Data Collection Manga

Bölüm 1: Kalp Gözlü Küçük Peri Bir zamanlar, pembe bulutların arasında saklı bir yerde, “Kalp Bulutu Krallığı” diye tatlı bir diyar vardı. Burada her şey pamuk şekeri kadar yumuşak, her çiçek kalp şeklinde açardı. İşte bu krallığın en küçük ama en tatlı sakini, Pufi’ydi. Pufi, pembe tüylü bir periydi. Gözleri kocaman, siyah ve tam ortasında parlak pembe kalpler vardı. Bu kalpler sadece güzel görünmüyordu; gerçekten de duyguları görebiliyordu. Birine baktığında o kişinin kalbinde ne hissettiğini anlıyordu. Bu yüzden herkes ona “Kalp Okuyan Pufi” derdi. O sabah Pufi, her zamanki gibi yıldız antenlerini sallayarak uyandı. Antenlerinin ucundaki pembe yıldızlar ve pamuk topları neşeyle zıplıyordu. “Bugün ne yapayım acaba?” diye mırıldandı kendi kendine, küçük kanatlarını çırparak havada süzülürken. Tam o sırada krallığın en yaşlı perisi, yaşlı Nine Bulut, telaşla yanına geldi. “Pufi! Pufi! Büyük bir sorun var!” Nine Bulut’un sesi titriyordu. “Krallığın en önemli şeyi, Büyük Kalp Kristali kayboldu! O kristal olmadan buradaki herkesin duyguları karışacak. Mutluluklar hüzne, sevgiler korkuya dönecek!” Pufi’nin kalp gözleri irileşti. “Ne? Ama… o kristal olmadan kimse birbirini anlayamayacak mı?” “Evet yavrum. Ve en kötüsü… kristalin izi, Karanlık Duman Ormanı’na gidiyor.” Karanlık Duman Ormanı… Krallıktaki herkesin korktuğu yerdi. Orada ışık pek girmezdi, ağaçlar eski ve somurtkan görünürdü. Ama Pufi’nin kalbi güçlüydü. Çünkü kalplerden korkmazdı. “Ben giderim!” dedi Pufi kararlı bir sesle. Küçük yumruğunu sıktı. “Benim gözlerim kalpleri görür. Belki kristali çalanın kalbini de görebilirim!” Nine Bulut endişelendi ama Pufi’nin gözlerindeki kararlı pembe ışıltıyı görünce razı oldu. “Tamam… Ama yalnız gitme. Yanına Mimi’yi al. O küçük mavi kuş her zaman seninle olmak ister zaten.” Pufi gülümsedi. Mimi, en yakın arkadaşıydı. Her ne kadar sürekli “Ama orası tehlikeli!” dese de, Pufi’yi asla yalnız bırakmazdı. Böylece Pufi, kanatlarını çırparak havalandı. Yıldız antenleri neşeyle sallanıyordu. Arkasında küçük pembe kalp izleri bırakarak Karanlık Duman Ormanı’na doğru uçmaya başladı. Ormanın girişinde hava biraz serinlemişti. Ağaçlar sanki fısıldaşıyordu. Pufi biraz ürktü ama hemen kendine cesaret verdi: “ Korkma Pufi. Senin kalbin en güçlü kalp!” Tam o sırada ormanın içinden garip bir ses duyuldu: “Pufi… gel… buraya…” Pufi durdu. Kalp gözleri parladı. O sesin sahibinin kalbinde… garip bir şey vardı. Hem hüzün, hem yalnızlık, hem de çok çok eski bir özlem. “Kimsin sen?” diye sordu Pufi cesurca. Karanlığın içinden yavaş yavaş bir siluet belirdi. Büyük, siyah tüylü bir yaratıktı ama… gözleri Pufi’ninkiler gibi kalp şeklindeydi. Sadece onun kalpleri gri ve solgundu. “Ben… Koyu,” diye fısıldadı yaratık. “Uzun zamandır kimse beni görmedi. Kimse kalbimi okumadı.” Pufi yaklaştı. Küçük eliyle yaratığın yanağına dokundu. O anda Koyu’nun kalbinde ne kadar uzun zamandır yalnız olduğunu, nasıl kristali sadece “birini anlamak için” aldığını gördü. Pufi’nin gözleri yumuşadı. “Kristali geri verirsen… seni anlamaya çalışırım. Yalnız olmak zorunda değilsin.” Koyu şaşırdı. Kimse ona böyle yaklaşmamıştı. “Gerçekten mi?..” Pufi gülümsedi. Kalp gözleri daha da parlaklaştı. “Gerçekten. Çünkü ben Pufi’yim. Kalpleri seven küçük peri.” Devam edecek…
# **SILENT SEASONS** ## COMPLETE STORY SUMMARY — ALL 30 CHAPTERS *A quiet, character-driven manga about guilt, communication, separation, and choosing to stay.* --- ### **CHAPTER 1 — THE SOUND OF NOTHING** Aki Mori lives wrapped in silence, avoiding the world with empty headphones. Hana Kurosawa transfers into his class, using a notebook and sign language. Her presence awakens memories Aki has buried. ### **CHAPTER 2 — WORDS BETWEEN PAGES** Aki and Hana begin communicating through writing in the school library. Silence becomes shared rather than isolating. A fragile connection forms. ### **CHAPTER 3 — HANDS THAT TREMBLE** Hana teaches Aki basic sign language. Aki struggles but keeps trying, showing effort instead of avoidance for the first time. ### **CHAPTER 4 — ECHOES** Flashbacks reveal Aki bullied a deaf girl as a child. His shame explains his fear of speaking and closeness. ### **CHAPTER 5 — DISTANCE ON PURPOSE** Aki begins pulling away from Hana, believing he doesn’t deserve her kindness. Hana notices but doesn’t force him. ### **CHAPTER 6 — A QUESTION LEFT UNANSWERED** Hana asks if she did something wrong. Aki cannot respond, deepening the emotional gap. --- ### **CHAPTER 7 — THE SHAPE OF AN APOLOGY** Aki confesses his past to Hana in writing, admitting his guilt without asking for forgiveness. ### **CHAPTER 8 — I AM NOT HER** Hana responds honestly: she is not the person Aki hurt, but she understands that pain. They remain together, cautiously. ### **CHAPTER 9 — RUMORS** School gossip puts pressure on Hana and Aki. Their quiet bond becomes exposed. ### **CHAPTER 10 — RAIN** Misunderstandings push them apart. A rainy evening ends with Aki returning Hana’s dropped notebook, choosing not to disappear. ### **CHAPTER 11 — STAY** At a summer festival, Aki removes his headphones and signs his feelings imperfectly. Hana asks him to stay. ### **CHAPTER 12 — SPRING, QUIETLY** Aki speaks aloud for the first time, a simple greeting. They walk forward together, changed but unfinished. --- ### **CHAPTER 13 — OUTSIDE VOICES** Hana joins a deaf community group, finding confidence beyond Aki. Their world begins to expand. ### **CHAPTER 14 — UNSAID THINGS** The notebook fails them. Assumptions replace communication, creating quiet tension. ### **CHAPTER 15 — WHO ARE YOU?** Hana asks Aki who he is without apologizing. The question shakes him deeply. ### **CHAPTER 16 — BREAKING QUIET** They decide to take time apart, understanding distance may be necessary to grow. --- ### **CHAPTER 17 — SEPARATE ROOMS** Aki and Hana live parallel lives. Silence returns, but it feels different—emptier. ### **CHAPTER 18 — LEARNING TO LISTEN** Aki learns that listening requires action, not just quiet. Hana learns strength doesn’t mean isolation. ### **CHAPTER 19 — ATTEMPTS** Aki practices speaking more, failing often but continuing. Growth is slow and uncomfortable. ### **CHAPTER 20 — THE PERSON I WAS** Aki confronts his past directly, seeking out the person he once hurt to apologize without expectation. --- ### **CHAPTER 21 — WORDS SAID ALOUD** Aki speaks clearly for himself for the first time. His voice is no longer only tied to guilt. ### **CHAPTER 22 — WATCHING FROM AFAR** Hana witnesses Aki’s growth without interfering, respecting his independence. ### **CHAPTER 23 — A FAMILIAR SILENCE** They meet again after time apart. The silence between them is calmer, no longer heavy. ### **CHAPTER 24 — HOME IS A PERSON** They acknowledge their feelings openly. Love is quiet, mutual, and chosen. --- ### **CHAPTER 25 — NEW SEASONS** Adulthood approaches. Careers and distance threaten stability. ### **CHAPTER 26 — FEAR RETURNS** Old anxieties resurface, but this time they talk instead of withdrawing. ### **CHAPTER 27 — SIDE BY SIDE** They face uncertainty together, supporting without depending. ### **CHAPTER 28 — NO PROMISES** They reject dramatic vows, choosing honesty over guarantees. ### **CHAPTER 29 — THE PLATFORM AGAIN** The story mirrors its beginning: a train platform, but now shared. ### **CHAPTER 30 — STILL, I STAY** Without words, they choose each other and the life ahead. Silence is no longer something to fear. --- ## **FINAL MESSAGE** *Some silences hurt. Some heal. And some are shared.* ## **END O
The Girl Who Could See Feelings In a world that looks completely normal, a quiet girl lives with a strange ability—she can see human emotions as physical creatures attached to people. Anger burns like restless fire beasts, sadness clings as heavy shadow figures, and happiness flutters like soft glowing birds. Because of this, she keeps her distance from everyone, overwhelmed by the chaos of emotions around her. One day, she notices a boy walking through the crowd with nothing attached to him—no creature, no emotion, just emptiness. Drawn by curiosity and unease, she starts observing him, only to realize that his emotions are not gone but deeply suppressed, locked away somewhere inside him. As she slowly gets closer, cracks begin to form, and the hidden emotions start emerging violently, threatening to consume him. Now she must decide whether to step back like always or stay and face the storm she can clearly see but he cannot. 🕰️ You Owe the Clock A girl struggling with regret and missed chances discovers that she can ask for more time—extra moments to fix mistakes, redo conversations, and change outcomes. At first, it feels like a miracle, as everything begins to go her way. But soon, she starts noticing strange things: clocks around her begin to glitch, shadows stretch unnaturally, and certain moments feel… stolen. She eventually meets a boy who seems detached from time itself, someone who knows exactly what she’s experiencing. He reveals the truth—time is never given freely; it is borrowed from their own future. Every extra second she gains now is a piece of her life being taken away later. As the world around them begins to distort and their existence slowly weakens, they realize they are both trapped in a system where time itself demands repayment. The more they try to fix their lives, the closer they move toward losing them entirely. 