Chapter 1 — The Girl Who Sat Beside Him
Dazai was used to being alone.
He had been alone for so long that he had stopped wondering when it had started.
The other children in the neighborhood knew him.
They simply didn't know him well.
They knew the boy with the bandages.
The strange boy who rarely spoke.
The boy who spent most afternoons sitting by himself instead of joining their games.
Whenever the other children played together, Dazai stayed at a distance.
Sometimes they looked at him.
Sometimes they whispered.
Sometimes they asked questions about the bandages covering his arms, legs, and neck.
Dazai never answered.
He had learned that it was easier to pretend he didn't care.
So whenever someone glanced at him, he would simply look away with an expression that seemed to say:
I don't care about you either.
Today was no different.
Dazai sat beneath a tree at the edge of the playground, his back against the trunk.
A group of children were playing nearby.
They were laughing.
Running.
Calling each other's names.
Dazai watched them for a moment.
Then he looked away.
He pulled his knees toward himself and rested his chin on them.
He wasn't lonely.
At least, that's what he told himself.
He liked being alone.
Being alone meant nobody bothered him.
Nobody asked questions.
Nobody stared.
Nobody expected anything from him.
It was peaceful.
...Mostly.
Then a car stopped on the street nearby.
Dazai glanced toward it.
A family had arrived.
An unfamiliar family.
A man stepped out first, followed by a woman.
Then a girl jumped out of the car.
She looked around excitedly.
Everything seemed to catch her attention.
The houses.
The trees.
The playground.
Even the stray cat hiding beneath a nearby bench.
Dazai watched her from beneath the tree.
New.
The girl ran back toward her parents.
“Are we really going to live here?”
Her mother smiled.
“Yes. This is our new home.”
The girl's face brightened.
She looked toward the playground again.
“I want to explore!”
Her father laughed.
“Just don't wander too far.”
“I won't!”
The girl hurried toward the playground.
Dazai continued watching.
He wasn't particularly interested.
At least, that's what he told himself.
The girl approached the other children.
Within minutes, they were talking to her.
She laughed.
They laughed.
She seemed to fit in immediately.
Dazai looked away.
Of course.
People liked cheerful children.
He didn't expect anyone to notice him.
And he was perfectly fine with that.
Then he heard footsteps.
Small footsteps.
Getting closer.
Dazai looked up.
The new girl was standing several feet away.
She was looking at him.
Dazai immediately became cautious.
He knew that look.
Curiosity.
She had noticed the bandages.
He waited.
She would probably ask.
What happened to you?
Or maybe she would stare for a while and leave.
Dazai lowered his gaze.
He decided not to react.
The girl took another step.
Then another.
Dazai glanced at her again.
She stopped in front of him.
“Hi.”
Dazai said nothing.
The girl smiled.
“My name is Amira.”
Still nothing.
She tilted her head.
“What's your name?”
Dazai hesitated.
He wasn't used to people introducing themselves to him.
“...Dazai.”
“Dazai?”
He nodded.
Amira smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
Dazai stared at her.
That was it?
She hadn't asked about his bandages.
Hadn't stared at them.
Hadn't looked frightened.
She had simply introduced herself.
After a moment, Amira pointed toward the children playing.
“They're playing tag.”
Dazai shrugged.
“I know.”
“Do you want to play?”
Dazai blinked.
He looked at the other children.
Then back at her.
“Why?”
Amira looked confused.
“Because it's fun.”
“I don't play.”
“Why?”
Dazai shrugged again.
“Because I don't.”
Amira studied him for a moment.
Dazai expected her to leave.
Instead, she sat down beside him.
Dazai stiffened slightly.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you sitting here?”
Amira looked at him.
“You're sitting here.”
Dazai stared.
“That doesn't answer my question.”
She smiled.
“I don't want you to be alone.”
Dazai looked away.
“I like being alone.”
Amira nodded.
“Okay.”
Dazai waited.
She didn't leave.
He glanced at her.
“You're still here.”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Amira shrugged.
“Because I want to.”
Dazai didn't understand.
People usually left.
Eventually.
Everyone did.
But Amira just sat beside him, swinging her feet beneath the tree.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Dazai looked at her from the corner of his eye.
She really wasn't going to ask about the bandages.
For some reason...
That made him curious.
“So you're new?”
Amira smiled.
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“My family moved here.”
“Do you like it?”
“I think so.”
She looked around.
“Everything is new.”
Dazai nodded.
Then silence returned.
After a few moments, Amira suddenly stood.
“Come on.”
Dazai looked up.
“Where?”
“My house.”
His eyes widened slightly.
“Why?”
“My mother made too much food.”
Dazai frowned.
“So?”
“So you can eat with us.”
Dazai stared at her.
He almost laughed.
“You don't even know me.”
Amira smiled.
“I know your name.”
“That isn't enough.”
“It is for me.”
Dazai didn't answer.
Amira held out her hand.
Dazai stared at it.
For a moment, he considered pretending he hadn't seen it.
He wasn't used to reaching for people.
He wasn't used to people reaching for him either.
But Amira waited.
No pressure.
No questions.
Just waiting.
Slowly, Dazai reached out.
His fingers touched hers.
Amira smiled.
“Come on, Dazai.”
Dazai stood.
He didn't know it yet...
but this was the beginning of something that would change his life.
For the first time in a very long while,
someone had chosen to sit beside him.
And she wasn't planning to leave.
