A Silent Voice: My First Kiss Was with Nishimiya Shouko

"Takeuchi-sensei, what song are we singing for the chorus?"

An abrupt voice broke through the classroom's noisy chatter. The room quieted instantly as every student looked toward Takeuchi-sensei on the podium, curious about the answer.

"The Monster's Narrative Poem." Takeuchi-sensei answered plainly, without hesitation.

"Huh?"

"Aren't we supposed to vote on what to sing?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"I've never even heard of that song…"

Grumbling erupted throughout the classroom.

"Takeuchi-sensei, we haven't even started practicing yet! Can we vote to choose a different one?" asked Kawai Miki, the class monitor, rising to speak for the class, all of whom looked toward her hopefully.

Takeuchi-sensei paused in flipping through his math textbook. He glanced up at her indifferently and replied:

"No. It's already been decided."

What he didn't say was that he'd have preferred something simple—like a children's song. But President Miyamura had specifically requested this one. He didn't have a say in it.

"Ahem!" He cleared his throat after finally finding the correct page. "Alright, math class begins. If I hear another word, you'll be standing outside."

The room settled quickly. A few murmurs persisted, but Takeuchi-sensei let it go—so long as he could be heard over them, he didn't care.

"A-Akira… what do you think the first-place prize will be?"

Shouko whispered from behind her math textbook, using it to shield her face as she turned toward the boy staring blankly out the window.

But even after calling softly a few times, Akira didn't respond. He was completely spaced out.

Annoyed, she glanced at Takeuchi-sensei. Confirming that he wasn't paying attention to their side of the room, Shouko lightly tapped Akira's arm.

In Akira's mind, he had just been locked in a heroic duel with a wicked white dragon, using both sword and strategy. Shouko's tap pulled him abruptly back to reality.

"Hm?" Akira turned to look at the pufferfish girl holding her textbook up. For a second, he frowned in confusion—before a mischievous idea struck him.

Without warning, he reached out with his index finger to poke one of her puffed-up cheeks.

Shouko batted his hand away with a sharp look. Then, after another glance at the podium to confirm they were still safe, she whispered, still pouting:

"What are you doing?! We're in class."

Akira chuckled and casually took a random textbook from his desk, holding it up to mirror her pose. In a low voice, he teased:

"Hehe… I was going to ask you that. You're the one chatting in class. Don't think covering your face with a book makes you invisible."

He deliberately slowed his speech, so she could read his lips.

Takeuchi-sensei looked over at the duo, who now had their faces hidden behind textbooks like cartoon spies. He sighed. The fact that Akira had mistakenly chosen a Japanese language book to shield himself during math class only made it more ridiculous.

Did they really think they were being stealthy?

"You have some nerve." Shouko huffed, putting her book down and facing forward again. "You were the one spacing out just now."

She focused on the board, planning to scold him later.

Akira lowered his textbook too—only to notice it had been upside down the whole time. Not that it mattered. Takeuchi-sensei hadn't called him out, so he just stared aimlessly at the board again.

Ever since the fireworks festival, not much had changed. His days were still peaceful, uneventful. His relationship with Shouko was steady—no huge leaps forward, but no awkwardness either.

The only noticeable shift?

Yuzuru had fallen in love with photography.

He remembered it vividly. The day after the fireworks festival ended, Yuzuru had found her mother's old camera. The memory card had already been wiped clean.

Curious, he asked his mom what had been on it.

Her response?

"It's a secret. You'll find out after you get married."

Followed by that crooked smile of hers.

Yuzuru had taken a few random photos and proudly showed them off to the family. Everyone praised her compositions.

Even Yaeko-auntie gave compliments—though Akira knew only the first one had been genuine. The others? Definitely the result of his mom pinching her arm off-camera.

But the happiest part?

Yuzuru always went to Shouko first—her most sincere fan. Shouko would praise her photos and reward her with gentle head pats.

Maybe that's what sparked the passion?

Or maybe it was the attention and encouragement from everyone. Either way, half a year had passed, and Yuzuru still carried her camera wherever she went.

Once, he had asked his mom if she wasn't afraid Yuzuru might break the new camera.

She just smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Better than letting it collect dust. What's the point of a camera that's never used? Besides… Mom salary now can easily cover a new one."

Honestly, he felt that last sentence was her real reason.

Dong… dong… dong…!

"Alright, class dismissed!" Takeuchi-sensei closed his math textbook as the bell rang. "Craft class will be replaced by music today. Head to the music room for the next period."

And just like that, he was out the door.

"Yes!! Finally! Let's go pee!" Ishida Shouya threw his arms around two classmates and charged out of the room excitedly.

His enthusiasm drew stares—some annoyed, some amused.

After the infamous water-splashing incident, many of the girls in class had begun to avoid him. By now, it was safe to say most of the class had little love left for him.

In the past six months, he had caused several minor disruptions. But no one dared call him out, afraid of retaliation. The worst he got were dirty looks.

Shouko zipped up her bag and turned toward Akira again.

"So... what do you think the first-place prize will be?" she asked curiously.

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POWER STONE!!!

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