The moon of a young night bathed Rai Kurosawa's room in soft silver, shadows stretching long and distorted across the shelves stacked with books of every conceivable genre. From floor to ceiling, the walls were lined with volumes—romance novels with their tender covers, epic fantasy tomes promising grand adventures, intricate mysteries with their tantalizing clues, and even sleek, futuristic sci-fi narratives. It was less a room and more a personal library, a sanctuary built from paper and ink. A modest wooden table sat beside his bed, cluttered with three half-finished novels, their pages dog-eared or marked with random receipts, and a cracked ceramic cup overflowing with a mismatched collection of pens, pencils, and the occasional dried-out marker.
Rai stood perfectly still in the center of this literary fortress, his eyes locked on a particular spot on the wall for minutes. The scene from yesterday played back in his mind with the vividness of a high-definition movie, complete with sound effects. The clear, slightly indignant voice of a girl, the jarring BAM! of a slammed desk, and that memorable, annoying "Hmph." It was a replay he hadn't asked for, an uninvited rerun in the quiet cinema of his mind. He muttered, the words escaping in a low, confused sigh, "That girl... Hoshizora, right? Aika Hoshizora. What in the world was her problem?" He still couldn't fathom why she'd reacted with such explosive indignation simply because he hadn't immediately acknowledged her. Was it some city-girl etiquette he wasn't aware of? A secret high-society handshake he'd failed to perform?
He grabbed a fresh book from the nearest shelf, his fingers tracing the embossed title. He needed a distraction, an escape back into a world where reactions were logical and emotions were clearly defined on the page. He flipped through the pages, the crisp rustle of paper a soothing sound in the silence. The title read: "Whispers Beneath the Rain." A classic romance novel, featuring star-crossed lovers and dramatic weather. He sighed, a faint, weary sound. "At least books don't slam tables when you ignore them. They just patiently wait for you to pick them up again." He sank onto his bed, opening the book, but the image of Aika's storm-cloud face stubbornly lingered between the lines. He couldn't shake the faint, floral scent that had followed her, either. It was an annoying, persistent detail that clung to his memory.
Morning came before he knew it, ushered in by the relentless, chirpy alarm on his phone. Rai groaned, swatting blindly until he silenced the intrusive cheerfulness. He groggily stumbled towards the bathroom, toothbrush in mouth, his mind still half-ensnared in the dream logic of a fantasy novel. He stared at his reflection in the steamy mirror, his hair a disheveled mess. "Kenji's gonna yap my ears off again today," he murmured, toothpaste foaming slightly at the corner of his mouth, "especially about that Hoshizora girl. He probably thinks I'm already halfway to a confession scene." The thought made him wince. Kenji's interpretations of his life were always wildly exaggerated and steeped in gaming metaphors.
After a quick, lukewarm shower and dressing in his standard, impeccably average school uniform, Rai ate a simple breakfast of toast and green tea, the quiet morning routine a balm to his still-sleepy mind. He grabbed his bag, checked for his current reading material, and stepped outside, only to be greeted by a familiar yet utterly ridiculous sight—Kenji Sakamoto, striking a pose next to an electric post at the end of Rai's driveway, hand pointed dramatically to the sky like some secret agent receiving top-secret transmissions. His messy hair seemed to defy gravity, sticking up in several directions.
Rai rubbed his eyes, convinced he was still dreaming. "What the hell is this delusional gamer doing now?" he mumbled, wondering if he could just pretend he hadn't seen him and sneak back inside.
Kenji spun around, his face lighting up like a level-up notification. "Raiden! You're late! Operation: Morning Walk has already begun! The objective is to reach school before the morning mini-boss appears!"
Rai sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Stop calling it an operation, Kenji. We're just walking to school. And there's no mini-boss."
"Hey, roleplaying keeps the morning fresh, adds a bit of XP to the daily grind!" Kenji countered, falling into step beside him. "And you never know when you'll encounter a wild encounter, Raiden. Life is an open-world RPG, after all."
They started walking together, the usual banter flowing easily between them, exchanging light jabs and discussing the latest patch notes for Kenji's favorite MMORPG. It was a familiar, comforting rhythm, a small island of normalcy in the increasingly chaotic waters of Rai's life.
Suddenly, a voice, surprisingly cheerful and quite loud, called from behind. "Wait up, you two! You walk too fast!"
A girl with long, flowing pink hair ran up to them, waving enthusiastically, her backpack bouncing with each hurried step. She finally caught up, slightly panting, a bright smile on her face. Her uniform was a bit disheveled, as if she'd dressed in a hurry.
Kenji blinked, his dramatic pose momentarily forgotten. "Yumi? What are you doing here? Don't you have to prepare for the morning raid?"
Yumi Aozora, Kenji's cousin from another class, caught her breath, leaning her hands on her knees. "You forgot your lunch again, dummy," she chided, straightening up and holding out a neatly wrapped bento box. "Auntie told me to give it to you if I saw you. You're hopeless, you know that? She said you'd try to survive on instant ramen again."