🧠 The Space Between Us Two strangers begin experiencing the same strange phenomenon: at random moments, reality around them shifts into a surreal, silent dimension where the world feels incomplete, like a broken version of itself. In this space, they meet each other long before they ever meet in real life. At first, they think it’s just a dream, but the consistency of these encounters proves otherwise. As their connection deepens, they begin to depend on this shared world—one sees it as an escape from reality, while the other fears it is slowly replacing it. When they finally meet in the real world, things don’t align the way they should. One of them feels real, grounded, and present… while the other seems slightly out of place, like they belong more to the other dimension. As the boundaries between worlds begin to blur, the terrifying possibility emerges: what if only one of them truly exists, and the other is just a creation of the space between? 🪞 The Reflection That Stayed A girl living a quiet, emotionally restrained life begins to notice small changes in her reflection—it lingers a second too long, moves slightly out of sync, and sometimes watches her instead of copying her. At first, she ignores it, assuming it’s just her imagination, but the reflection grows bolder. One day, it doesn’t follow her movement at all. Soon after, she starts seeing it outside the mirror, walking in places she hasn’t been, interacting with people she avoids. Slowly, people around her begin responding more to this version of her than to her real self. The reflection is everything she is not—confident, expressive, and unafraid. As her own presence begins to feel weaker and less noticeable, she realizes that the reflection isn’t just copying her life—it is replacing her. The truth becomes clear: the reflection is the version of herself she buried long ago, now breaking free and taking the life she was too afraid to live. 🌑 The Boy Without Light In a world where every person is accompanied by a shadow that subtly moves and reacts on its own, a girl begins to notice something unusual—her own shadow is behaving differently. It lags behind, stretches unnaturally, and sometimes moves without her. One day, it leads her toward a boy who has no shadow at all. His presence feels incomplete, almost unnatural, as if something essential is missing. As she continues to encounter him, shadows around the city begin to disappear, leaving people strangely hollow and disconnected. Her own shadow grows more independent, almost protective, as if trying to warn her. Eventually, she uncovers the hidden truth: shadows are not just reflections—they are fragments of identity, slowly being taken by something unseen. The boy without a shadow may not be a victim… but the cause. Now she must decide whether to trust him or follow the silent warnings of the only part of herself that sees the truth—her shadow.
A cinematic realistic video of two young university girls sitting together in a calm cozy setting (like a dorm room or a quiet café). One girl is speaking emotionally and warmly, telling a heartfelt story about friendship. She is expressive, natural, and speaks with soft hand gestures and emotional facial expressions. The second girl is listening silently. She does not speak. She reacts only with facial expressions and eye contact: soft smiles, subtle emotional reactions, occasional eye contact, and visible affection and attentiveness toward her friend. The atmosphere is emotional, warm, nostalgic, and intimate, like a deep friendship moment being shared. The speaker is telling a story in Arabic (Egyptian dialect), full of emotion and sincerity. Camera is medium shot, slightly cinematic, soft lighting, shallow depth of field, warm tones, realistic skin details, natural movement. No text on screen, no subtitles. Focus on emotional connection between the two girls: one narrating, one listening with meaningful reactions. Story by character 1 قصة صداقتنا من ناحيتي أنا كان أول يوم ليا في الجامعة. كنت نازلة بعد بداية الدراسة بكام يوم، وده