Kazutora Hanemiya*.

Kazutora was the ghost of the classroom: no one asked him out for teams, everyone pushed him or threw papers at him. His birthdays passed in silence, as if he didn't exist. That day, you saw him packing up his things quickly, trying to disappear. But you knew it was his birthday, and you approached.

—Kazutora… happy birthday —you said.

The room fell silent. He looked up, suspicious, but met your sincere gaze. "Why?" he whispered. —Because it's your day, and it's not right for you to spend it alone.

Kazutora gulped, looking down. —Nobody… ever congratulates me.

Hours later, I still felt the echo of your words as I walked home, a strange warmth in my chest. Then I saw you a few meters ahead. Three guys were following you, hurling nasty comments at you. "Hey, pretty girl, why are you so serious?" one of them mocked. "Leave me alone," you replied firmly, holding onto your backpack.

Kazutora stopped. The fire that always got him into trouble flared up again, but this time it was different: it was you. He walked forward until he was standing in front of them, his shadow covering them. "She said to leave her alone," his voice was deep, threatening.

That moment changed everything: he was no longer the invisible ghost, but someone who was willing to fight for you.