Mute But Not Invisible

Mute but Not Invisible – Volume 1, Chapter 6: The Walls Are Closing In

The Unsettling Morning

The morning after Yuu's silent confrontation with his sister felt heavier than usual.

His house was always quiet, but today, it felt suffocating. The way Souta watched him from across the breakfast table, her cold violet eyes tracing his every movement, made his skin crawl. She knew.

He had spoken.

And she wasn't going to let it go.

Yuu calmly picked up his notebook and wrote: "I'll be home late today."

Souta's fingers tapped against the ceramic edge of her teacup. "You're avoiding me."

Yuu didn't react. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

She took a slow sip of her tea, never breaking eye contact. "Are they already clinging to you?"

Yuu knew exactly what she meant, but he refused to acknowledge it. Instead, he flipped to the next page.

"I have things to do."

Souta let out a soft hum, setting her cup down with an almost delicate touch. "I'll allow it, then. But don't forget—you always come back here. To me."

It wasn't a request. It was a command.

The Schoolyard Confrontation

Despite his attempt to shake the unease from the morning, Yuu barely made it through the school gates before realizing his situation was getting worse.

Mei was already there.

She stood near the entrance, waiting for him. The moment her eyes locked onto him, her entire expression softened—a stark contrast to the intensity in Souta's gaze. Where his sister was cold, Mei was warm.

But that warmth was dangerous.

"Good morning, Yuu," Mei greeted, stepping closer, her voice almost too gentle. "I was hoping we could walk together today."

Yuu didn't stop moving. He turned away, pulling out his notebook.

"No."

Mei's smile never wavered, but there was something unsettling in the way she adjusted her pace to match his, refusing to let the distance grow.

"Still stubborn, I see," she mused. "But that's alright. You'll come around eventually."

Yuu tensed. It wasn't a simple statement—it was a promise.

Rika Joins the Chaos

Just as Mei reached for his sleeve, an all-too-familiar voice interrupted.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's all this?"

Rika.

She practically skidded into view, arms crossed, a playful grin plastered across her face. "Man, I knew you were popular, Mute-kun, but I didn't think you'd have a fan club forming this fast."

Mei's expression didn't change, but Yuu felt the air shift.

"Good morning, Aoyama," Mei greeted politely, though there was zero warmth in her tone.

Rika wasn't fazed. "Yo, good morning to you too, Kirishima. Didn't take you for the 'clingy type,' but hey, I don't judge."

Mei tilted her head. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

Yuu's eyes flicked between the two of them. Not this again.

Without hesitation, he flipped to a new page. "I'm leaving."

Rika grabbed his shoulder before he could take another step. "Oh, no you don't, Mute-kun. We gotta talk."

Yuu sighed, shooting her a tired glare. Rika never talked. She schemed.

A Plan is Hatched

Rika dragged him toward the school courtyard, ignoring Mei's presence entirely. "Okay, listen up, Mute-kun," she started, lowering her voice. "I don't know what's going on between you and Miss 'I'm-Way-Too-Serious' over there, but that girl gives me bad vibes."

Yuu's expression remained neutral, but internally, he agreed.

"So!" Rika clapped her hands together. "I propose a deal. I'll keep Kirishima distracted, and in return—you owe me."

Yuu raised an eyebrow.

She smirked. "Don't look at me like that! It's a fair trade. I get to mess with her, and you get some breathing room. Everybody wins."

Yuu sighed, flipping to another page.

"What do you want?"

Rika's grin widened. "Haven't decided yet. But when I do, you can't say no."

Mei, still standing at a distance, had clearly caught onto their whispered conversation. Her stare burned into his back.

This was a bad idea.

But Yuu needed space.

He hesitated, then slowly nodded.

Rika fist-pumped. "Sweet. Leave the rest to me!"

Yuu wasn't sure what was worse—Mei's obsession or Rika's 'help.'

Either way, he was in trouble.

End of Chapter 6