Kenji scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Oh, right… I swear I packed it this morning. Wait, no. I packed chips. For gaming fuel, you know."
Rai raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "You were seriously going to survive a whole school day on a bag of chips, Kenji?"
"Gaming fuel!" Kenji defended, clutching the bento box Yumi handed him like a precious artifact. "You need quick energy for those mid-day boss rushes, Raiden. Chips are optimal."
Yumi shook her head, a soft laugh bubbling up. Then she turned her bright gaze to Rai, a curious expression on her face. "You must be Rai, right? I've heard Kenji talk about you. He makes you sound like a mythical creature."
"He does?" Rai looked at Kenji accusingly, a sense of mild dread washing over him. What bizarre tales had Kenji spun?
"Only the good stuff! The legendary silent protagonist!" Kenji grinned, completely unrepentant. "I tell her about your unparalleled reading speed and your mysterious aura."
"I'm Yumi Aozora. Nice to meet you, Rai-kun!" She offered a small, polite bow, her pink hair swaying.
"Rai Kurosawa. Likewise, Yumi-san," Rai replied, returning the bow with a slight nod.
"You're quieter than I imagined," Yumi said playfully, tilting her head. "Kenji makes you sound like a stoic hero, but you're just… quiet."
"He talks more in his head," Kenji quipped, nudging Rai with his elbow. "Trust me, the monologue never stops. It's probably epic."
They all laughed, the sound surprisingly pleasant in the morning air, and continued toward school together. Yumi's presence added an unexpected charm to the morning, with her light teasing and cheerful nature keeping Kenji's more outlandish pronouncements in check. She was like a cheerful buffer, a splash of bright color in Rai's usually muted mornings.
Once they reached the sprawling school gates, the familiar chaos of hundreds of students converging, Kenji and Rai headed toward their classroom while Yumi waved and headed off to her own, her pink hair a bright beacon disappearing into the crowd.
Inside, Room 2-B was already a low hum of chatter and rustling papers. Aika Hoshizora was already seated at her desk, perfectly poised, flipping through her notebook with a focused intensity that made her seem oblivious to the surrounding noise. As the boys entered, Aika glanced briefly in their direction, her eyes sweeping over them before returning to her notes, almost as if she were simply cataloging their presence.
Kenji, however, caught the glance and his eyes widened dramatically, his earlier composure shattering. "Did you see that, Raiden!? Hoshizora-san looked at me! She looked! She acknowledged my presence! This is huge!" He practically whispered the last part, but his excitement vibrated through his entire being.
Rai, already exhausted by Kenji's morning antics and the subtle tension of being in the same room as Aika again, replied with a tired sigh, "Yes, yes, Kenji, she looked. Congratulations. You have been seen." He tried to infuse his voice with as much sarcasm as possible, but it barely registered with Kenji.
They took their usual seats, Rai by the window, Kenji beside him. Rai cast a quick, almost involuntary glance toward Aika's desk. She was still bent over her notebook, her long black hair falling forward, partially obscuring her face. He immediately looked away, a faint warmth creeping up his neck. He didn't want another desk-slamming incident. The classroom buzzed with idle chatter until the homeroom teacher, Mr. Nakamoto, bustled in, his usual cheerful but disheveled self.
"Good morning, class. Settle down, settle down," the teacher announced, clapping his hands together. "Before we continue, I'll be assigning group members for the upcoming literature project. This will be a significant portion of your grade, so I expect thorough work. Each group will have four members, and I've tried my best to create balanced teams." He adjusted his glasses, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Kenji leaned over, nudging Rai's arm with his elbow. "Ooooh, this is it, Raiden. My chance. I hope I get in a group with Hoshizora-san. That would be fate, wouldn't it? The protagonist and the heroine, destined to collaborate."
Rai sighed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, Kenji. Fate loves chaotic duos who procrastinate until the last minute."
The teacher began reading aloud from his list, his voice droning through the names. "Group 1… Group 2… And for Group 3…" He paused dramatically, building the anticipation. "We have… Aika Hoshizora, Kenji Sakamoto, Rai Kurosawa, and Sakura Minami."
Kenji's jaw dropped so low Rai thought it might unhinge. His eyes, usually gleaming with mischief, were now wide with genuine shock and a hint of terror. "IT'S REAL! FATE IS REAL! Raiden! Did you hear that!? We're in the same group as her! This is the start of the main quest! I'm not ready for this level of interaction!" He gripped Rai's arm, his knuckles white.
Rai groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Calm down, Kenji, before you hyperventilate and summon an actual mini-boss." This was going to be an exceptionally long project. The quiet, predictable life he craved seemed to be actively avoiding him lately.
As the students gathered into their newly assigned groups during the break, a soft voice tentatively broke the excited chatter. "Um, hi. Excuse me?"
