The spring sun slipped gently through the curtain gaps of Rikuya Asahina's room, spreading warm light onto the surface of her study desk full of books and school supplies. The alarm sound of the old alarm clock chimes softly. He rubbed his half-sleepy face and pulled the blanket reluctantly.
"Oh my goodness, the first day at school is new, why do you have to be so early," he muttered in a half-complaining tone.
Across the room, there was a sound from the kitchen, a sign that his parents had started their activities. He took a deep breath, got up from the bed, and began to get ready. The morning shower felt fresher than usual, the cold air slapped her skin until the drowsiness slowly disappeared.
While wearing her new school uniform, Rikuya had time to stand in front of the mirror, observing herself. Her slightly messy black hair she tidied up to her makeshift makeup, dark brown eyes staring at her reflection with a mixed expression of confidence and doubt.
Her school bag that has been filled with books and of course her favorite polaroid camera hangs casually on her shoulder. The camera has accompanied the move from city to city, as if it were a silent witness to his every life journey.
While walking to the dining room, the aroma of breakfast was already fragrant. His mother, with shoulder-length black hair tied loosely, was arranging dishes and bread on the table, while his father read the newspaper while sipping the occasional warm black coffee.
"Good morning, son," his mother greeted him with a warm smile when he saw Rikuya enter.
"Morning, ma'am," he replied briefly as he sat down.
His father turned his attention away from the newspaper. "How did you feel on this first day? Ready to face the new world?"
Rikuya shrugged. "Yes, I only want one thing: to get through this year without any fuss."
His mother patted him lightly on the shoulder. "Good. Don't forget to eat enough, and don't think too much."
Rikuya smiled faintly. "Yes, I promise."
After breakfast was over, Rikuya returned to her room for a while to make sure all the equipment was complete.
Outside the house, the spring breeze blows softly, bringing the scent of cherry blossoms that are beginning to bloom.
On the bus, the atmosphere was crowded with other students who were also heading to the same school.
Arriving at the gate of Hoshizora High School, Rikuya got off the bus and walked into the school complex. The three-story building looks majestic with a cherry blossom garden on the left side. The petals of the flower fell softly, as if to welcome his arrival.
He took a picture of a cherry blossom tree in full bloom. The clicking sound of the polaroid gives the sensation that every moment can be captured.
In front of class 2-B, the atmosphere has begun to be crowded. Some students were chatting, some were busy with their phones, and some teachers seemed to check the list of names.
As he opened the classroom door, a young man with dark brown hair and hazel eyes smiled kindly.
"Hey, you're the new one? I am Haruto Kaji. Welcome!"
Rikuya nodded. "Thank you. "I'm Asahina."
Several other students glanced at him curiously, but no one immediately greeted him other than Haruto.
Not long after, the door of the classroom opened again. A girl with shoulder-length caramel brown hair dyed blonde gradations at the end of the entrance. Her bright amber eyes stared at the class for a moment, then stopped at Rikuya.
He walked over to the bench next to him and sat down with a half-indifferent but wary expression.
"Hm, a new child, huh? Don't expect me to be so easy to deal with you," he said in a firm tone, but a small smile flashed on his lips.
Rikuya raised an eyebrow. "Just relax. I didn't mean to bother either."
"Then don't bother me," she replied while putting a pastel hair ribbon on her head, a characteristic that always made her look different from other students.
The lesson began. The homeroom teacher greeted warmly.
"Good morning, children. Today we have the arrival of a transfer student, Rikuya Asahina. Hopefully you all can accept him well."
During the lesson, Rikuya tries to follow along closely, but Ayaka's sharp gaze and her small comments between lessons always make her gasp a little.
During the break, Rikuya was about to open her lunch box, but suddenly Ayaka's hand snatched it away quickly.
"Hey, this is my food?" protested Rikuya.
Ayaka just smiled mischievously. "Look at your provisions first. It's not bad for me." "Bring it back," Rikuya urged.
"Whatever. But if you don't want to share, I tell the class leader that you often fall asleep in class," Ayaka teased in a playful tone.
Rikuya looked at him sarcastically. "You are a threat to life."
"That's why sit next to me, let me keep an eye on you," Ayaka replied casually while taking a bite of her sweet bread.
Afternoon came quickly, and the last lesson was over. When the bell rings home, Ayaka stops Rikuya at the door.
"Do you have time?" he asked suddenly.
"What is it for?" Rikuya looked hesitant.
"Drama club training. They need a male substitute," he replied without further ado.
Rikuya almost refuses, but Ayaka threatens, "If you refuse, I tell the teacher that you keep sleeping." Reluctantly, Rikuya agreed.
As they practice in a clubroom full of costumes and decorations, Ayaka shows the other side of herself. He is cheerful, impulsive, but also looks a little fragile when away from other people's gaze.
"Your expression is like a statue," he sneered with a laugh.
"This is not my skill." Rikuya replied casually.
But Ayaka stared at him for a long time. "But I don't hate to see it."
On the way home, the atmosphere turned quiet. The spring wind moved the cherry blossom petals that fell onto Ayaka's shoulder.
She looked at Rikuya with unusual eyes.
"You know? I'll only be in this school for one year." Rikuya was silent, surprised.
"A year, then I have to go," he added quietly.
They walked down the small street behind the school, where cherry trees were neatly lined up. The fallen flower petals dance softly in the wind, creating an atmosphere that somehow feels more personal than in the classroom.
"I never like to go from school to school," Ayaka said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Rikuya turned her head, a little surprised. Usually Ayaka always has sharp words and spicy sarcasm, but this time her voice sounds soft and almost expressionless.
"Why?" asked Rikuya, trying to fill the empty space between them.
Ayaka shook her head. "Nothing is eternal. Everyone just left, or I left. It's hard to get close to anybody."
Rikuya was silent, trying to digest her words. For some reason, he felt that the other side of Ayaka that had been hidden was starting to open little by little.
"If I ..., I just want this year to run smoothly," he said finally.
Ayaka turned her head, looking at her with amber eyes that were now slightly dim.
"Are you sure you can hold on with me? I..., am not an easy person to approach."
"That's exactly it," Rikuya replied. "I don't want this year to go by meaninglessly."
They walked hand in hand until they finally reached a crossroads near the bus stop. Ayaka paused, taking a deep breath, as if gathering courage.
"Listen, Rikuya," he said quietly. "I don't want you to misunderstand. I'm not the type of girl who easily trusts new people, let alone just for a year."
They stared at each other for a while. In Ayaka's small smile, there was a vulnerability that she had been hiding behind her tsundere attitude. "Well, let's just assume this is the beginning of our friendship," Ayaka said, then patted Rikuya's shoulder casually.
Rikuya chuckled. "Friendship with a tsundere girl, huh?"
Ayaka gently elbowed her arm. "Don't make me angry on the first day."
At night, in Rikuya's room, she sits at her desk and opens a small photo album containing a collection of polaroids of her life journey. On the last page, there is a photo of the cherry tree this morning, with a small handwriting underneath: A new beginning.
He sighed, then opened his laptop to type his first diary at the new school.
Rikuya Asahina, the first day of school and I sat on the bench with Ayaka Minazuki. Tsundere with a heart that is hard to guess.
Behind her bedroom window, the street lights twinkle, and the night breeze blew with the promise of colorful days to come