Spring arrived gently, like a soft curtain drawn back over the sleepy town. Cherry blossoms bloomed along the front gates of the school, dancing like pink snow with every breeze. The sun was warm, but not overbearing, and the air carried a quiet energy that always came with the start of something new.
The second-year students had officially graduated. Now, Leo, Yuki, Hana, and Sora stood together under one of the blooming trees, watching petals drift to the ground like confetti.
They had done it.
Final results were posted. Everyone passed. The stressful nights, the snacks and tea-fueled study sessions, the awkward hugs and whispered confessions around mock test results—it had all led to this moment.
They were now officially third-years.
"I still can't believe it," Yuki murmured, turning her head to watch a petal land softly on her sleeve. She let it sit there, unmoving. "We're actually seniors."
"Time went too fast," Hana said, adjusting the strap of her shoulder bag with one hand while sipping canned coffee with the other.
Sora stood beside them, her expression calm as usual, but a rare softness touched her eyes. "We worked hard. It's earned."
Leo exhaled slowly. "Yeah. It's weird. Feels like we just got here."
He meant it. The pressure that had weighed so heavily on his chest for months felt... lighter now. But something else was beginning to stir, subtle and undefined.
Little did he know—the next chapter was just beginning.
---
The first day of third year felt strangely unfamiliar despite the same halls, same uniforms, same school bell.
Leo walked through the corridor, taking in the new roster list posted on the wall beside the classroom door. Most names were familiar.
But one near the bottom caught his eye.
Minase, Aira.
He tilted his head.
That was new.
Later that day, during lunch break, Leo wandered outside toward the courtyard. The benches beneath the cherry trees were usually quiet this time of day, and he'd come to love the sound of rustling petals and distant laughter.
He was about to take his usual spot when a sudden clatter caught his attention.
Near the vending machines, a girl had dropped her entire bag. Books, folders, and colorful pens scattered across the concrete. She knelt hurriedly, trying to gather them, but her long twin braids kept slipping over her shoulders, getting in the way.
Leo hesitated, then approached.
"Need help?"
She looked up, clearly startled.
Her eyes were a warm amber color, large behind square-framed glasses. She blinked once, then quickly smiled.
"Oh—thank you!" she said, her voice soft, almost musical.
He crouched down beside her, helping to gather the mess.
Most of her notebooks were neatly labeled, with colorful tabs marking sections. On one of the pages, Leo noticed little doodles in the margins—cherry blossoms, smiling cats, stars with winking eyes.
"You're really organized," he remarked, handing her the last of the pens.
She laughed, a little awkward. "I-I guess? I just like color-coding everything. It helps me focus."
"I get that," Leo said with a nod. "I tried using highlighters once. Gave up after color number three."
That earned a tiny laugh from her.
She straightened up, brushing dust from her skirt. "You're Shen-kun, right? We're in the same class."
Leo blinked. "Yeah. I'm Leo."
"Minase Aira," she said, giving a small bow. "I transferred here this year. Sorry, I'm kind of a klutz."
Leo smiled. "It happens to everyone."
She hesitated, then asked, "Um... would you mind showing me where the science lab is later? I get kind of lost with the building layout."
He nodded. "Sure. It's a bit confusing at first."
Aira's smile grew just a bit. "Thanks, really. You're the first person who talked to me today."
Leo didn't know what to say to that.
So he just nodded again.
But in his chest, something stirred.
Not fireworks.
But warmth. Gentle and soft.
---
Back in the classroom, Yuki was sipping her yogurt drink when she caught sight of Leo walking alongside someone unfamiliar. The girl wore glasses and carried a notebook pressed tightly to her chest.
Yuki squinted.
"Who's that?" she asked aloud.
Hana looked up. "Minase. Transfer student from another district. Supposedly top of her class."
"She's cute," Yuki said, tapping her straw against her lip. The way she said it wasn't exactly complimentary.
Sora glanced over her book, her gaze calm but focused. She didn't speak.
The trio watched in silence as Leo and Aira disappeared around the corner.
There was no drama.
But a new ripple had started across the surface of their shared world.
And all of them felt it.