A Silent Voice: My First Kiss Was with Nishimiya Shouko

"Akira, you lazy butt! The sun's already shining, get ready for kindergarten!" six-year-old Shouko called out sweetly, standing beside his bed and gently shaking him. When that didn't work, she went for her secret weapon.

Shouko turned toward the stairs and shouted downstairs, "Hachiko!"

In a few moments, a red Shiba Inu with a round head, high forehead, long muzzle, and a perpetually smiling face bolted up from the first floor.

She stroked its head and led it into Akira's room. Pointing at the lump under the blanket, she commanded, "Go on, Hachiko! Wake him up!"

"Awooo~!" Hachiko wagged his tail and bounded onto the bed, licking Akira's face enthusiastically.

Feeling the wet licks and familiar scent, Akira opened his eyes, resigned. Ever since starting the mid-shift, Shouko had relied on Hachiko's "lick attack" to wake him up.

"Woof woof!" Having succeeded in his mission, Hachiko hopped off the bed. Shouko giggled and ran downstairs with him.

Akira rubbed his eyes and got up, changing into the same blue kindergarten uniform he'd worn for three years. He sighed at how quickly time was flying—next year he'd be in elementary school, and Yuzuru Nishimiya would be starting kindergarten. If so, Ms. Yoshinaga would still be their teacher.

Snapping back to the present, he grabbed the yellow hat from his bedside table and ran downstairs.

As he did, he heard Daiki Miyamura laughing in the dining room over the sound of a rustling newspaper. "Haha! Starting the day with a morning kiss, huh?"

Akira ignored him and headed straight to the bathroom. When he returned, he sat at the table and grabbed a sandwich Shizuka Miyamura had prepared.

"Dad, where's Mom?" he asked between bites.

"She went to visit your Aunt Nishimiya. What's up? Need something? Your old man's got your back," Daiki said, lowering the newspaper to look at him.

Akira hesitated, then said, "Give me some pocket money."

Daiki raised an eyebrow. "That's it? Wait a sec." He got up and walked to the master bedroom.

Moments later, Daiki returned with a yellow envelope and dramatically pulled out a 1,000 yen note. "Is this enough?"

Akira shook his head.

Another bill followed. Still no.

Another. Still shaking.

Eventually, a dozen 1,000 yen bills were stacked on the table. Daiki looked both proud and mildly pained, waiting for admiration.

Instead, Akira's expression had shifted to one of quiet dread. His gaze occasionally drifted past his father—to behind him.

Realizing something was wrong, Daiki slowly turned and found Shizuka standing there with a sweet smile. In that moment, he understood the real reason Akira had kept shaking his head stiffly.

"W-Wife, this is just—"

"I know," she said with a gentle smile. "No need to explain."

Daiki breathed a sigh of relief… until she turned to the living room and shouted, "Hachiko! Lick this old man!"

Hachiko, who had been enjoying head pats from Shouko in the living room, perked up and darted toward the dining room, leaving her confused.

"W-Wait! I met a fishing buddy, and his gear was way better than mine. I just wanted to upgrade! It's not for… you know!" Daiki pleaded.

Despite the explanation, Hachiko's "tongue attack" couldn't be avoided. Only after that did Shizuka let him put the money away.

Daiki then drove Akira and Shouko to kindergarten, eager to go shopping afterward.

The two kids were already familiar with the place and didn't need escorting to class.

At the gate, they saw Ms. Ueo and Ms. Yoshinaga chatting happily. Akira greeted them, holding Shouko's hand.

Ms. Yoshinaga was complaining to Ms. Ueo about her husband. She'd met him back when Akira and Shinnosuke were still in the kindergarten class, and they'd gotten married while the boys were in the middle class. Although she hadn't sent invitations to them, she had shared plenty of wedding candy.

The teachers smiled and greeted the kids.

"Did you have a good summer vacation?" Ms. Yoshinaga squatted down and gently pinched Shouko's cheeks.

"Happy!" Shouko beamed.

"Not happy! School's back," Akira pouted.

Ms. Yoshinaga chuckled and stood up. She heard this every year.

"Alright, let's go. The Sakura class is on the third floor. Don't forget."

Akira nodded and led Shouko inside. As they passed, the teachers returned to their chat.

They even spotted Principal Takakura in the sandbox, shoveling dirt.

"Boss! Are you burying someone?" Akira yelled playfully.

His words caused several new parents and their kids to turn and stare at the stone-faced principal. His expression never changed—but that only made it more terrifying.

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POWER STONE!!!!

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