The classroom buzzed with post-ceremony chatter, that weird limbo between structure and freedom where no one quite knew what to do but everyone felt like they had to *do something*.
Ren Fujiwara leaned back in his seat, arms crossed behind his head, watching as students trickled in and began to settle. He didn't speak—not yet. This part of the day was for *observing*. Like the introduction to a play. You had to know your cast before you stole the show.
Akari, next to him, had already unpacked her notebooks and was flipping through the schedule with a furrow in her brow.
"Let me guess," Ren said without looking away from the door. "You're mapping out which teachers are most likely to assign homework on day one."
"I'm figuring out the best times to nap without getting caught," she replied flatly.
He smirked. "Impressive."
A girl slipped into the seat in front of them, hair bouncing in honey-colored waves. She placed her bag down gently, adjusted the lapels of her uniform, then turned around—right to Ren—with the kind of easy confidence usually reserved for girls in toothpaste commercials.
"You're new, right?" she asked.
Ren tilted his head slightly. "That obvious?"
"Only because you walked in like a male lead in a dating sim." She stuck out her hand. "Rio. Hayashi Rio."
Ren took her hand politely, returning the smile but mentally logging the interaction with a label: **flirt**.
"Ren Fujiwara. And this is Akari Tanaka," he added, gesturing beside him.
Akari looked up, startled. "Hi."
Rio gave her a quick, friendly nod but didn't linger.
She turned back around without another word, pulling out a small mirror and a lip balm shaped like a peach.
Akari exhaled. "Was that—?"
"Yes," Ren said, still watching her in amusement. "She's going to be a problem."
"Your kind of problem."
"I don't *have* problems. Only admirers."
She scoffed but said nothing. The bell rang, and a teacher with a mild slouch and a tie that screamed *I hate mornings* entered the room. He tapped the whiteboard absentmindedly before turning around to face them.
"Good morning. I'm Mr. Sudo. I teach English. I'm also your temporary homeroom teacher until Ms. Hoshino rotates in next week."
He paused, scanning the room like he was already done with it.
"Don't cause trouble, and I won't remember your names. That's the deal."
A few nervous chuckles. Ren grinned. He liked this guy already.
Mr. Sudo gestured toward the board. "We'll do self-introductions in a minute. First, seats."
He pulled out a clipboard.
"Oh, joy," Ren whispered. "The lottery of fate."
Akari leaned over. "I hope we're not split. You need a handler."
"Correction. I need a stage."
"Exactly."
---
As the teacher read names and students shifted around, the front row quickly filled. Ren was assigned to the second row, middle seat. Akari was placed directly behind him.
"Tragic," Ren said, as he passed her desk. "I'll turn around and wave dramatically during class."
"I'll pretend not to see you."
"Perfect."
The classroom eventually settled into its new arrangement. A boy with broad shoulders and light brown hair sat next to Ren—quiet, composed, and slightly too neat, like he'd been preparing for this moment since last week. He bowed politely before sitting down.
"Kaito Minami," he said simply.
Ren blinked. "Ren. Fujiwara."
Kaito nodded once, then opened a small notebook and began writing something in neat, blocky script.
Ren narrowed his eyes. A mystery. Reserved. Unshakeable. Probably the type who got perfect scores and helped stray cats cross the street. Dangerous.
He'd have to keep an eye on him.
Meanwhile, to Akari's right, a tall, lanky guy with a hoodie under his uniform blazer slouched into his seat. He looked like he hadn't slept. His black bangs fell into his eyes, and when he exhaled, it was like he'd just been asked to do manual labor.
"Didn't think they were gonna put me *next* to the sun," he muttered, glancing sideways at Ren.
Akari stifled a snort.
The guy turned slightly toward her, his voice deadpan. "Is this whole school full of models or did I stumble into a drama shoot?"
"Just him," Akari said, nodding toward Ren.
"Figured."
He pulled out a mechanical pencil, chewed on the end, and scribbled something on a math worksheet that clearly wasn't from this class.
"Nagi," he said. "In case we're ever forced to speak again."
"Akari."
"Cool. Don't borrow my eraser."
---
Introductions began shortly after, each student standing awkwardly, some mumbling, some overcompensating. Rio's intro was confident, bubbly, with a wink at the teacher. Kaito's was efficient. Nagi just said, "I'm here. That's enough, right?" and sat down.
Then came a girl from the far corner who stood up so quietly half the class didn't notice at first. She had straight, black hair to her waist and wore perfectly circular glasses. Her uniform was crisp—creased like origami—and her voice, when she finally spoke, was soft but unshakably precise.
"Ishikawa Hana. I like books, silence, and being left alone. Thank you."
She bowed slightly, then sat without waiting for a response.
Ren watched her with interest. Another category: **mystery genius. Probably immune to charm. Probably impossible to beat on tests.** He hated that he found that intriguing.
Then a guy in the back stood so fast he nearly knocked over his chair.
"DAICHI MORITA!" he yelled, with both hands in the air like he was at a concert. "I LIKE BASEBALL! AND CURRY BREAD! AND—wait, what else was I supposed to say?"
Everyone turned to look at him. He looked around, completely unaffected.
"Oh! And I like everyone already! LET'S HAVE A GOOD YEAR!"
He sat back down, beaming.
Ren looked at Akari, eyebrows raised.
Akari leaned forward, whispering, "You've got competition in the chaos department."
"He's too powerful," Ren whispered back.
---
Class continued with minor explanations of club options, rules, and schedule sheets. By the time the bell rang for break, most students were already chatting freely.
Ren didn't move. He was still watching the room. Logging names. Faces. Energy.
Akari nudged his chair with her foot. "You're scanning people like a dating sim character select screen."
"I'm figuring out the landscape."
"It's *not* a battlefield."
"Oh, it *absolutely* is."
"Fine. Who's the final boss?"
He didn't even hesitate. "Hana. She terrifies me."
Akari laughed under her breath.
Behind her, Nagi snorted. "If she's the final boss, I'm the NPC giving you a shovel and one line of cryptic dialogue."
Akari glanced back. "Accurate."
"Thanks. I try."
Ren shook his head but was smiling.
---
Later that morning, a girl from another class popped into 1-A during passing period. She had short auburn hair and a wide smile, dressed slightly sloppier than regulation but with such confidence that no one could complain.
"Yo! Anyone seen Rio? Or Nagi?"
Both of them raised their hands lazily. She grinned.
"Nice. Our friend group reunion is almost complete."
Akari turned to Ren. "Friend of yours?"
He shrugged. "Nope. But apparently she knows them."
The girl's eyes scanned the room and landed on Akari.
"Oh! You're Tanaka Akari, right? You went to Seiryo Middle!"
Akari blinked. "Uh. Yeah?"
"I'm Noa! I was in 3-B. Rio and I are tight, and Nagi used to copy off my homework. We're in 1-C now. Come sit with us at lunch!"
Akari opened her mouth, not sure what to say.
Before she could answer, Noa had waved and disappeared back into the hallway.
Ren leaned toward her. "New fan?"
"Apparently."
"You're growing your own fanbase. Be careful."
Akari stared at him. "Says the guy who got called a 'Prince' by a total stranger before lunch."
He smiled smugly. "Some titles are earned."
"Some are cursed."
---
As the day rolled on, nothing explosive happened. There were no dramatic confessions or anime-style misunderstandings. Just a slowly forming cluster of faces and voices, personalities overlapping like brushstrokes. No one stood out too much yet. No one crossed lines.
Not yet.
But the pieces were in place.
And that, Ren thought as he packed his books into his bag at the final bell, was the most important thing.
Because all good stories start quietly.
Before everything gets complicated.