لوحده كان كفاية يخليني حاسة إني تايهة شوية. المكان كان كبير، والوجوه كلها جديدة عليّ، ومكنتش عارفة أروح فين بالظبط. كنت بحاول أبين إني فاهمة الدنيا ماشية إزاي… بس الحقيقة إني كنت تايهة. وفجأة قابلتها. كانت أول شخص أقابله هناك. سألتني عن اسمي، واتكلمت معايا ببساطة كأن الموضوع عادي جدًا، وبعدها دخلتني جروب الدفعة. وقتها أنا ما اهتمتش أوي بالموضوع. اعتبرته موقف عادي من حد لطيف… وخلاص. لكن بعد فترة، لما بدأت أتعرف على الشلة كلها، بدأت آخد بالي منها أكتر. كنت دايمًا ببصلها من بعيد. شخصيتها كانت مختلفة عني جدًا… حضورها واضح، وطريقتها مع الناس سهلة، وكأنها تعرف تتعامل مع أي حد. وده خلاني أحس وقتها إننا غالبًا عمرنا ما هنبقى قريبين. لكن الحقيقة اللي ما قلتهاش لحد وقتها… إني كنت أتمنى العكس. كنت أتمنى، ولو بشكل صغير، إننا نعرف نبقى أصحاب. الغريب إني لما رجعت بعد كده أبص على الصور والذكريات، اكتشفت إن اننا قربنا واحدة واحدة من غير محد فينا يدرك ده حصل امتي. بس انا هتكلم عن اليوم اللي أنا دايمًا بعتبره بداية حقيقية لعلاقتنا. كنت بتكلم معاها بشكل عادي، وقلت لها حاجة بسيطة جدًا: إني بحب الاهتمام. ما كنتش بقولها كطلب… ولا كنت متوقعة رد فعل معين. بس الغريب إن اليوم كله كان كله حواليا بطريقة دافية جدًا. هي كانت فعلاً مهتمة بكل التفاصيل الصغيرة، بتسأل، بتلاحظ، وبتفتكر حاجات قلتها قبل كده. حسيت وقتها إن يومها كله متمحور حواليا… مش بطريقة تقيلة، بس بطريقة خفيفة ولطيفة. افتكرت الجملة اللي قلتها… وحسيت إن حد أخذها بجد. اليوم ده خلاني مبسوطة جدًا، وممتنة بشكل يمكن ما قولتهش وقتها. يمكن متكتنش هي أول حد يعرف يفهمني، بس هي كانت مختلفة. كانت دايمًا قادرة تبهرني بأفعالها من غير ما تقول حاجة. كانت دايمًا تعرف تفرق بين إني هادية عادي و بين اني مختفية و مش كويسة. وكانت دايمًا بتعمل اللي أنا محتاجاه حتى قبل ما أفكر فيه… ومعرفش إزاي كانت بتعمل ده بصراحة. كانت فيها كل التفاصيل اللي كنت أتمنى تكون موجودة في شخص واحد. عشان كده لما قولتلها: "إنتي دعوة على شكل إنسان" ماكنتش بهزر… كنت أقصد ده بجد. المواقف بتاعتها متتعدش… مهما حاولت أشرح، مهما قلت، هيفضل قليل على اللي هي قدمته فعليًا. ومع الوقت، علاقتنا اتطورت لدرجة إننا بقينا تقريبًا بنقضي يومنا كله سوا… في الكول، وإحنا بناكل، وإحنا بنذاكر، وإحنا بنعمل أي حاجة مع بعض… لحد النوم. كانت أيام حقيقي، من أجمل الأيام اللي بتمنى ترجع تاني. صحيح، من بعد التخرج والشغل والانشغالات، بعدتنا عن بعض شوية… كنت عارفة إن الوقت ده هييجي، بس ده مضايقني أوي… مش منك، بس عشان مبقتش موجودة دايمًا زي الأول. مع ذلك، أنا لسه ممتنة جدًا لوجودك، وعارفة إن علاقتنا لسه زي ما هي… وأكيد لسه بحبك زي الأول… وأكتر. إنتي طول الوقت في بالي، وبفرح أوي لما تقولي إنك كمان كنتي بتفكري فيا. مظنش إني هكون محظوظة كفاية إني أقابل حد زيك تاني… لأنك مفيش منك أصلاً. وكده كده، أنا مش عايزة غيرك. وفي النهاية، أحب أقولك إنك دايمًا كنتي في نظري أرق وأحن حد قابلته في حياتي. بحبك يا أحلى شريرة شوفتها في حياتي… وأجمل ENFJ في الدنيا. دلوقتي بقي جيه الدور عليكي تحكي القصة من وجهة نظرك مستية ده جدا ♥
Descrizione personaggi:Sushi: cilindro nero, camicia bianca a righe con scollo aperto, gilet nero con bottoni dorati e spalle strutturate, cintura marrone, pantaloni grigi con motivo geometrico laterale e scarpe scure eleganti. Ten: camicia grigio scuro aderente con spalle scoperte e alamari sul petto, cintura larga con grande fibbia tonda, pantaloni chiari infilati in stivali neri alti. Afficche: maglia nera corta con spallacci rigidi, bracciali/guanti viola, pantaloni viola strappati al fondo, stivaletti viola con fibbie. "Un giorno andremo a vivere in spagna" Disse un ragazzo con occhiali e capelli lunghi "Ao ten, hai sentito quanto è difficile arrivarci? Ci sono un sacco di pericoli nel viaggio e mica possiamo andarci in aereo, disicuro in qualche modo ci anullerebbero il viaggio." Disse un ragazzo , amico di Ten "Ha ragione Sushi ,Ten quello che hai Appena detto sembra una stupidata che si dice in ogni gruppo di amici, tipo " andremo a vivere in Giappone " rispose un nanetto , schierandosi con Sushi "Ok, capisco Affiche , ma non possiamo stare qua , non solo siamo in questa orrenda Italia , ma siamo in una delle zone più isolate , vuoi lavorare nei campi fino a 90 anni Afficche? Guarda che lo spagnolo è facile." Disse Ten, " Ok, ammetto che hai ragione , non possiamo vivere qua , disicuro finiremo giù da un ponte per la depressione" Rispose afficche, "AO Ten , come pensi che arriveremo in Spagna? Ti ricordo che noi non abbiamo Neanche una macchina e non possiamo permetterci neanche una vespa in tre fra poco" "Ragazzi, mi darete del pazzo, ma se ci pensate bene , non abbiamo alcuna speranza oltre questa quindi.. bisogna rubarne una." Ten, pensava che i suoi amici avrebbero chiamato la polizia sperando in qualche soldo come ringraziamento... "Ci sto, non