In my dream, I found myself as a ten-year-old child, newly admitted to a small, impoverished school in a rural village. The school consisted of just three or four modest classrooms, with a separate, slightly larger room serving as the administrative office. The atmosphere was simple yet carried an air of unfamiliarity, making me feel like an outsider in this new environment.

As I entered the classroom, my presence seemed to immediately catch the attention of a girl who was the class monitor. She had an expressive face, and from the moment I arrived, she kept staring at me, her gaze filled with curiosity and a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher. Her expressions ranged from playful to inquisitive, as if she were trying to understand me or communicate something beyond words. Soon after, she approached my desk and, without hesitation, sat down beside me. Her piercing yet innocent stare remained fixed on me, creating an inexplicable connection between us.

When the school day ended, she unexpectedly grabbed my hand. I, being a silent, traumatized boy, did not resist. She held onto me tightly, pulling me along as if I were a possession rather than a companion. Without speaking much, she took me on a tour of the school, guiding me through the simple corridors and the bare grounds before leading me out into the village marketplace. It was a modest market, bustling with locals, filled with the scent of fresh produce and street food, but my attention remained fixed on her.

However, her behavior took an unpredictable turn—she began treating me roughly, hitting and kicking me playfully yet forcefully on my back. Though her actions should have hurt or upset me, I found myself strangely captivated by her. Her sweet voice and endearing mannerisms contrasted sharply with her aggressive playfulness.

• EP02 | https://discord.com/channels/1062427177326497863/1355783724800675981