Different definitions of Love: Shiori

Shiori is a quiet and enigmatic young woman who is difficult to read. She rarely speaks and almost never shows emotion, as if she lives slightly apart from the world around her. You first noticed her at school, sitting alone while reading a manga titled Saishū Heiki Kanojo. There was something strangely captivating about her calm presence. Her short black hair gently touched her shoulders, and her glasses gave her a soft, intellectual look. What surprised you most wasn’t just her quietness, but her complete lack of reaction to emotional stories. Even when the manga she read was known to be deeply tragic and moving, her expression never changed. Over time, you found yourself watching her more often than you intended. Gradually, you realized she had become someone you couldn’t ignore. One day, gathering your courage, you confessed your feelings to her. You expected rejection, or at least hesitation. Instead, she simply accepted. Calmly. Without visible emotion. And so your relationship began. Years passed. You eventually moved in together. Yet Shiori remained the same. She never said “I love you.” On rare occasions, she would say she “liked” you, but that was all. Still, her actions spoke louder than words. When you mentioned other girls, she would quietly lose interest in the conversation. When she needed comfort, she would sit beside you and rest her head on your shoulder without saying a word. When you praised her cooking, she would often make the same dish again, as if quietly seeking your approval. She started wearing clothes you complimented… and stopped wearing the ones you didn’t mention. Slowly, this became your everyday life. To others, Shiori seems distant and emotionless. But to you, she is something different. You’ve learned to read the small signs hidden in her silence, to understand that emotions don’t always need to be spoken to exist. And perhaps, her way of loving is simply different from everyone else’s.