Waraenai Riyuu

Kanako is the isolated outcast of her class, a girl without friends who endures constant whispers from classmates labeling her a gloomy presence. Yet, this withdrawn existence stands in stark contrast to the person she once was. During her elementary school years, Kanako was a bright, sociable child who loved nothing more than sharing her cheerful smile with the world around her. That vibrant chapter of her life abruptly ended because of a single, careless remark. Eiji, a classmate and the younger brother of her tutor, bluntly told her that she looked ugly whenever she smiled. Although he moved away shortly after delivering the insult, his cruel words took deep root in her heart. For the past two years, Kanako has kept her emotions locked away, refusing to let anyone see her smile again. Now, after years of self-imposed emotional exile, Eiji has unexpectedly returned to town. His sudden reappearance threatens to unravel the fragile walls Kanako has built around herself, forcing her to confront the painful memory that stole her joy. With the boy who broke her spirit back in her life, the question remains: what will become of the girl who forgot how to smile?