They won't understand.

"Hino! What are you doing here?! You have exams soon, remember?!" Her mom proceeded with barraging her with words as she approached the table. All Hino could do was simply stood still and stare down at the floor, where there wasn't even anything to be seen. 

"Oh my..." She let out a sigh as she saw the pile of books on the table, "You're wasting your time with your useless books again. Hino, how many times have I told you...." 

"Stop saying it like what Hino think is also what you think. You don't even know what Hino thinks. It's Hino's time! It's Hino's books! They're not a waste of time. They're not useless. " So much words rushed into Hino's mind, all of them she just wants to slam at her face. But she knows that's not how it works and could only keep them within her. 

"Hino, you probably haven't even studied, right?"

"Hino will-" Not even allowing her daughter to explain herself, Her mom instantly cuts her off. If only her mom would stop to listen, she was about to tell her how she was going to study when she's back home.

"And who is this boy? Who are you?"

"So-"

"I don't really care who you are." Sora's mouth instantly shut by Hino's mom, "But, hey, listen. If you're gonna continue encouraging her to do these things, wasting her time and all of this, stay away from her. She's busy."

That scolding hurt Hino more than it did Sora. She does have time. She does want to be with her. She wanted to tell Sora how not true it was. She was scared of the idea that Sora would actually distance her. She wanted to disagree with her so much. Just open her mouth and speak. In theory it is as simple is that. But she couldn't. Her mom had more power. And society has set the rules that kids are unable to speak against their parents.

With her mom like this, there's no doubt why she's so silent and barely speaks. Being constantly worn down by an endless onslaught no wonder she looks so melancholic and fragile.

Her mom continued to talk and talk, with each word the grasp on her throat grew tighter and tighter, suffocating her, unable to fight back and unable to speak, blocking all the emotions that she just want to let out. 

"Recently you have been coming home late, huh. So, this is where you were. Now I know where to find you. Do you kno-"  

While the two of them were rendered helpless in the face of her, an older person tried to make an intervention. "Excuse me, they're just reading books, I don't think there's a problem with it." 

"Huh? Who are you?" 

"I'm the shop owner." 

"This has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business." Hino's mom didn't let herself be fazed by anybody, no matter their age. 

"My customers are part of my business. It is also far past closing time." 

"Why are these two still in your store then?" 

The owner hesitated. He tried to remember why he had let these two in his store even after closing time. However, he was afraid the answer he came to might not be reasonable.  At least not to her. But not answering her question would definitely not help. "They're exceptions."

"You're literally encouraging kids to stay out of their homes and play around and read these useless books, not school books, not educational books, but sitting here for hours reading these random book, instead of being at home where they could study and do their homework." 

The owner wanted to say what the other two had wanted to say the whole time. The books are not useless. They have an amazing purpose. A very silent purpose. Hard to describe and explain with words and harder for someone like her to understand. Hence, sadly, the owner couldn't gave the answer he wanted.  "I'm sorry. I'mma have to ask you t-." 

"To leave? Yeah, I'll leave. Hino, we're going home. C'mon, let's go!"

Hino panicked as she was abruptly asked to leave against her will. She didn't want to leave but she packed her things, as a stream of thoughts flowed through her mind. She didn't want to leave. She didn't want to end their conversation so abruptly. She didn't want to be separated from him. She wanted to come back to the store again. She wanted to apologize to Sora.  She wanted the peace and quiet. 

She looked at Sora before she left her seat. Her eyes worried. Her clothes in a mess. Her hair ruffled. Without speaking a single word, as though they can telepathically communicate, she managed to say to him, Sora, I'm sorry. 

Yea, it's okay. It's not your fault. Sora was able to understand her.

"If I see you reading them again, when you're supposed to be studying. I'll take your books again. And I won't return them this time."

Hino, scared of the threat, stayed silent and walked neatly following her mother.