A Silent Voice: My First Kiss Was with Nishimiya Shouko

Miyamura Shizuka was lounging on the living room sofa, digesting after dinner, when she heard the sound of the front door opening. Before she could guess if it was Yaeko or Shouko, a familiar voice cut through her thoughts:

"Excuse me!"

When the voice's owner stepped into the entrance of the living room, Miyamura Shizuka waved with a smile.

"Shouko, we're going to the fireworks festival this Saturday. How about Auntie takes you to buy a yukata?"

Shouko walked in and sat next to her, tilting her head. "Why don't we just rent one, Miyamura Auntie?"

Shizuka shook her head, gently rejecting the idea. "A rental yukata might've been worn by many people before. You never know — someone with skin issues might've worn it."

Seeing that Shouko was about to argue, she smiled and added definitively, "It's settled. Yaeko and I will go shopping and pick one up for you along the way."

Then she added, "Akira's upstairs working on homework. Go keep him company."

Before Shouko could respond, Shizuka pinched her cheek with affection.

"Akira, what are you doing?" Shouko called softly from the hallway upstairs, pushing the door open.

"You came at the perfect time. Help me with my homework, and I'll help you review what Takeuchi taught today." Akira looked up, then smiled and waved her over.

"You should call him Takeuchi-sensei, not just Takeuchi," Shouko reminded him as she walked over, sitting in the white chair beside him. She picked up the pen he had just set down — it was still warm in her hand.

She was used to helping Akira with homework at this point.

Akira scooted aside to make room and replied playfully, "Yes, yes, Takeuchi-sensei."

Ever since Mr. Minagawa started assigning homework back in first grade, he had always relied on Shouko to lend a hand. Did he feel guilty? Not really. The Japanese schoolwork wasn't anything like what he remembered from his past life. Most of it could be knocked out in under ten minutes.

If it were his old life? He'd have a whole guilt complex. Sixth-grade homework alone used to take over half an hour, and middle school was worse.

After five minutes of teamwork, Shouko put down her pen and asked curiously, "Akira, are you going to wear a yukata to the fireworks festival?"

Akira shook his head. "Nah. I'll just wear regular clothes. Yukata are kind of uncomfortable."

They chatted a bit more about the festival before Akira switched into review mode and helped Shouko go over the material from class.

"Dong... dong... dong...!"

The lunch bell rang out.

"Lunch break," Takeuchi-sensei announced quickly, closing his book mid-sentence and heading out the door like he couldn't leave fast enough.

Downstairs, the group found a long brown bench. The moment Miu Matsuoka sat down, she burst with excitement:

"Shouko! Yesterday I went out to buy soy sauce for my mom, and guess what — I discovered a way to make money!"

Akira and Ito Chika didn't even blink. They quietly opened their bento boxes, uninterested.

If Miu had a way to make money, then pigs could fly helicopters.

"What method?" Shouko paused mid-motion, genuinely curious.

Miu leaned in with a smug grin. "It's a secret! I'll take you there after school, and you'll see!"

"Is it far?" Akira asked between bites.

"Not at all! It's right near the intersection where we usually split up."

"Alright then."

Akira figured he had nothing better to do anyway — though he didn't believe her for a second.

After school, Miu led the charge to the spot with infectious excitement.

"Almost there! Just a bit more!" she said, pointing to the left.

They followed silently, until finally, she pointed triumphantly at a utility pole covered in shady-looking advertisements.

"This is it!"

The rest looked at the flyers curiously.

Before Akira could speak up and call it a scam, Shouko read one aloud:

"Seeking a child with heavy reward! I am a 26-year-old woman. My rich husband is infertile. I'm looking for a healthy young man to help me fulfill my dream of becoming a mother. I'll cover all round-trip expenses to Myanmar..."

She blinked, confused. "Akira, what does 'infertile' mean? And what does it mean that he's... not capable?"

Chika chimed in too. "And what's Myanmar?"

Before Akira could explain, Yuzuru began reading another flyer out loud:

"Cured 50 years of neck pain and gout! One dose and you'll never suffer again. If it doesn't work, I'll refund you ten times and deliver my head in person. Contact—"

"Yeah, no," Akira cut her off. "All of these are scams. No medicine does that."

Miu, ignoring him, pointed to the first flyer with a proud smirk. "Look! All we have to do is call her and say, 'Mom!' Boom — dream fulfilled! Genius, right?"

She struck a pose, hands on hips. "Hahaha! I'm a genius! A true money-making prodigy!"

Akira sighed and lightly karate-chopped her head. "You're a genius scam victim, maybe."

Shouko giggled, covering her mouth, then asked again, "So... what does 'infertile' mean?"

Akira paused.

"Uhh... you'll understand when you grow up."

She nodded, satisfied with the answer. If Akira didn't know, it must be something very advanced.

Then Chika asked, "So what kind of place is Myanmar?"

Akira didn't hesitate this time. "A place where they steal your kidneys."

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POWER STONE!!!

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