Nishimiya Shouko shook her head and pointed to her ears.
("If your hearing recovers and you can speak, then you'll be my girlfriend, okay?") Akira Fujimiya looked at her eyes seriously as he asked in signed language.
Nishimiya Shouko opened her mouth, raised her hand to reply....but didn't know how to respond.
She knew the chances were slim.
("I'll create a miracle—let you hear the voice of the world, and let you tell me you like me,") Akira signed again, his eyes gentle.
Hearing this, Nishimiya Shouko looked at him, then made a promise in sign language.
If a miracle happened, she would agree to his condition.
("Including… this kind of thing?") Akira signed again, before stretched out his hand, as he looked at her amused.
Nishimiya Shouko's cheeks turned slightly red as she nodded.
Akira held her in his arms.
"Just wait, a miracle will happen." Akira said to himself.
("Just wait, a miracle will happen.") While he also tell her, in sign language.
Nishimiya Shouko felt a warm glow in her heart and hugged him tightly.
...
In the afternoon, after the class ended.
Akira brought Nishimiya Shouko along on the way back.
On the way, he reminded her not to tell Hiratsuka Shizuka about what had happened today, nor should she write it in her diary.
Nishimiya Shouko nodded in agreement.
She was simple, but not foolish.
If Hiratsuka-sensei found out, she would surely be upset.
In truth, Akira knew Hiratsuka-sensei wouldn't be that angry.
Since she had allowed Akira to take Nishimiya Shouko shopping, she could probably guess what he might do.
The two of them arrived at the tutoring classroom together.
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked up, saw them, and stepped out after saying the students to practice.
She noticed the bag in Nishimiya Shouko's hands, patted her little head, then she turned to Akira, her expression complicated, as she said—
"It's also your responsibility to help her make friends."
"Yes, Hiratsuka-sensei," Akira bowed respectfully.
Hiratsuka-sensei nodded, before returned to the classroom.
Akira held Nishimiya Shouko's hand and led her toward the student council office.
With, Nishimiya Shouko's following behind, with a smile.
.....
Along the way, Akira notify her that he wanted to introduce her to some friends.
Nishimiya Shouko felt a little nervous.
She knew not everyone would be as kind and attentive as Akira.
Like the people from her previous school.
.....
Inside the Student Council Office—
When they arrived at the student council office, only Meguri Shiromeguri was there.
She glanced curiously at Nishimiya Shouko, noticing she wasn't wearing the Sobu High School uniform.
"Akira Fujimiya, who is this?" Meguri asked, curious.
"Nishimiya Shouko, a relative of Hiratsuka-sensei. She's transferred here and will be studying with us," Akira explained simply.
"Hello, I'm the student council president, Meguri Shiromeguri," she said, extending her hand.
Nishimiya Shouko looked at Akira for confirmation.
("This is Meguri Shiromeguri, The student council president and also a good friend of mine"), Akira introduced her in sign language.
Only then did Nishimiya Shouko bow to Meguri Shiromeguri.
"..!!"
While, Meguri Shiromeguri was momentarily stunned at the interaction.
.....
Most people weren't aware of Nishimiya Shouko's situation at first.
Hearing impairment was a cruel challenge, especially for someone so young.
When Meguri Shiromeguri faced Nishimiya Shouko, she chose to communicate using a notebook after knowing about it.
Since, she didn't learn sign language.
Nishimiya Shouko smiled at her thought, an innocent, gentle smile as she feel like she has make another new friend today.
She recognized Meguri Shiromeguri as a kind person, much like Akira.
Both the girls communicate with each others using the notebook.
With Akira seating opposite to the two girls, not interrupting their conversation, as he silently gaze at them, a small smile unconsciously appear on his face.
The student council office became unusually quiet for a moment, it was peaceful.
Too bad—
This silence was broken when Isshiki Iroha arrived.
"Senior, who is this?" Isshiki Iroha sat naturally beside Akira, looking curiously at Nishimiya Shouko.
"She's a relative of Hiratsuka-sensei, and she's the girl I'm pursuing," Akira said plainly.
"Senior! You're so shameless! You actually said that in front of me!" Isshiki Iroha puffed up her cheeks in mock indignation,while also feeling a little jealous of the girl.
"...She has a hearing impairment. If you want to talk to her, just follow Shiromeguri-senpai example," he reminded her.
When, Isshiki Iroha heard him, she froze as she turn to looked at front, Nishimiya Shouko and Meguri Shiromeguri who has stopped communicating and were now facing them.
Nishimiya Shouko smiled at her as she felt her gaze.
Isshiki Iroha without realising smiled back.
