Yamaku Academy's students were all abuzz about the changes being announced. For the longest time, it was known that while the school catered to students with physical disabilities, those with mental disabilities had to seek their schooling elsewhere. That however, was about to change, and there was a pilot program going on accept students with issues of a psychological nature. A few students were transferring in from schools elsewhere in Japan as part of this trial run.
And the students of Class 3-3 were excited, or at least the more excitable ones were, which mainly meant Misha. Their class had been chosen as one of the classes that would get a new student. And there was much speculation on who it would be. Misha and Shizune had been signing to each other about it while at student council meetings, as they knew they'd be the ones to show the new student around.
The day came, and as everyone sat still, they could hear Mutou outside, talking to the new student. However, he wasn't getting any audible response.
"Well I doubt she's deaf, as I don't hear an interpreter," Misha signed to Shizune.
Shizune thought to herself, then glanced over at Hanako. "Or maybe we're about to have two Ikezawas," she signs back. "It's the only logical answer."
Misha was about to agree, when Mutou walked in, followed by a girl that upon first glance, could be Hanako's sister. Standing at roughly 5' 6", this new girl had long, back-length purple hair and eyes of the same shade of purple, both of which caused many in the class to glance between her and Hanako. Even Hanako herself couldn't help but look in wonder at the similarities between the new girl and herself. There was an intense, mysterious beauty about her, as she stood there in the Yamaku girl's uniform, dressed conservatively with the addition of dark tights, her hands clutched in front of her.
Mutou introduced the new girl to the class as Shouko Komi, and she wrote on the board as well to introduce herself, not saying a single word. Mutou then told her to sit in an empty seat close to Misha.
"Hello!" Misha greets her happily, both out loud, and in sign language. "I'm Misha, and this is Shicchan, our class representative, and student council president. Nice to meet you...Shouko-san?" She tries out. The new girl shakes her head, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. "Too formal...Komi-san?" Misha tries out, and Komi-san nods, exhaling a sigh. "You don't know sign language?" Misha continues to ask, and Komi-san shakes her head. Shizune sighs, then snaps her fingers to signal that they needed to get to work, which startles Komi-san, but they do get to work.
Eventually, it was time for lunch, and so they all piled out to the cafeteria. Komi-san stared in wonder at all the options, eventually ordering what she'd like via pointing, then joining Misha and Shizune while the three of them ate.
Misha kept asking Komi-san questions, only to get no response, only various looks. But eventually, lunch ended, and they told her they had student council business, and therefore she had to fend for herself for a bit. So Komi-san wandered her new school, taking in the sights.
One of her stops on her self-guided tour led her to the library, which she was quite interested in. She spotted a bit of purple in one corner, which upon investigation revealed itself to be the girl in her class with the burn scars. Upon entering Class 3-3, she had noticed everyone compare her to this girl, and upon some further examination, Komi-san could see why. Hair color, hair length, eye color, height...Komi-san's new classmate could probably pass as her sister, or a cousin. In an attempt to be friendly, she picked out a book, and went to sit near her, too nervous to speak.
The new girl curled up timidly, until she saw the look on Komi-san's face, mirroring her own nervousness. Both girls sat there, each too shy to say anything, until one spoke. "I-I'm H-Hanako," the burned girl introduced herself, and Komi-san wanted to say something, but was still feeling too shy to say anything.
At some point, while Komi-san was sitting there, Hanako noticed the time, and ran off with a "I'vegottagodosomething!," fleeing as quick as a bunny. Komi-san just curled up, wishing she was able to say something, but then an older lady came over, investigating.
"Scared off Hanako—oh, you're new here! I'm Yuuko, the librarian. Nice to meet you," she says nervously, almost as nervous as Komi-san felt, a nervousness that grew with Komi-san's lack of response. "Shy, nervous type?" She asks, and Komi-san nods. "Th-that's OK. I know what it's like, with Hanako," she stutters out. "Want to check out anything?" She asks. Komi-san places the book she had been reading on the counter for her to check out, then once checked out, continues her tour of the school.
Eventually though, it got late, late enough for her to head to the cafeteria for dinner, and then to check out her dorm. Let's see here... She thought as she made her way to the girls dorm, soon finding the floor she was on. Luckily, it was nearly empty, with only a single exception. And as she explored, there was only the other door with a nameplate, Kanada Kaede.
Komi-san must've made more noise than she expected, as the girl came out, waving hello. She even looked like she was going to say it, but not a sound came out, but then pulled out a notepad. "Hello, I'm Kaede! I'd say it out loud, buuut that's a bit of a challenge for me," she wrote on the pad, cupping her throat, and continuing to mouth out words silently, offering it to Komi-san, who gathered her courage as she wrote back.
"I'm Komi," she wrote. "Nice to meet you."
"Ah, a fellow mute! I didn't realize we were kin in this regard!" Kaede writes back with zeal.
"It's not that. I...have a hard time with communication," Komi-san writes, which makes Kaede frown at first, but then perk back up.
"Ah, I had heard about the program Yamaku was trying out. Nice to have you here. Well don't worry, if you say something, I won't be able to tell everyone," Kaede writes, a silent laugh leaving her lips. "I think your parents have already unpacked your stuff for you. Come by anytime," she writes, heading back into her room, while Komi-san investigates her own. Indeed, Kaede was correct, as it was clear the elder Komis had unpacked it all for her, so she slumped down on her bed, slipping her shoes off. Yamaku had proven a nice change of pace, as its location out in the country was nice and relaxing compared to the city. And she had heard rumors about a tea shop in town called the Shanghai, one that it seems many students have visited. She just hoped she could brave going into town on her own. "Why can't I talk in front of everyone?" She whispered to herself quietly. Even her classmate Hanako had been scared off earlier. It was just one more thing to ponder among many, as she eventually went to sleep.
