Chapter 2
 
I was a different girl back then.  I was still quite well-mannered, as was taught by my years at the all-girl's school, but inside, I was bitter.  Bitter about my parents leaving me at that private school.  I understood why they did it, but I couldn't help the emptiness it left in my heart.  
 
Then there were the girls themselves at the school.  A lot of them were very nice, but the same could not be said for the others.  They would constantly berate me about my blindness, telling me that I was not welcome with them, or worse still, that I wasn't fit to live.  On multiple occasions I would find myself tripping over objects in what should have been a perfectly uniform and clean school.  Every crash of my body on the floor would similarly crash my own heart.
 
I remained strong however, and kept up appearances, even when I first started attending school at Yamaku.  Yamaku was a fresh, new experience for me.  I got along with all the students very well, excelled in my classes, and even participated in the student council.
 
During my second year at Yamaku, Akira told me of her promotion and extension in work hours.  It was decided that I would transfer my living space to Yamaku's own dormitories.  I was saddened by the separation with Akira but, at the same time, eager to be even closer to the school that I've quickly grown so fond of.
 
 
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It's my first day coming to the dormitories.  I've only been to the dormitories a couple of times, for student council business, but never inside one of the rooms.
 
Akira leads as we enter the dormitory hall.  Some time after, she comes to a stop.  "Well, this is it, you got the key, right?"
 
"Of course," I respond as I remove the key from my pocket, stepping ahead of her and feeling for the edges of the door, followed by the doorknob.  I turn the key and we enter.
 
After a few moments, Akira speaks up.  "Well, this is it sis.  Best of luck on your new venue."
 
I'm still wandering the room, feeling carefully along the walls, observing any obstacles I come across and recording their position in my mind.  I pause momentarily and turn toward Akira.  "All right, everything seems fine here, thank you Akira, and good luck with your work as well.
 
"It's already doing great," she gloats, "so, thanks.  Also, the bathroom's two doors down to the right."
 
"Ah, yes, thank you," I say as Akira leaves the room and shuts the door.  Knowing that Akira's not much for hugs, I decide to leave our parting at that.
 
I resume my inspection of the room.  Everything is straight and orderly, the furniture is kept in predictable places, all aspects of a new dormitory room.  I think I will keep it like this, for the most part.
 
Satisfied with that, I unpack a few things, mostly, the clothes and supplies I'll be needing for the day.  Picking up a set of the former, I proceed to the bathroom.
 
The first thing that I notice when I enter the bathroom is the running water of a shower.  Deciding it's best not to observe the room too thoroughly at this time, I enter the closest shower stall I can find and silently clean myself.  The other person is long gone by the time I finish.
 
After a tiring but satisfying day of school followed by student council work, I return to my dormitory room.  With nothing to do at the moment except unpack, I decide to see if there's anyone in the other rooms I could introduce myself to.
 
I start with the room to the left of my own, the last room in the hall.  I knock gently.  After a few moments, I hear a startlingly shaky voice.
 
"Wh-...who's there?"
 
"My name is Lilly Satou.  I just moved into the room next to this one,"  I respond.  There's no sound coming from the other side of the door.  "I'd like to introduce myself, if that's all right."
 
After a few more moments pass, I hear the sound of gentle footsteps, followed by the opening of the door.
 
"H-hello.  I'm... Hanako," as I hear the voice, I tilt my head down to meet it.
 
"Good day then, Hanako, it's a pleasure to meet you."
 
"You're new?" Hanako pipes, her voice noticeably calmer now.
 
"Not exactly.  I used to live out of town while attending, but now I'm living at the dorms."
 
"Oh, I see.. ahh... I-I mean."
 
So she notices.  I'm told it's not hard to notice my blindness, especially based on the movement of my eyes, or lack thereof, so it's not surprising.  It's something that the teachers at the secondary school would try to force out of me, with no luck.  Hanako's faux pas reminds me of those other girls back at my previous school.  'I see' was one of the phrases they loved to answer me with the most.  This girl was far from some bully, though.  Besides, I'd grown used to this since attending Yamaku.  It is common practice to be as accepting of others as possible, to the point where I even thought it was too much at times.
 
"My my, there's no need to change your speech on my account," I respond with a smile.
 
"Oh, okay."  Her calmer tone returns.
 
We stand there in silence for a few moments.  I decide to field a casual question.
 
"So, Hanako, how are you?  Doing well in school?"
 
"Umm... I'm fine.  I'm doing okay," she answers plainly.
 
"Hmm," I'm at a lack of a response.  Hanako doesn't seem like the talkative type, in general.  "All right then, I'll be going.  Let me know if you need anything, okay Hanako?"
 
"I... yes.  O-okay," she answers.  I take a step back as the door closes slowly.
 
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There's no tea.  How in the world could I have forgotten the tea?
 
It's the day after first meeting Hanako.  I search the remains of my baggage for my tin, and the room.  Nowhere.  It's not a big deal, I tell myself.  Still, I can't deny that it's not the only thing I didn't bring.  I had tagged along with Shizune and Misha to the Shanghai and the local store on occasion, but never by myself, and never to buy groceries, as Akira made sure to keep the old home stocked with whatever I might request.
 
It wouldn't be so bad to ask them about a trip to the store tomorrow, but I decide to see what Hanako's up to.  Maybe she needs to go to the store, as well.  It would be a good occasion to get to know her better.
 
The familiar "who's there?" responds to my knock.
 
"It's me, Lilly."
 
Without much hesitation, the footsteps and door opening can be heard.  "H-hello Lilly."
 
I clasp my hands together and smile.  "I was about to go to the store to buy some things, and I was wondering if you would like to come along."
 
"N-no... no... I can't..."
 
"Oh, alright," I respond, retaining my smile, "then, if you don't mind, I must be off now."
 
"Okay..." she responds
 
I turn back towards my own door.  After I take a few steps, I'm stopped by her voice, suddenly uncharacteristically loud.
 
"OH.  AHH... imsorryiuh... yes... I'll c-come with you, Lilly."
 
Her sudden change of opinion surprises me.  "I'd be glad to have you come, then," I say as I turn back to her again.
 
She returns to her room, and I to mine, as I obtain my purse and then return to her doorway.
 
She soon comes out, and we proceed to the store.  I follow closely behind her, listening for her footsteps.
 
As we're just outside of the gates, the footsteps stop.
 
"Ahhhhh..." Hanako moans, "I uh... I d-don't know how to get to the store."
 
She's never been to the store?  Does she not get out often?  It seems odd that someone who's apparently without a major physical disability hasn't been around town.  Or, does she have one?  It would be rude to outright ask at a time like this, and, as is the norm for the students in the school, if there is a disability-related issue, she'd tell me, right?
 
I turn towards her and give her a smile, slightly wider than before.  "That makes two of us, then."
 
"R-really?" she pipes.  Before I can respond, she takes a step towards me.  "Umm... then... w-would it be alright- ah, would you like me to h-hold you?  We... I... ah, can t-take a look around together."
 
I chuckle softly and raise my arm.  "I'd like that, thank you, Hanako."
 
She takes another step forward, close enough that I can feel her breating against my side, and deftly wraps her arm around mine.  She's shaking, as if it were the dead of winter instead of a warm spring day.
 
"Is everything all right, Hanako?"
 
"N-no... I told you... everything's f-fine."  With that, she gently tugs at my arm with hers, and with as awkward a gait as could be expected for a first-time embrace like this, we proceed down the road.