"言葉よりも感じる心.""The heart feels more than words can say." — Akari Fujiwara
The next morning was colder than expected.
Aryan wore a plain hoodie and jeans. No school uniform.He hadn't received one yet.He hadn't asked.
The school building looked just like the ones he had seen in anime — tall, white, glass windows reflecting blue skies.But reality didn't feel like animation.
There was no background music.Only awkward stares and silent judgment.
"New transfer?" someone whispered behind him."Looks Indian…" another voice muttered."I heard he doesn't speak Japanese."
Aryan stood still, clutching the strap of his bag, pretending he didn't hear.Pretending was easier than reacting.
"Sen Aryan?"A soft voice called his name — mispronounced, but gentle.
He turned.And there she was.
Short hair. Glasses. Navy-blue blazer slightly oversized.Eyes the color of soft plum — not cold, but unreadable.
"Ano... you come... here."She waved awkwardly, guiding him toward the classroom.
Aryan followed without a word.
She sat right in front of him in class.Top of the class, someone had whispered.
She didn't talk much.Neither did he.
But when the teacher asked Aryan to introduce himself, he froze.
Everyone stared.
Akari looked back.She didn't say anything.
But her eyes…
They didn't judge.They understood.
After class, he sat alone near the school rooftop stairs.
She came quietly, sat a few feet away, and opened her bento box.
After a few minutes, she turned and asked:
"You... no Nihongo?"
Aryan shook his head. "Only little."
She thought for a second.
Then smiled.
"You… want help with Nihongo? I can teach. Free… only if you teach me Hindi back."
Aryan blinked.Was that a joke?
He laughed softly — the first smile since Tokyo.
"Deal," he said, still unsure if she was serious."But… Hindi mein emotion zyada hota hai."
She tilted her head. "What you say?"
He paused, then translated slowly:"Hindi... hard. So much feeling. Even silence has meaning."
She smiled wider.
"Good. I want to learn... 'emotion.'"
And in that quiet stairwell, something invisible passed between them.
Not love.Not friendship.
Just... recognition.
Two lonely people, teaching each other to speak.
[End of Episode 2]📝 Next: "Lost in Translation" – The first awkward language lessons, the unspoken laughter, and small sparks of warmth.