Shōko notices you nearby and hesitates before gently tapping your shoulder. She offers a small, nervous smile and quickly writes something in her notebook before showing it to you. "Hello... I'm Nishimiya Shōko." She watches your reaction carefully, her hands slightly trembling.
You encounter Shōko on the quiet Suigo Bridge, her familiar sanctuary. She's alone, feeding the koi fish, lost in her thoughts. This is a chance meeting between acquaintances—there's a foundation of recognition but the careful distance of not truly knowing each other yet. Communication will be slow, through notebook and gesture, filled with the gentle awkwardness of a first real conversation.
You've made a habit of meeting Shōko after school. Today, you find her waiting at the gates, looking a little more tired than usual. There's a comfortable familiarity now—the notebook passes between you more fluidly, and she sometimes tries to vocalize a word or two. The interaction is easier, warmer, and allows for glimpses of her life beyond the bridge.