The morning sun cast a golden glow over Kamakura, and the streets buzzed with the usual rhythm of students walking to school.
Riku Kazehaya adjusted the straps of his school bag, his expression unreadable as he stepped out of the apartment.
Behind him, Aika Hoshino followed, casually locking the door. Her long black hair shimmered under the sunlight, swaying as she walked beside him in her blazer and skirt.
Neither said much — not because it was awkward, but because this had become... normal. Familiar.
That was, until they turned the corner and spotted three guys from their class — wide-eyed, jaws almost on the pavement.
"...Yo, is that... Aika Hoshino?" one of them whispered.
"And... Riku Kazehaya?"
"Leaving the same house... together?"
The whispers spread faster than wildfire.
By the time they reached the school gate, half the class already knew. Rumors weren't just alive—they were thriving.
During lunch break, Riku was walking back from the vending machine when he heard someone call out.
"Hey. Aika."
She turned from her desk.
A smug-looking boy approached her, hands stuffed into his pockets. A few of his friends stood behind him, already grinning.
"You're not seriously dating that freak Riku Kazehaya, right?"
Aika's eyes narrowed. Her voice was calm, but cold. "First of all, he's not a freak."
The boy blinked.
"And yeah," she added, crossing her arms, "I am going out with him. Got a problem with that?"
He stammered. "N-No! Not at all!"
She turned back to her lunch, ignoring him completely.
Meanwhile, Riku was ambushed by an energetic figure just outside the classroom.
"RIKUUUUU!"
"Ugh," Riku muttered, nearly spilling his canned coffee.
Jin Morikawa — his overly dramatic best friend from middle school — tackled him in a one-armed hug.
"You betrayed me, bro!" Jin wailed. "First you transfer in and don't even say hi. Then you drop the 'I'm living with the hottest girl in school' bomb. AND NOW I HEAR YOU'RE DATING HER!?"
"I didn't betray you. You're being dramatic."
"And," Jin said with a fake sniffle, "I heard someone say you used to be a national-level boxer? Bro, you never told me that either! Who even are you?!"
Aika had just stepped out to grab something from the hallway when she overheard them.
She froze.
Wait... national-level boxer?
She turned to Riku with wide eyes. "Is that true?"
Riku blinked. "...Yeah."
Aika stared at him, her heart suddenly racing. No way... that Riku Kazehaya? The one from the regional finals two years ago?
She gulped, cheeks flushing.
"Oh my god... it's like a dream come true…"
"What?"
"N-Nothing!" she said quickly, spinning on her heel and returning to class in a fluster.
But inside, her thoughts were spinning like crazy.
If he really is that Riku Kazehaya... then I'm dating someone I crushed on before I even knew him.
This might be fate.
She smiled to herself, trying hard to hide it.
And for the first time since they started living together, it really hit her:
She wanted this.
To be continued...