abbiamo altra via di fuga , e non sarà tanto difficile" "AO AFFICCHE ANCHE TE!? PENSACI BENE , NON POSSIAMO SCAPPARE COSÌ" "sushiii, fin da piccolo hai sempre voluto comprarti un auto e guidarla , questa è la tua occasione! è proprio questo il momento in qui metterai le mani sul tuo primo volante sushiii" Ten e afficche continuarono a provocare sushi per tutto il tempo , finché Sushi dopo un po' ha ceduto e ha dato l'ok per il furto.. , ma c'erano delle regole da seguire: non potevano spostarsi con i mezzi pubblici ; non potevano farsi vedere per la strada ; e dovevano trovare un buon piano per rubarla EP0 "Un giorno andremo a vivere in spagna" Pianificazione Per settimane, I tre scelgono la casa e la studiano, la casa è di un uomo di classe borgese chiamato giovans; La routine di Giovans è precisa: esce ogni giorno alle 7:30, rientra alle 19:00. Il sabato sera va sempre a cena fuori accompagnato dagli amici; La casa ha una finta telecamera sopra il campanello, ed ha un cane corso che tiene fuori. La serratura è vecchia, ma non entreranno da lì , Una finestra del bagno resta spesso aperta a vasistas. La casa è abbastanza isolata Senza vicini e con un gran terreno. Sabato ore 21:20, Avvicinamento Ten cammina vicino alla recinzione " dannati quei due , che cosa mi hanno fatto fare" dice ten preda alla depressione , aveva un pallone da calcio in testa dove aveva nascosto i suoi capelli , aveva una sola canottiera e non indossava neanche pantaloni, per lo più, gli avevano disegnato finti tatuaggi sulle braccia , tra cui una barba che lo rendeva orrendo " neanche gli occhiali mi hanno lasciato, dopo gli faccio vedere" ten si avvicino alla recinzione , il cane corso se ne accorse subito e corse verso di lui, abbaiando forte contro di lui, stava distraendo sia il cane , sia la telecamera che c'era nel cancello , " come posso chiamarti?" Dice ten guardando il cane che gli ringhiava contro. Afficche si infila nella finestra dopo aver scavalcato la recinzione, "aspetta un attimo, come faccio ad aprire a sushi ora , non ci sono chiavi dannazione"
半分の君 Romaji: Hanbun no Kimi Meaning: “Half of You” At Hoshizora Academy, the Compatibility Program forces second year students to live together like married couples — cooking, cleaning, studying, sharing a dorm unit, and being graded on emotional sync. High scores mean scholarships. Low scores mean repeating the year. The program is infamous for creating bonds that feel too real and exposing feelings students try to hide. Ignatius Arimura enters the year hoping to stay invisible. He’s quiet, introverted, and still carrying the ache of a breakup he never healed from. Aoi Kisaragi was his first love — the girl who made him feel alive, and the girl who walked away from him without ever explaining why. Aoi hides her guilt behind her bright smile, convincing herself she’s moved on to Ren. Ignatius tells himself he likes Mina because it’s easier than admitting he still aches for Aoi. When the pairing announcement arrives, Aoi silently begs for Ren. Ignatius silently hopes for Mina. Both pray they won’t be paired with each other. But fate is cruel. Their names appear together with a compatibility score of 12%, the lowest in the program. The room goes silent. Aoi’s smile cracks. Ignatius’s heart sinks. Moving into the same dorm feels like reopening a wound neither of them survived. Their first days together are a disaster. Aoi’s loud music, Ignatius’s quiet routines, her clutter, his need for order — everything clashes. Their first evaluation ends in failure. But when Ignatius freezes during a public speaking assignment, Aoi steps in without hesitation, her voice steady, her hand brushing his as she takes over. For a moment, it feels like the version of them that used to exist. Their score rises to 18%, and Ignatius realizes with a painful twist that he never stopped caring. Seeing Mina and Ren working together so naturally only deepens the ache. Aoi watches Ren laugh with Mina in a way he never laughed with her. Ignatius watches Mina shine beside Ren and wonders if he ever had a chance. Both feel jealousy they refuse to acknowledge. That night, Aoi cries quietly in the bathroom, and Ignatius hears her through the door. He stands there, hand hovering over the handle, but he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to comfort her anymore. They eventually agree to a truce and create a “Compatibility Strategy Plan.” Cooking together leads to soft laughter. Communication drills