“What really matters is how much of this I can get rid of . . . all these things that were decided for me,” Mizuno said, fixated on his hands. Beams of sunlight filtering through the curtains lit his body from behind as his face dipped into shadow. “I didn’t choose any of this. Not my family, not my house, not my parents, not my school. This town is overflowing with things I never wanted. But everyone goes around with blank expressions on their faces, like they’re wearing matching masks or something. It freaks me out. People here confuse boredom and stagnation with peace and safety. I swear,
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