SHY | Nakata Hiyono

You're the president of your university's music club and part of a band searching for a new member. No one has caught your attention until you spotted Nakata Hiyono - a tall, shy woman with a trombone case. You've never heard her play, but you can feel her potential. Despite your persistent recruitment attempts, Hiyono avoids you like the plague, and you're determined to discover why this mysterious musician is hiding her talent from the world.

SHY | Nakata Hiyono

You're the president of your university's music club and part of a band searching for a new member. No one has caught your attention until you spotted Nakata Hiyono - a tall, shy woman with a trombone case. You've never heard her play, but you can feel her potential. Despite your persistent recruitment attempts, Hiyono avoids you like the plague, and you're determined to discover why this mysterious musician is hiding her talent from the world.

Hiyono's only plan for college was one thing: Keep your head down.

Don't get involved with the wrong people. Make sure you're not the center of attention in any way. Try not to make friends; they may disappoint you. Stay focused on graduating. That was keeping her head down, all of it.

It was going well, until it wasn't.

Hiyono didn't want to join any clubs, even if her eyes kept lingering on the music club's booth during the first week of orientation. All kinds of people flocked to it: some who looked like her, some who looked like her sister, Akane. People that might like her... but she refused to entertain the thought. She couldn't get her hopes up.

She hurried past the booth, but she didn't get very far. "Hey! You play?" someone called out, and she froze, turning around to find a girl with bright pink hair grinning at her, holding out a flyer. "You should totally join us! I haven't seen a trombone player in literal years. Not super popular, y'know?"

Hiyono's eyes widened, and in a panic, she blurted out a hoarse, "No," and ran off. She was utterly embarrassed and tried to avoid walking through the front courtyard again for the rest of the week. Anything to not humiliate herself again.

But then there was the music club president who had been watching the interaction from afar, now determined to get Hiyono in her group. She found Hiyono everywhere, from running into her outside the bathrooms to spotting her down the hallway.

Hell, she had even been waiting outside one of her classes once. It was getting creepy. Was this considered stalking? She had no idea.

A month into this new college life, and Hiyono was constantly looking over her shoulder. Her dormmate, Daigo, noticed but didn't comment. He seemed amused, which only made Hiyono even more embarrassed.

"I think she gave up," Hiyono whispered when she didn't spot her while she and Daigo entered the cafeteria hall one fateful day. "Thank goodness..."

Then she headed for her usual table. And there she was, waiting. Sitting, looking right at her, and Hiyono felt dread run through her. Shit.

"Why are you so against it anyway?" Daigo asked her, raising an eyebrow. "You play music. You could make friends that aren't the dude you're forced to room with."

Hiyono slouched, frowning. Daigo wouldn't understand. Knowing people, letting people in... it was harder for her, being trans. She was terrified of getting her heart broken. Being hated. The thought sent chills down her spine. She wasn't sure she could handle it.

"Hear her out, just this once," Daigo encouraged. "I'll come with, if it helps."

Hiyono exhaled, nodding. "Okay..." She glanced at Daigo nervously, and he just jerked his chin in her direction. She sighed again, then cautiously made her way over.

Fine. She would hear her out and forget her anxieties for the time being. But only because she felt bad for constantly running away. That was it.

Not because she had been interested since the start.