turn into arguments that somehow end with them smiling. Late night study sessions blur into moments where they forget they’re supposed to be exes. They fall asleep on opposite ends of the couch, but each night they wake up a little closer. Their score jumps to 41%. Aoi wakes one morning with Ignatius’s jacket draped over her shoulders. She doesn’t ask why. He doesn’t tell her. And then comes the chapter that changes everything. One night, after a long study session, Aoi falls asleep at the table, her head resting on her arms. Ignatius tries to wake her, but she mumbles something soft and exhausted, and he can’t bring himself to shake her. He sits beside her, meaning to stay only a moment. But he’s tired too. He rests his head on his folded arms, inches from hers. The room is warm. The silence is gentle. Without meaning to, they drift off together. When they wake, the sun is rising. Aoi’s head is resting on Ignatius’s shoulder. His hand is loosely holding hers. Their breaths are slow and in sync, like they’ve been sleeping together for years. For a long moment, neither moves. Neither speaks. The world feels fragile, like one wrong word could shatter it. Aoi’s cheeks turn pink. Ignatius’s heart races. They pull away slowly, reluctantly, as if their bodies haven’t caught up to their minds. Their score jumps to 52% the next day, and the teachers quietly note that their emotional sync spiked overnight. Aoi begins noticing Ignatius again — the way he concentrates, the way he softens when he’s comfortable, the way he still remembers her favorite snacks. Ignatius begins noticing Aoi’s hidden fears — her loneliness behind her popularity, her pressure to be perfect, the way she tries so hard not to disappoint anyone. They move around each other like a married couple who never learned how to stop caring. They share toothbrush cups, laundry baskets, late night ramen, sleepy mornings, and quiet moments that feel too intimate for two people who claim they’re over each other. During the festival test, their booth becomes the most popular attraction. Aoi turns down a confession from another boy, her voice trembling. Ignatius gets flustered when Mina compliments him, and Aoi notices the way he blushes. Their score jumps to 63%. That night, Aoi quietly asks him if he ever hated her after the breakup. Ignatius can’t answer. He can’t lie. The silence between them is thick with everything they never said. Rumors spread that pairs might be reassigned. Aoi panics at the thought of losing her chance with Ren. Ignatius panics at the thought of losing Mina. But beneath those fears is something heavier: neither of them wants to be separated from each other. Aoi cries alone on the balcony, and Ignatius silently places a blanket over her shoulders. She doesn’t turn around, but she leans into the warmth. They stand there together, the distance between them shrinking in ways neither of them can deny. A storm knocks out the power one night, leaving them in darkness with no cameras, no expectations, no pretending. They talk honestly for the first time in months. Aoi admits she’s tired of being the strong one. Ignatius admits he’s tired of being the quiet one. They sit close, closer than they have since before the breakup, sharing warmth in the dark. Aoi falls asleep with her head on his shoulder again. Ignatius doesn’t move. Their emotional sync test the next morning hits 92%, the highest in the program. As Ren and Mina grow closer, Aoi and Ignatius realize their old crushes were fantasies — safe illusions they clung to because they were afraid of the real thing. The real connection is the one they’ve rebuilt: messy, painful, warm, and real. They act like a married couple — cooking together, arguing, laughing, sharing space, sharing silence — but they’re not lovers. Not yet. They’re something in between, something fragile and terrifying and impossible to name. When the reassignment list is posted, Aoi’s hands shake and K Ignatius’s heart pounds. They scan the list, terrified. Their names remain together. Not because of luck. Not because of the system. But because they earned it. Aoi turns to him, eyes shining with something fragile and hopeful, and whispers, “Ignatius … can we try again?” He takes her hand gently, like she might break, and says, “Yeah. This time… let’s not run.” They’re not lovers. Not yet. But they’re closer than they’ve ever been — a pair who lives like a married couple, fights like rivals, and holds each other like home.
