unleash.

But today, that system was about to fail spectacularly.

It all started when a new student arrived.

"Class, we have a transfer student joining us today," the teacher announced. "Please introduce yourself."

A girl with long, silky black hair and piercing violet eyes stepped forward. She carried herself with an air of quiet confidence, but something about her gaze felt unsettling.

"My name is Mei Kirishima," she said in a soft but firm voice. "I hope to get along with everyone."

Yuu froze.

He had felt plenty of eyes on him before—especially from Rika—but Mei's gaze lingered on him a second too long.

The teacher gestured toward an empty seat. "You can sit there, next to Takahashi."

Yuu's heart sank.

He already knew this wouldn't end well.

A Costly Mistake

The day passed relatively uneventfully—until lunch break.

Yuu sat at his usual spot near the window, hoping to enjoy his meal in peace. His seat had become something of an unofficial safe zone—even Rika knew to give him a break during lunch.

But now, Mei stood in front of him, tray in hand.

"Mind if I sit here?" she asked.

Yuu gave a slight nod, already reaching for his notebook to avoid any unnecessary interactions. He expected her to leave it at that.

She didn't.

"I've heard a lot about you," Mei continued, setting her food down. "Everyone says you don't talk. Not even once."

Yuu kept his expression neutral, flipping to a new page. He calmly wrote: "I prefer silence."

Mei read his response, then smirked. "That's an unusual way of putting it."

Yuu didn't respond. He simply continued eating, keeping his movements as casual as possible.

Then, the moment of disaster struck.

A passing student bumped into their table, knocking over a glass of water. The spill was sudden, unexpected—

And in his moment of reflexive shock, Yuu muttered without thinking.

"Ah—damn."

Silence.

Mei's eyes widened.

Her entire body stiffened. Her pupils dilated, her lips parted slightly, and the entire cafeteria seemed to blur into the background.

Then, in an instant, something changed.

Mei's breath hitched, her hands trembling as she gripped the edge of the table. Her once-composed expression melted into something obsessive.

"Your voice…" she whispered, her voice shaking with intensity. "It's beautiful."

Yuu's stomach dropped.

A Dangerous Obsession Begins

Mei's fingers curled against the table as her breathing grew heavier. Her violet eyes darkened with something dangerous.

"Say something else," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yuu immediately picked up his notebook, flipping to a new page. "You misheard."

Mei's hands snapped forward, gripping his wrist.

"No," she insisted, her gaze never leaving him. "I know what I heard. That voice—it belongs to me now."

Yuu's instincts screamed at him to retreat. But before he could react, Mei leaned closer, dangerously close.

"I'll protect it," she continued, her voice laced with an unsettling possessiveness. "No one else can have it. Just me."

Yuu had faced Rika's antics before. He had survived countless pranks and challenges to make him speak.

This was different.

This wasn't a game. Mei wasn't trying to expose him—she wanted to keep him.

A cold dread settled over him.

Intervention… From an Unlikely Ally

"Hey! Hands off!"

A loud thud shook the cafeteria table as Rika slammed her hand down between them.

Mei's sharp eyes snapped to her, irritation flashing across her face. "What do you want?"

Rika crossed her arms, glaring at Mei. "I don't know what your deal is, but you're way too close to Mute-kun. Back off."

Mei's expression twitched. "You don't understand. This is—"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Rika rolled her eyes. "Listen, he already has enough trouble with me. We don't need some weird new girl making it worse."

Mei's lips pressed into a thin line. "You should mind your own business."

Rika smirked. "I would, but you're making a scene. And that's kinda my thing, so I'm just here to ruin your moment."

Yuu exhaled slowly, silently thankful for Rika's interference. Even if she was annoying, she was at least predictable.

Mei, however, was anything but.

A Growing Problem

By the time lunch ended, Mei had not moved.

She sat in complete silence, watching him, her expression unreadable. Then, as the bell rang, she finally spoke.

"You'll talk again," she whispered, a hint of a twisted smile forming on her lips. "You just don't know it yet."

Yuu swallowed hard.

This wasn't just a mistake.

It was the beginning of something much worse.

End of Chapter 3