「 ⩩ 𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 Vienna, amidst the bullying at school, crosses paths with a charmingly mysterious thug who swiftly becomes her protector. They both become each other's comfort despite being polar opposites, discovering in each other the hope a...
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↳ currently playing ;; [I need the light] - [Enhypen]
The warm glow of the early morning sun shone on Vienna's head and the back of her neck. Vienna saw her own shadow in front of her – the shadows around her head betrayed the tiny, unruly strands of hair that refused to be tamed.
Vienna glanced at her watch. She was going to be late once again. Redirecting her attention to the book in front of her, she simply continued with the calm memorization of her vocabulary.
Despite knowing that Shotaro would be late as usual, Vienna had ventured outside early. It had become a ritual for her, driven by the slim hope of catching a glimpse of Ni-ki.
She didn't necessarily want to talk to him—she didn't even plan to approach him. But there was something comforting about seeing his face, even from a distance.
Somehow, Vienna managed to piece together fragments of a troubling story. Years ago, a prostitute had alerted the police, claiming that she had been raped.
The man accused of the crime was sentenced to imprisonment but died from illness shortly thereafter. The prostitute, left with no other option, abandoned the child at a welfare center.
That child, now a youth, had grown up despite a background fraught with adversity. Though his past was mired in hardship, Vienna never sensed any threat from him. Instead, his presence was oddly comforting, a stark contrast to the dangers she often faced.
Her reflection on these thoughts was abruptly interrupted by Shotaro's arrival.
"Sorry, I got caught up again."
Vienna nodded and began walking towards the road as the traffic light turned green.
Shotaro gently grasped her slender arm and guided her across the street. Even after they reached the other side, he didn't release his hold on her. Vienna subtly wriggled free.
Shotaro, momentarily taken aback, suddenly realized that while he saw her as a child, she viewed him differently—not as a guardian, but simply as a young man.
Vienna arrived at school, her heart heavy. She slipped through the gates, her presence going unnoticed by her classmates and even her teacher. The routine seemed unchanged, indifferent to her absence. The emptiness she felt was palpable as she trudged to her classroom.
As she walked in, Jungwon looked up and immediately greeted her. "Hey, where have you been?"
"Home..."
"I know that, silly. I meant, why didn't you come to school yesterday?"
She hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. "Not okay."
Jungwon's smile faded slightly, sensing the weight in her tone. "I'm sorry to hear that. If you need anything, just let me know."
He rummaged through his bag and pulled out a stack of neatly organized notes. "Oh, by the way, I kept these for you, so you're all caught up. We should go to the University of Tokyo together."
Vienna's smile warmed as she accepted the notes. It was a genuine moment of relief, a small light in her otherwise dim world. She hadn't smiled like that in a while.
But as a pack of girls jostled past her, inadvertently knocking her shoulder, the warmth of the moment quickly dissipated. She sighed, the usual chill returning as the normalcy of school life enveloped her once more.
As the school day progressed, Vienna's attempts to focus on her work were interrupted by snippets of conversations and bursts of laughter from other students.
Jungwon chatted animatedly with his friends, his voice carrying across the classroom, filled with the kind of easy camaraderie she used to be a part of. Sakura, too, was deeply engaged in conversations with her own group, exchanging jokes and playful remarks.
Vienna couldn't shake the feeling that their interactions with her were tinged with pity. They were kind, yes, but she wondered if they were simply going out of their way to include her, seeing her as a charity case rather than a friend.
She tried to dismiss these thoughts, telling herself that she was being unreasonable, but the more she observed them, the more she felt like an outsider.
When lunch break arrived, Vienna hesitated at the cafeteria entrance, she used to eat at the bathroom but today's lunch was her favorite.
She felt lonely, she didn't know anyone in the vast room.
Sakura caught sight of her, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Hey, Vienna! Over here!" she called, waving her over.
Vienna hesitated for a moment before walking over. As she approached, Sakura pulled her into the circle of friends, As the group's laughter grew louder, her heart sank further. She could see how natural their interactions were with their other friends and how different it felt when they interacted with her.
"Hey, Vienna," Sakura said as they finished their lunch, "Do you want to join me for a study session after school? I could use some help with a few subjects, and it might be nice to have some company."
Vienna hesitated, but the genuine offer from Sakura made her nod. "Sure, I'd...like... that," she said.
As the afternoon passed, Vienna found herself looking forward to the study session. The prospect of spending time with friends and working on schoolwork was a welcome distraction from her worries.
When the final bell rang, Vienna gathered her things and prepared for her after-school session with Sakura.
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The past chps have been so boringggg i know but its still iportant for the development of the plot