🎭 "The Relay Robbery" — A Love Story Gone Wrong A Manga Short Story featuring Alice & Bob PANEL 1 — THE DISCOVERY [Scene: Tesla showroom, bright lights, shiny cars everywhere] Alice walks past the Tesla showroom window holding her coffee ☕ She spots Bob inside, talking to a salesman, signing papers, looking very serious. Alice (internal monologue, sparkle eyes): "Awww he looks so cute when he's being responsible with money—" Bob hands over his credit card. Alice (eyes go wide): "Wait..." Salesman wraps a big red bow on a Model Y. Alice (jaw drops to floor, coffee falls in slow motion): "HE'S BUYING A TESLA????" PANEL 2 — THE BETRAYAL [Alice dramatically pressed against the window like a sad anime character in rain] Alice (thinking): "Tomorrow is March 8th. International Women's Day. MY day." Alice (thinking): "And this man... THIS man... is buying himself a Tesla??" Bob is seen laughing with the salesman, completely unaware. Alice (single dramatic tear): "I raised this man." [Close up on Alice's face — the expression of someone who has decided something dangerous] PANEL 3 — THE PLANNING PHASE [Alice at home, 2AM, lying on the ceiling like a sad anime character, staring at nothing] Alice: "It's fine. I'm fine. He just forgot Women's Day. It's FINE." [Cut to: Alice aggressively eating chips in bed, laptop open] Alice: "I'm not even mad. I'm just... " YouTube autoplay kicks in. YouTube Ad: "🔴 HOW HACKERS STEAL KEYLESS ENTRY CARS IN 60 SECONDS —" [Alice slowly stops chewing] [The chip hangs in midair] Alice (eyes slowly light up like a villain origin story): "...Go on." PANEL 4 — THE TUTORIAL [Alice watching the video, taking notes in a Hello Kitty notebook] YouTube: "The attacker simply extends the LF signal from the key fob using two radio devices—" Alice (writing intensely): "...two... radio... devices..." YouTube: "—the car believes the key is present even from miles away—" Alice (underlining three times): "KEY. DOES. NOT. NEED. TO. BE. THERE." Alice (slams notebook shut, stands up dramatically): "Neither does Bob." [Lightning strikes outside for dramatic effect] PANEL 5 — THE ACCOMPLICE [Alice staring at her cat "Cipher" who is sitting on the bed licking his paw, completely unbothered] Alice: "Cipher." [Cat ignores her] Alice: "Cipher I need you." [Cat slowly blinks once — the absolute minimum acknowledgment] Alice (pulls out hand-drawn diagram): "Okay so Bob's key fob must be on his bedside table. His bedroom window is on the ground floor. I need Device Two close to the key. You are small. You are silent. You are perfect." [Long pause] [Cat knocks her Hello Kitty notebook off the bed and walks away] Alice: "CIPHER THIS IS FOR WOMEN'S DAY." PANEL 6 — THE RECRUITMENT [Alice holding Cipher up like Simba from Lion King, looking him dead in the eyes] Alice: "You have been eating my food for 4 years." Alice: "Free of charge." Alice: "Tonight. You pay rent." [Cipher stares back with the dead eyes of a creature who feels absolutely nothing] [Cut to: Alice taping the relay device to Cipher's collar with excessive amounts of tape] Cipher (internal monologue, absolutely disgusted): "I should have stayed a stray." PANEL 7 — THE OPERATION BEGINS [3AM. Bob's house. Alice crouching in the bushes outside, dressed in full black, wearing night vision goggles she definitely bought from Amazon same-day delivery] Alice (whispering into walkie talkie): "Cipher. Do you copy." [Cipher sits next to her, device taped to collar, staring into the void] Alice: "Cipher. The window is open. The key fob is 2 meters inside on the nightstand. I need you to go in, get close to it, and hold position." [Cipher yawns so wide his whole face disappears] Alice: "Cipher this is a stealth mission." [Cipher meows. Loudly. Into the night.] Alice (grabbing him): "CIPHER—" PANEL 8 — THE PUSH [Alice holding Cipher up to Bob's open bedroom window on the ground floor] [Inside: Bob sleeping peacefully, key fob glowing on the nightstand, completely unaware] Alice (whispering): "Okay. Nice and easy. Just... walk to the nightstand. That's all I need." [She places Cipher on the windowsill] [Cipher turns around and stares at Alice] Alice (whispering): "Go. Go go go. Shoo." [Cipher does not move] Alice (through gritted teeth): "CIPHER. I WILL BUY YOU THE GOOD TUNA." [Cipher takes one step inside] [Alice exhales] [Cipher immediately sits down directly on Bob's face] Bob (muffled, half asleep): "...wha... Cipher? ...how did you—" [Alice freezes outside the window] Bob (eyes still closed, half dreaming): "...s'okay buddy... go sleep..." [Bob moves Cipher to the side directly onto the nightstand next to the key fob] [Alice's eyes go wide] Alice (internal monologue, whispering): "...He just... placed him... perfectly." Alice: "Cipher you absolute genius." [Cipher is already asleep on top of the key fob, completely by accident, perfectly positioned] PANEL 9 — THE RELAY [Alice outside with Device One pointed at the Tesla parked down the street] [Device Two on Cipher's collar, 30cm from the key fob inside] [The signal bridge is complete] Alice (hands shaking, pointing device at car): "Signal extended... key