Sakura Minami approached first, a small, unassuming figure with soft brown hair tied neatly with a ribbon. She wore a pair of delicate, wire-rimmed glasses that magnified her gentle, slightly anxious eyes. Her demeanor was shy, almost timid.
"Um, hi. I'm Sakura Minami. It's nice to meet all of you," she said with a shy smile, her voice barely above a whisper. She clutched a textbook to her chest like a shield.
Kenji, surprisingly, was the first to recover from his shock. He straightened up, putting on his best "cool gamer" persona. "Whoa! You're Sakura Minami, right? The top of the class? I heard you're like, scary smart. Your notes are legendary."
Sakura blushed, her cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. "I-I just like reading… a lot. I guess." She fidgeted with her ribbon.
Aika joined the circle shortly after, her usual composed aura back in place, though Rai noticed a faint tightening around her lips. She surveyed the small group, her gaze sharp, then crossed her arms, adopting her signature "I mean business" stance. "Alright, let's just get this over with. I don't like wasting time." Her tone left no room for pleasantries.
Kenji, attempting to be cool and efficient, puffed out his chest. "No worries, Hoshizora-san! We're super efficient. Especially Rai here—he reads more than the librarian. He's practically a walking database of fictional knowledge."
Aika's gaze, which had been dismissive until then, suddenly snapped to Rai. A flicker of recognition, then exasperation, crossed her features. "Oh, so you're the book guy," she said, her voice dry.
Rai, feeling a sudden surge of something akin to boldness, or perhaps just plain exhaustion, nodded slowly. "And you're the desk-slammer," he countered, his voice flat but with a hint of challenge.
Aika's composure faltered instantly. A fiery blush bloomed across her cheeks, reaching the tips of her ears, and she immediately looked away, her head snapping to the side. "T-that was because you were ignoring me!" she spluttered, her voice several octaves higher than usual.
"I was reading," Rai stated calmly, unfazed by her sudden fluster.
"You still ignored me!" she shot back, turning to glare at him again, her eyes narrowed. The storm cloud was definitely back.
Kenji, sensing the impending dramatic reenactment, quickly stepped between them, his hands up in a placating gesture. "Okay, okay! Let's focus on the project before this becomes a dramatic reenactment of a rom-com fight scene. We have a literature project, not a love triangle."
Sakura giggled softly, a quiet, bell-like sound that seemed to diffuse some of the tension. "You guys are funny," she murmured, her shy smile returning.
Aika huffed, still slightly red-faced. "Hmph. Fine. Let's just plan the project. Who wants to do what?" She clearly wanted to move on from the embarrassing topic.
Rai, taking the hint, pulled out a small, neatly bound notebook from his bag. "I can handle the writing part. Research, analysis, essay structure."
Kenji raised his hand eagerly, almost knocking over a pile of textbooks on the desk. "I'll do the visuals! I can use my tablet for presentation slides, charts, maybe even a short animation! I'm a wizard with graphic design, especially for gaming."
Sakura, ever practical, spoke up. "I'll help with organizing the ideas and research. I'm good at finding information and making outlines."
Aika sighed, surveying her newfound teammates. "Fine. I'll present. I'm good at that." Her voice held a note of reluctant acceptance, a hint of pride.
Rai glanced at her, a flicker of genuine surprise on his face. "That's surprising. Given your… previous interactions."
Aika looked insulted, her eyes flashing. "Hey! I can be confident when I want to! I'm the best public speaker in my old school!"
Kenji leaned over to Rai, his voice dropping to a stage whisper that was entirely too loud. "See, Raiden? I told you. She's definitely a tsundere. The 'I'm confident when I want to' is a classic line."
Rai whispered back, barely moving his lips, "You only say that because you want it to be true, Kenji. You're trying to force her into a character archetype."
The group planning continued with occasional bickering, plenty of sarcasm, and a surprising amount of productivity. Despite the initial friction, or perhaps because of it, the strange chemistry between the four started to click. Rai provided the quiet intellect, Kenji the flamboyant energy and surprising tech skills, Sakura the meticulous organization, and Aika the sharp focus and, unexpectedly, a dry wit that occasionally matched Rai's own. They managed to hash out a basic outline, assign preliminary tasks, and even debate the merits of different literary interpretations, much to the amusement of nearby groups.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of the break and the return to regular lessons, Mr. Nakamoto returned to the front of the classroom, his hands full of textbooks. "Alright, everyone, let's continue with the lesson. Open your textbooks to page 147."
Rai leaned back in his chair, staring out the window at the familiar, unchanging view of the schoolyard. The sun was higher now, casting brighter, shorter shadows. He traced the outline of a distant cloud with his finger, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips.
Somehow… this year was getting a lot more complicated, and a lot less quiet, than he expected. And for the first time in a long time, he felt a strange, unsettling flicker of anticipation for what the next chapter of his own story might bring.