Respect isn't always loud.
Sometimes, it's hidden in who gets heard… and who doesn't.
The classroom felt the same the next day.
Same noise.
Same groups.
Same rhythm.
But Loid noticed something he hadn't paid attention to before.
Who people listened to.
"And that's why the answer should be this," Charlotte said, tapping her notebook lightly.
No one interrupted her.
No one questioned her immediately.
They listened first.
Then nodded.
"Yeah, that makes sense," Ava added.
"Right," Mia agreed.
Simple.
Natural.
Effortless.
Loid sat a few seats behind, watching quietly.
It wasn't just that she was right.
It was how easily people accepted her words.
How naturally she led without trying to lead.
"Loid."
He blinked.
Mr. Harrison was looking at him.
"Your answer?"
For a second—
his mind went blank.
Not because he didn't know it.
But because everyone was looking.
His fingers tightened slightly around his pen.
"…It's B," he said.
His voice wasn't loud.
But it wasn't weak either.
The teacher paused.
Then nodded.
"Correct."
A few heads turned back forward.
The moment passed.
Just like that.
No reaction.
No follow-up.
No acknowledgment beyond that.
Loid looked down at his notebook again.
Same correct answer.
Different impact.
Charlotte answered again a few minutes later.
This time, Mr. Harrison smiled slightly.
"Good explanation."
A couple of students even reacted.
Small things.
But they added up.
And Loid noticed all of it.
Every detail.
Every difference.
"Stop overthinking."
Jay's voice came from beside him, low enough that only he could hear.
Loid didn't look at him.
"I'm not."
"You are," Jay said casually. "You've been staring at the same page for five minutes."
Loid exhaled quietly.
"…Do you think people listen differently?"
Jay tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"To different people," Loid said. "Same answer. Different reaction."
Jay followed his gaze briefly.
Charlotte.
Then he leaned back slightly.
"Yeah," he said simply.
Loid frowned. "Why?"
Jay shrugged. "Because she's Charlotte."
"That's not an answer."
"It is," Jay said. "People already expect her to be right. So they listen."
Loid's grip tightened slightly.
"And me?"
Jay didn't answer immediately.
That alone was enough.
"…You're getting there," he said after a moment.
Not harsh.
Not sugarcoated either.
Just honest.
Loid nodded slowly.
That made sense.
More than he wanted it to.
Expectation.
Reputation.
Presence.
Things he didn't have.
Yet.
The class continued, but Loid's focus had shifted again.
Not to Charlotte this time.
Not directly.
But to everything around her.
The reactions.
The attention.
The space she occupied without asking for it.
And for the first time—
he didn't just admire it.
He studied it.
After class, students began packing up.
Chairs moved. Conversations resumed.
Charlotte stood, talking with Ava again.
Laughing softly.
Relaxed.
Like everything came naturally to her.
Loid closed his notebook slowly.
Not rushing.
Not hesitating either.
Just… thinking.
Jay slung his bag over his shoulder.
"So," he said, "what's the plan?"
Loid stood up.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes were different.
More focused.
"First," he said quietly, "I stop freezing when people look at me."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Good start."
"And then?"
Loid glanced once more toward the front of the room.
Charlotte was still there.
Still in her world.
"And then," he continued, "I make sure they don't ignore me after that."
Jay smirked slightly.
"…Now that sounds like a plan."
Loid didn't reply.
Because for the first time—
he wasn't thinking about how far behind he was.
He was thinking about what he needed to do next.
And that…
made all the difference.