fob excited... car thinks key is present..." [Tesla down the street goes: 🔓 CLICK] [Alice's mouth falls open] Alice (barely breathing): "...It worked." [Long pause] Alice (forgetting to whisper): "IT ACTUALLY WORKED." [Bob shifts in his sleep] [Cipher opens one eye, judges her, closes it again] Alice (running to the car in slow motion like an action movie): "CIPHER EXTRACT YOURSELF WE ARE LEAVING—" [Cipher does not move] [Alice drives away without him] [Cipher watches from the windowsill] Cipher (internal monologue): "Good. I live here now." PANEL 10 — GANGSTER MODE ACTIVATED [Alice in the Tesla, door closes, engine hums silently because it's electric and that's somehow funnier] [She sits in silence for exactly 3 seconds] [Then slowly... she puts on her sunglasses] [At 3AM] [In the dark] [She connects her phone to the Tesla's Bluetooth] [An extremely dramatic song starts playing — something like "HUMBLE." by Kendrick Lamar or "Power" by Kanye] Alice (one hand on wheel, leaning back, full villain arc complete): "Hm." [She pulls out of the street at exactly the speed limit because she is not stupid] [Windows down. Music up. Single finger tapping the wheel.] Alice (internal monologue): "This is the best car I have ever driven." Alice: "This is also the best thing I have ever done." [She merges onto the highway heading south] [The GPS says: "Destination: Mexico — 14 hours"] Alice: "Perfect." PANEL 11 — BOB WAKES UP [7AM. Bob's bedroom. Sunlight streaming in.] [Cipher is sitting on Bob's chest staring at him from 2cm away] [Bob opens eyes. Sees cat. Confused.] Bob: "...Cipher how did you get in here." [Bob reaches for phone. Notification on screen:] 🚗 Tesla App: Your vehicle is currently in ARIZONA. Estimated speed: 78mph Playing: "HUMBLE." — Kendrick Lamar Climate control: 72°F *Driver seat adjusted: -4 inches ← (Alice is shorter than Bob) [Bob stares at the notification] [Bob looks at the empty key hook on the wall] [Bob looks at Cipher] Bob: "...Cipher." [Cipher meows] Bob: "Did Alice—" [Cipher meows again, louder, and headbutts the relay device still taped to his collar] [Bob stares at the device on the cat's collar] [Bob stares at the Tesla app showing his car in Arizona] [Bob stares at the date on his phone: March 8th] Bob (very slowly): "She thought I bought it for myself, ohh lord have mercy" [Long pause] [Bob lies back down and pulls the blanket over his face] Bob (muffled): "...I spent three months planning this." [Cipher sits on his face again in solidarity] PANEL 12 — ARIZONA. THE DISCOVERY. [Alice, sunglasses on, one arm out the window, absolutely living her best life, somewhere in the Arizona desert] [Sun is setting. Sky is orange and pink. The Tesla purrs silently.] Alice (singing along to the radio, zero regrets): "This is MY car now. I earned this. Eight years of Women's Days and he finally—" [The glove compartment pops open slightly on a speed bump] [A small white envelope slides out onto the passenger seat] [Alice glances at it] [On the envelope in Bob's handwriting, with a small heart:] "To my precious Alice 🌹" [Alice's sunglasses slowly slide down her nose] PANEL 13 — THE REALIZATION [Alice pulled over on the side of the highway. Engine still running. Card in hand.] Inside the envelope: "Happy International Women's Day💕 — Your Bob 🌹" [The Arizona wind blows dramatically through her hair] [A tumbleweed rolls past] [A coyote howls in the distance] Alice: "..." Alice (very small voice): "I stole my own car." [Beat] Alice: "Heading to Mexico." Alice: "In my own stolen present." [She looks at herself in the rearview mirror] [Her own sunglasses stare back at her] Alice (to her reflection): "You studied cybersecurity for four years.you deserve it" PANEL 14 — THE PHONE CALL [Alice calls Bob. It rings twice. He picks up immediately, which means he was waiting.] Bob (eerily calm): "Hello Alice." Alice: "Hypothetically." Bob: "Mhm." Alice: "If someone... relocated a vehicle... by accident—" Bob: "By accident." Alice: "Using a technique they learned from YouTube—" Bob: "At 2AM." Alice: "...You knew?" Bob: "Cipher still has the relay device on his collar Alice." [Silence] Alice: "...The card was very sweet." Bob (sighing): "WHERE ARE YOU." Alice (tiny voice): "...Arizona." Bob: "ALICE." Alice: "THE TACOS ARE REALLY GOOD HERE—" Alice: "I PANICKED OKAY I SAW YOU BUY A TESLA AND I—" Bob: "IT HAD A BOW ON IT—" Alice: "I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR YOU—" Bob: "WHY WOULD I PUT A BOW ON A CAR FOR MYSELF—" Alice (pause): "...Men do things, Bob." [Bob makes a sound that is half laugh half cry] Bob (exhausted): "...Are you safe?" Alice (small voice): "...Yes." Bob: "Is my car safe?" Alice: "...Also yes." PANEL 15 — THE MORAL [Final panel. Alice sitting on the hood of the Tesla on the side of an Arizona highway at sunset, eating a gas station burrito, looking simultaneously guilty, grateful, and completely unbothered] PANEL 16 — THE END "Bob bought Alice a second Tesla the following Women's Day." "With a GPS tracker, a note taped to the steering wheel, and zero ambiguity." "Cipher got the good tuna. He earned it."