The Girl Who Sat Like She Didn’t Exist

Rain again.

Not the dramatic anime rain. Just that annoying, boring drizzle that makes everything feel slower.

Kaito Shinohara leaned back in his chair, half-listening to the teacher.

(If this gets any more boring, I might actually die.)

The classroom door slid open.

Everyone looked.

A girl walked in.

Black hair. Straight. Slightly damp from the rain. Pale face. No expression.

She didn’t look nervous.

She didn’t look curious.

She looked like she didn’t care about being here at all.

“Transfer student,” the teacher said. “Introduce yourself.”

Silence.

She stared at the class like it was… nothing.

“…Rei Aizawa.”

That’s it.

No smile. No “nice to meet you.” Nothing.

The class immediately started whispering.

“Cold…”

“Pretty though…”

“She’s kinda scary…”

Kaito rested his chin on his hand, staring.

(Why does she feel… weird?)

Not weird like “oh she’s quiet.”

Weird like—

he’s seen her before.

“Sit there,” the teacher pointed.

Right next to him.

Of course.

Kaito sighed internally.

(Main character treatment, huh?)

She walked over and sat beside him.

No glance. No reaction.

Like he didn’t exist.

A few minutes passed.

Kaito tapped his pen against the desk.

“…Hey.”

No response.

He leaned slightly closer.

“Hey, transfer student.”

Nothing.

He frowned.

(Seriously? Not even basic human interaction?)

“Rei, right?”

She finally spoke.

“…Don’t talk to me.”

Flat. Cold. Immediate.

Kaito blinked.

Then smirked a little.

“Oh? Attitude already?”

“…I just don’t like people.”

“Damn. I didn’t even do anything yet.”

“…Exactly.”

Silence again.

But something felt off.

Kaito kept staring at her from the corner of his eye.

Her fingers were still.

Too still.

Like she was trying to control something.

Then—

She reached for her pen.

Paused.

Her fingers trembled slightly.

And—

She started biting it.

Kaito spoke without thinking.

“Stop biting your pen when you’re nervous.”

Time froze.

Rei’s hand stopped mid-air.

Her eyes slowly turned toward him.

For the first time—

she actually looked at him.

“…What did you just say?”

Kaito blinked.

“…What?”

“You said—” her voice dropped slightly, “…that I bite my pen when I’m nervous.”

“…Yeah?”

“How do you know that?”

Silence.

Kaito opened his mouth.

Closed it.

(Wait… yeah. How DO I know that?)

“I just guessed.”

“…No.”

Her eyes sharpened.

“That wasn’t a guess.”

The air between them shifted.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Kaito laughed it off, leaning back.

“Okay, detective. Relax. It’s not that deep.”

Rei stared at him for a few seconds longer.

Then—

She looked away.

“…You’re annoying.”

But her grip on the pen tightened.

Class ended.

Students crowded around her instantly.

“Where are you from?”

“Do you like this school?”

“You’re really pretty—”

She stood up.

Walked past all of them.

Ignored every single question.

Cold.

Untouchable.

Kaito watched her leave.

(Yeah… definitely weird.)

But not just her.

This feeling.

Like something was wrong.

Like something already happened.

Later.

Hallway.

Kaito walked casually, hands in pockets.

Then he saw her again.

Standing by the window.

Rain tapping softly against the glass.

She looked… different.

Not cold.

Just—

tired.

He walked over.

“…You always ignore people like that?”

“…Yes.”

“That must be exhausting.”

“…People are exhausting.”

He chuckled.

“Fair enough.”

Silence.

But this one wasn’t uncomfortable.

Just quiet.

Rain filling the space.

Then—

Rei spoke softly.

“…Have we met before?”

Kaito froze slightly.

“…Huh?”

She didn’t look at him.

“…You knew something about me.”

“…I told you, I guessed.”

“…No.”

Her voice was quieter now.

“…It felt like you already knew.”

Kaito stared at her.

That feeling again.

Stronger this time.

Like something in his chest tightened.

“…If we did meet,” he said lightly, “I’d remember.”

Rei finally looked at him.

Straight into his eyes.

“…Would you?”

For a second—

something flashed.

A rooftop.

Wind.

Her crying.

His voice—

“Don’t forget me again.”

Kaito flinched.

“…What the hell—”

“See?”

Rei whispered.

“You felt it too.”

Silence.

Rain got louder.

Or maybe it just felt like it.

Kaito looked at her again.

Really looked this time.

Not as a random transfer student.

But as—

someone important.

Someone he shouldn’t forget.

“…Rei.”

“…What.”

“…You’re weird.”

“…You’re worse.”

He smirked.

“Wow. First normal response from you.”

“…Don’t get used to it.”

But she didn’t walk away.

And that—

was the first mistake.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***