Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Will Ueno Naoko Become Nishimiya Shouko's Close Friend?

Ishida Shoya's strange yell didn't attract much attention from the classmates. After all, he wasn't a normal person most of the time. The classmates just glanced at him before continuing to focus on Nishimiya Shouko.

"Let me see... you can sit behind Sawara Miseko."

The homeroom teacher arranged for Nishimiya Shouko to sit in front of Hojou Kyousuke.

"Hojou, since you have good grades, please take care of Nishimiya."

"Sure."

Hojou Kyousuke moved his desk a bit backward and then left the classroom to help bring in the assigned desk for Nishimiya Shouko.

Why is he so proactive? Do boys really like these soft-looking, pitiable girls?

Ueno Naoko clenched her pen tightly, watching from the side, gritting her teeth.

As Hojou Kyousuke placed the chair and desk, Nishimiya Shouko handed her notebook to him, her baby-like face filled with a smile.

"Thank you for helping me, Hojou-senpai."

Hojou Kyousuke, who had a mature mindset, could clearly see the hint of pleasing mixed in with gratitude in the little girl's smile.

Just helping move a chair and desk made her this happy?

Upon some thought, he understood why. Just as he had speculated earlier, transferring schools in sixth grade with hearing impairment, Nishimiya Shouko's previous school life must have been difficult. Very difficult, indeed.

Thinking about it, he took the notebook from Nishimiya Shouko and started writing on it.

"You're welcome. By the way, my name is Hojou Kyousuke. Nice to meet you, Nishimiya-san."

Seeing what Hojou Kyousuke wrote, Nishimiya Shouko appeared delighted. She immediately took the pen, seemingly wanting to write something in return.

Gently patting Nishimiya Shouko's shoulder, Hojou Kyousuke raised his finger towards the front, indicating that the teacher was still waiting to start class.

"Okay, got it."

Nishimiya Shouko nodded and spoke in a quiet voice.

Huh? She has the ability to speak? Is it just his hearing that's affected?

Hojou Kyousuke initially thought Nishimiya Shouko couldn't hear at all, but now he realized she could understand what others were saying, as long as the volume was raised and the speech was slower, combined with lip-reading.

However, the homeroom teacher, Takeuchi, simply droned on, using the same tone he used in normal conversation to read from the textbook. Not only could Nishimiya Shouko with hearing impairment not understand him, even Kyousuke at the back found it difficult to hear him speak, accustomed as he was to Chinese and having some ingrained habits.

As Kyousuke had suspected, Nishimiya Shouko was troubled at this moment.

Transferring to a new school, the classmates appeared friendly, especially Hojou Kyousuke, who helped her with the chair and desk. She even made friends with classmates like Kawai Mitsuki.

Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction. Maybe she could finish elementary school smoothly this time?

With such hopes, she listened attentively in class. For her, who was born with many disadvantages compared to others, she had to work even harder in life and make up for her physical deficiencies from other angles, with studying being the most direct approach.

In her previous school, although teachers found her troublesome, they were somewhat friendlier due to her excellent grades. However, this approach didn't work with her classmates. But what else could she do? Nothing.

However, her determination to study diligently was soon shattered by the homeroom teacher. He spoke too quickly, and his voice was too low for her to understand or take notes.

Seeing the classmates around her bow their heads to read or write after the teacher finished speaking a sentence, she didn't know what to do. She could only turn her head to see if she could figure out what her classmates were doing and then follow along. It's not that she didn't want to ask for help, but she knew she couldn't.

Asking for help would inconvenience others, and she'd be disliked for it.

Hojou Kyousuke was about to ask what assistance she needed when Ueno Naoko, seated beside her, lightly tapped Nishimiya Shouko with her pen.

"Pass me the notebook."

Although Ueno's voice was low, with her accompanying gestures, Nishimiya Shouko understood what she meant. Her brown eyes widened adorably in surprise. Then, holding her small fist expectantly, she passed the notebook over, awaiting Ueno's writing.

What a surprise, she's actually this helpful. Could it be that she's the kind of earnest character who becomes the main character's close friend?

Watching Ueno Naoko diligently write down what the teacher was saying in the notebook, Hojou Kyousuke thought in astonishment.