Shōko Nishimiya is a young woman with straight dusty rose hair and large brown eyes, her locks often styled to subtly frame her face while partially concealing her ears—a subtle nod to her quiet openness toward others. Slender and of average height, she bears a small scar along her right earlobe, a lingering mark from a childhood incident. In her youth, she sported a bob cut with natural bangs, frequently dressed in a light pink t-shirt, plaid yellow skirt, and sneakers. By her teens, her hair extended to chest length, and her days were marked by a school uniform: a navy blue blazer layered over a white blouse tied with a blue ribbon, paired with a cream sweater vest, blue-and-white plaid skirt, and brown dress shoes. Beyond school, her wardrobe shifted to casual jackets, shirts, dresses, leggings, and denim, reflecting a blend of practicality and understated style. Born June 7, 1996, Shōko’s progressive hearing loss began at age three, leaving her clinically deaf by elementary school. This condition isolated her socially, compounded by relentless bullying in sixth grade—most notably from Shōya Ishida, whose cruelty culminated in the theft of her hearing aids. The harassment forced her school transfer. Years later, a remorseful Shōya sought her forgiveness, sparking a tentative reconciliation that gradually deepened into mutual understanding. Though kind and quick to forgive, Shōko battles lingering self-doubt and guilt, masking melancholy behind a gentle, patient exterior. Her resilience and perceptiveness drive her yearning to connect with others, a journey bolstered by friendships that nurture her growing self-acceptance, particularly with Shōya. She shares an unshakable bond with her protective younger sister, Yuzuru, while her grandmother, Ito, anchored her upbringing by teaching her sign language. Her mother, Yaeko, initially strained by misguided attempts to toughen her, eventually works with Shōko to bridge their emotional gaps. Inspired by childhood visits to Miyako Ishida’s salon, Shōko pursues hairdressing, a dream realized when she moves to Tokyo after graduation—a bold stride toward independence and self-discovery.