She composed herself and forced a tragically beautiful smile, just about to step forward, when another girl passed right through her from behind.
Her smile immediately froze on her face.
Sie's panic and fear could no longer be concealed at that moment. They erupted completely.
I've been abandoned—abandoned by the entire world.
Once that thought arose, it became like a wildfire that could no longer be extinguished, swallowing her whole.
Sie no longer tried to draw the passersby's attention through gentle means.
Tirelessly, she greeted every pedestrian who passed by, even making extremely rough gestures, such as clenching her fist and swinging it at them.
Yet the result was always the same.
—She could not touch anyone. Reaching out felt like touching air; she could not feel anything solid, and neither could the pedestrians.
Attempt after attempt brought only despair. The last scraps of expectation and hope Sie possessed were crushed by cruel reality.
An intense sense of helplessness rose within her. She stood there blankly like a wound-down doll, watching student after student pass by her.
Rumble...
Heavy dark clouds gathered overhead, and dull, irritating thunder rumbled without end.
"It's going to rain!"
Someone shouted, and soon after, raindrops the size of soybeans began to fall in a light drizzle.
The students who had been leisurely strolling along the walkway all hurried on their way, either ducking beneath the eaves or taking shelter under rain canopies.
Only she remained there alone, lonely and isolated.
The rain grew heavier and heavier, yet Sie seemed not to exist in this world at all. Not a single icy raindrop fell on her.
She raised her head. Her once-bright eyes had lost all their spark.
They were as dim as the dark clouds blanketing the sky.
Why?
Why can't anyone see me?
Why can't anyone touch me?
Elsewhere, Ren Yu slowly made his way back to the dormitory beneath an umbrella.
When he saw the short-haired redheaded girl beneath the dorm building, gazing up at the sky in the rain, he even paused for a moment.
Why did that silhouette look so much like Sie?
No way, right?
Ren Yu's heart skipped a beat, and a very bad feeling suddenly rose within him.
Had something happened?
Holding his umbrella, he hurried over to Sie and tilted most of it over her head, blocking her view.
Yet Sie remained in that vacant posture, without moving in the slightest.
Ren Yu shifted the hot porridge in his right hand to the left hand holding the umbrella, then reached out and patted her shoulder. He asked tentatively, "Sie?"
This time, the girl finally reacted a little.
She stiffly turned her neck, and when she saw Ren Yu's face, her pupils widened slightly.
It was him!
For some reason, the tears Sie had been holding back suddenly streamed down like a burst dam.
Like a startled deer, she threw herself into Ren Yu's arms, burying her head in the folds of his clothes as she sobbed, "No one can see me... no one can touch me either... Have I been abandoned by this world?"
Sie desperately clutched Ren Yu's arm, her body trembling violently.
She seemed terrified—terrified that Ren Yu, the only one who could see and touch her, would disappear as well.
Without realizing it, she gripped his arm tighter and tighter.
Ren Yu quietly endured the pain in his arm and replied, "No. At least I can still see you. You still have me."
"!!"
At his words, Sie's heart trembled violently, and an indescribable feeling suddenly surfaced within her.
That's right. He hasn't forgotten me.
At that moment, Sie felt as though the entire world had regained its color.
Patter, patter, patter...
Raindrops continuously struck the umbrella, while those it failed to cover splashed onto Sie's body, hands, and bare calves.
They felt cool.
Sie froze, slowly lifting her head from Ren Yu's chest and staring at everything around her in disbelief.
At that moment, she could even feel the touch of the raindrops!
Why was that? Just moments ago, she had been unable to touch any of these things.
Until just now, everyone had clearly ignored her.
As Sie sniffled, she choked out through her tears:
"Thank you... thank you..."
The endless sorrow in her heart had now turned into gratitude toward Ren Yu.
The noisy rain and thunder that Sie had once disliked now seemed to have become a beautiful melody.
There was still someone who cared about her. There was still someone who could notice her.
That was truly wonderful.
For once, even the other "Sie" fell silent and did not come out to cause trouble.
Before you continue