A Small Collision

The classroom felt louder than Haru expected.

Not in sound-but in movement. Chairs scraped against the floor. Bags thumped onto desks. Students leaned close together, laughing, tapping each other on the shoulder. Even without hearing it clearly, Haru felt surrounded by motion he wasn't part of.

He kept his eyes down, adjusting the strap of his side bag as he slipped into his seat near the window.

then-

the desk jolted.

Haru's pencil rolled off the table, clattering to the floor. His notebook slid halfway open.

"Oh-!"

A girl had bumped straight into his desk.

"I'm sorry!' she said quickly, crouching down before he could react. Her movements were fast but gentle as she picked up his pencil and notebook. "I Was messing around and didn't look where I was going-are you okay?"

Haru froze for half a second

She was... close. Closer than anyone had been since he arrived.

Her light brown hair caught the sunlight from the window, soft waves brushing her shoulders. Her expression was open and sincere, eyes wide with concern-not annoyance. Not awkward pity.

He nodded slightly. "Yeah. I'm fine."

His voice came out quieter than he intended.

She smiled in relief, handing his things back to him. "Good! I'm really sorry again."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then she straightened up and tilted her head. "You're kisaragi-kun, right?

He blinked, surprised she knew his name. "...Yes."

"I'm Mio Toyama!" she said brightly. "We're in the same class."

She held her notebook to her chest, rocking back slightly on her heels. There was no hesitation in her bot language. No discomfort. She didn't look like she was forcing herself to talk to him.

"That bump was totally my fault, so-" she paused, then smiled a little softer, "if you ever need help with anything, okay? just let me know."

Something warm spread in Haru's chest.

"I will," he replied, quietly but sincerely.

The bell rang, sharp and sudden. Mio flinched slightly, laughing under her breath.

"I'll see you around, Kisaragi-kun!"

She hurried off to her seat, glancing back once-just once-before turning around.

Haru watched her go, fingers tightening around his pencil.

Why did that feel different?

Around him, the class settled. Desks closed. The teacher began writing on the board.

But Haru's attention drifted back to the spot where she'd been standing, the sunlight still lingering there.

A small collision.

And yet... something had shifted.