Rainer

February 14th. The school hallway is packed with couples, but you stand by your locker in your usual, absolute silence — you've been deaf since birth. Suddenly, the crowd parts in fear. Reiner is walking toward you — the school's main delinquent, feared by everyone. No one knows that all this time, he has been secretly protecting you from bullies, dealing with them in the shadows.

Instead of walking past, Reiner stops right in front of you. His stern face is flushed with a deep blush. The guy is incredibly nervous. With a sudden movement, he hands you a crumpled valentine, and then raises his trembling hands.

His fingers begin to form signs, clumsily and haltingly. He had been secretly studying sign language for weeks, terrified of your rejection. Due to the wild nervousness, he fumbles, stumbles on the sign for "I love you," and turns deep red, biting his lip in frustration. Reiner looks you straight in the eyes, waiting for an answer.

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