She thought for a moment, before standing up and sat down beside Nishimiya Shouko and wrote her name in the notebook, before passing her the notebook.
Nishimiya Shouko tooked nodded and wrote her name next to it.
Thus, the three girls began chatting through text.
The notebook becoming the medium.
Akira even joking thought if he should have bought more notebooks as he look at them.
.....
As the sun began to set,
The student council office door opened again.
This time—it was Hiratsuka Shizuka who entered the room with Yuigahama Yui and her two friends following behind.
Hiratsuka Shizuka first spotted Nishimiya Shouko smiling and approached her.
Isshiki Iroha quickly made way, as she give her place to her.
While Yuigahama Yui sat next to Akira and looked at Nishimiya Shouko with curiosity.
"This is a relative of mine. Please take good care of her. She has a hearing impairment, which affects her pronunciation and makes it difficult for her to speak. You can communicate with her through sign language or text," Hiratsuka Shizuka introduced her.
"Hearing impairment…" The three girls who has just entered looked a bit surprised and concerned.
"Do you want to learn sign language with me?" Akira asked Yuigahama Yui.
"Yeah," Yui nodded, without hesitation.
"Fujimiya-kun, please teach me and Yumiko too," Ebina Hina said, pushing up her glasses.
"Alright, watch closely," Akira said, as he begin teaching them step by step.
Nishimiya Shouko watched as the girls learned, her heart warming.
She expressed her gratitude using sign language.
Even though they girls don't know signed language, they can feel the intention behind it.
....
On the way back to Sakurasou,
Yumiko Miura and Hina Ebina left first, taking the train with a few other students.
While, Akira walked with Yuigahama Yui, holding her little hand naturally.
Seeing this, Nishimiya Shouko was slightly stunned and asked Hiratsuka Shizuka about Akira and Yui's relationship using sign language.
Hiratsuka Shizuka hesitated briefly, then answered that they were a couple.
Nishimiya Shouko was shocked!
She even feel a bit heartbroken.... As she lowered her head.
If he already had a girlfriend.
Then why…?
Could he be like the type of person who like to toy with peoples heart?
But he didn't seem like a bad person at all.
With mixed emotions, Nishimiya Shouko followed Hiratsuka Shizuka back to Sakurasou.
Hiratsuka Shizuka can guess what she might be thinking, but Shizuka just thought that she was sad because she had develop a crush on Akira and just found out he had a girlfriend — she can't even began to think how 'fast' Akira was to jump a beautiful boat.
.....
Inside Sakurasou—
Saori Tsurumi had already prepared dinner, including portions for Hiratsuka Shizuka and Nishimiya Shouko.
Nishimiya Shouko bowed and expressed her thanks in sign language.
Saori Tsurumi nodded her head (she doesn't know sign language either) and felt sympathetic toward the poor girl.
.....
After dinner,
Hiratsuka Shizuka glanced at Akira.
He understood and whispered something to Yuigahama Yui.
Yui glanced at Nishimiya Shouko, who was sitting across, and nodded slightly.
Akira held her hand and said sorry.
Yuigahama Yui shook her head and just smiled as she whisper to him—
"Yukinon and I have already made arrangements. If it's you, Akira-kun, she definitely won't made it difficult. It is just that—."
"Hiratsuka-sensei didn't tell Shouko, She must be looking for the right opportunity, or… she didn't know how to tell her," Akira interrupted her.
"Akira-kun, Hiratsuka-sensei helped you too, so…" Yui smiled at him, already knowing his character.
".....What I'm most worried about is that I'll have to change the way I address Hiratsuka-sensei in the future," Akira sighed.
"Hiratsuka-sensei?" Yui looked puzzled.
Before, she seemed to understand, and her expression shifted slightly.
Then—
"I'm going shopping. You stay and tutor Nishimiya. She still has some homework problems," Hiratsuka Shizuka said to Akira as she stood up.
"I understand, Hiratsuka-sensei," Akira said, letting go of Yui's hand and coming to Nishimiya Shouko's side.
Nishimiya Shouko, slightly dazed, looked at both Hiratsuka Shizuka and Akira in confusion —as if asking what is going on.
Hiratsuka Shizuka eyes softened as she explained that she was going shopping and asked Nishimiya Naoko to wait at home in signed language.
Nishimiya Shouko looked at Akira with mixed emotions, before turning to Hiratsuka and said that she wanted to go with her. (In signed language)
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at her and knew why she didn't want to stay near Akira for the time being, shook her head and left.
Nishimiya Shouko watched her leave, then glanced at Akira beside her, her emotions heavy.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,577