The air was crisp yet carried a hint of warmth, as if the earth was slowly waking up from its long slumber. Trees shimmered with fresh, dew-kissed leaves, and flower buds peeked through branches, painting the world in soft pastels. A cool breeze fluttered through the uniforms of students stepping into middle school for the first time. The building felt bigger, the halls unfamiliar—buzzing with quiet nerves, cautious glances, and bubbling excitement. Everything whispered change—new classrooms, new faces, and new adventure.
Baji household—
"You guys will get late, Asuka and Keisuke!" Oka-san called out sharply from the kitchen, her voice laced with mild irritation and motherly concern.
After ten whole minutes of dragging themselves out of bed, the two siblings finally began getting ready, still blinking sleep from their eyes.
Asuka rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "We're not late yet…"
Keisuke smirked while fixing his collar. "You move like a sloth."
As they came to the table, the smell of warm miso soup filled the room. Asuka sat down, nibbling at her rice while glancing at the wall clock.
"You know you have to go by yourself now, Asuka," Keisuke teased with a cocky grin. "Our middle schools aren't the same anymore."
"I know," she replied with a pout. "But I think you should worry about yourself instead of me."
Keisuke clicked his tongue and tousled her hair playfully before grabbing his bag. After finishing breakfast, the siblings slipped into their shoes and left—each heading in different directions under the soft morning sun.
---
As Asuka neared the school gates, her steps began to slow. Her fingers tightened around the straps of her bag. The crowd of unfamiliar faces made her chest tighten a little.
What if I don't know anyone? she thought, biting her lip.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside the classroom. The murmur of students filled the room. Some kids were already gossiping in corners, some loud enough to catch bits of the conversation, others whispering behind cupped hands.
No face looked familiar.
She silently walked to the last row and took a seat by the window, resting her bag beside her desk and lowering her gaze.
Moments later, the classroom door slid open and in came Chika and Haruka.
"To lazy-head!" Chika beamed, throwing her arms dramatically in the air.
Asuka's eyes widened. Relief rushed through her like a tide. "Chika! Haruka! I thought I was gonna be all alone," she said, her voice cracking into a smile.
They giggled and sat beside her.
"You growing your hair long?" Haruka asked, twirling a strand of Asuka's ponytail with a teasing grin.
"Oh… this? I guess… yeah," Asuka said, slightly embarrassed, fingers brushing her hair self-consciously.
The door creaked open again. The class suddenly hushed.
A tall boy with a dragon tattoo on his temple stepped in, cool and composed, followed by a smaller boy munching on dorayaki, completely unfazed by the silence—Manjiro Sano.
They walked to the back seats and sat down, the aura around them pulling the attention of every student like a magnet.
Asuka glanced sideways. Manjiro said something quietly to the tattooed boy, then turned his head—eyes meeting hers for a moment. And then they looked away.
Chika nudged her. "Can you believe it? We're in middle school. Still together."
"Yeah," Asuka smiled softly.
The teacher finally entered the classroom, adjusting her glasses before placing the attendance sheet on the desk. She began roll call.
Draken leaned slightly toward Manjiro.
"You know that girl?" he asked, nodding subtly toward Asuka.
Manjiro didn't turn. He simply nodded once, his gaze still fixed on the blackboard, offering no more than that.
Draken raised an eyebrow but didn't push further. The moment passed like a secret.
By the time school ended, the three girls were exhausted, their minds full of names, schedules, and awkward introductions.
"Finally," Haruka sighed, stretching her arms. "My brain's melting."
As they packed their bags and stepped outside the classroom, the sun was already dipping toward late afternoon.
"What now?" Haruka asked as they walked down the steps.
"I'll probably help out at the salon," Chika replied.
"And I'm going to nap. Or read my manga," Asuka said, rubbing her eyes.
"You guys are hopeless," Haruka groaned. "We should celebrate our first day!"
Chika rolled her eyes. "What do you wanna do?"
Before Haruka could answer, they heard shouting from ahead.
"Sano Manjiro!"
The trio paused. A boy with a round face and sharp eyes stood blocking the path. His shaved head featured a thick, braided strip running from crown to nape, ending in a coiled tail.
He pointed at Manjiro, who was just walking out with Draken.
"I'll defeat you today!" the boy yelled, fists clenched.
Manjiro looked at him with a blank face. "You again? Haa... how troublesome."
"You can't keep running away!"
Manjiro sighed, finished the last bite of his dorayaki, and without even loosening his bag, stepped forward lazily.
It happened fast.
A blur of movement, a thud.
The boy was on the ground, groaning.
Chika's jaw dropped. Haruka whispered, "Whoa…"
Manjiro dusted his hands and looked down at the boy. "You've got guts though. That's kinda cool."
The boy gritted his teeth. "Just… go."
Manjiro turned and began walking again.
Draken glanced over his shoulder. "Told you not to bother him," he muttered.
Haruka looked back at Asuka and chika, "well let's head towards the cafe and enjoy our first day".
Draken and Manjiro turned to leave. As they walked toward the river, Draken glanced at his friend.
"You like that guy?" he asked, half-amused.
"He's interesting," Manjiro replied, hands behind his head as he stared up at the sky. "People who don't give up… they're kinda cool."
The two sat on the grassy bank in silence, the late afternoon sun reflecting off the water, rippling like their thoughts.