The sound of the incoming bell echoed throughout the school hallways, marking the start of the actual day. After a brief introduction this morning, Rikuya finally sat down on her bench—a corner by the window, a classic position that she said has always been the place of strange people and "main characters" in teen stories. He sighed, put down his bag, and then looked out the window, noticing the cherry blossom petals that were still flying.
"Hey ... don't be too daydreamy, New Child."
The sound came from the side. Rikuya turned her head, finding the girl with the pastel ribbon in her hair resting her chin on the palm, looking at her with a lazy but curious look.
Ayaka Minazuki. He had just heard the name earlier when the teacher mentioned the attendance list. Caramel brown hair with blonde gradations at the ends makes her stand out from other schoolgirls. She was definitely not the type of girl who was mediocre.
"I just saw the scenery," Rikuya replied briefly.
"Classic reasons. Usually people who sit by the window must be pretentious and melancholy." Ayaka smiled faintly, then crossed her arms. "Are you a cool manga character?"
Rikuya let out a small laugh. "If so, are you the heroine?"
Ayaka immediately rolled her eyeballs. "Hah, it's really bad. Don't dream. I'm more suited to be a heroine."
"At least you're self-aware," Rikuya muttered.
"HEY!" Ayaka snorted, patting their table next to each other. Some of the students in the back row glanced curiously, while Rikuya just shrugged her shoulders as if nothing had happened.
"Already. I just want to be quiet today," he said, putting a small polaroid on the table.
Ayaka leaned over, her eyes sparkling. "Eh, camera? You're a photographer, aren't you?"
"Not a photographer. Just a hobby," he replied quickly.
Ayaka smiled mischievously. "Don't be surprised if I suddenly become your model."
"Is it a threat or a request?"
"Just take it as a warning."
The change of lesson bell sounds. The next teacher walked in, starting the Math lesson. Rikuya tried to focus, but every now and then she could feel Ayaka's gaze. Not a attentive gaze, but more like: I'm going to find a way to distract you.
When the teacher calls Rikuya to work on the problem on the board, Ayaka mutters softly, loud enough to be heard:
"I hope you don't embarrass me, New Child"
Rikuya glanced at him, looking at him flatly. "If I'm wrong, will you come forward to replace me?"
Ayaka pretended to cough, covering her face with a book. Rikuya could hold back a faint smile as she stepped to the front of the class.
Break hours. The atmosphere of the classroom became more boisterous. Some students crowded, some exchanged provisions, some joked loudly.
Haruto, the dark brown man who had greeted him warmly, immediately approached.
"Yo, Rikuya! How about the new class? Exciting, right?"
"You think being attacked by a strange girl is fun?" he replied, glancing at Ayaka who was opening the provisions casually.
Haruto turned his head towards Ayaka. "Oh, Minazuki? Haha, be careful. He is notorious for being ignorant. But it's really good... maybe."
"'Maybe' is not a convincing word."
Haruto laughed. "Just calm down. If he's too extreme, I'll beat you."
Before Rikuya had time to reply, Ayaka suddenly reached out and grabbed her lunch box.
"Borrow first," he said as he pleased.
"Hey, it's not a loan. That's called thief," Rikuya protested.
Ayaka opened her lunch box, staring at the contents of rice, egg rolls, and sausages. "Hmm... Not too neat. Who made it? Your mother?"
"Why do you care?"
Ayaka smiled slyly, picking up a piece of egg rolls. "Because now it's mine."
"Turn it back!"
"It's too late," he said while eating egg rolls with satisfaction. "Hmm, delicious. Value seven points five out of ten."
Rikuya sighed in frustration. "You're a monster."
Haruto nodded hard, patting Rikuya's shoulder. "Welcome to the real world, Bro. Sitting next to Ayaka means that your provisions are no longer safe." "I'm going to be here tomorrow," Ryu whispered.
"Please try," Ayaka replied quickly, still chewing.
After the break, the class resumed. This time it was a History lesson, with a teacher who spoke a bit monotonous. Rikuya is almost asleep, but Ayaka's sudden whispering voice wakes her up.
"Hey don't sleep. I don't want to be labeled as sitting next to a lazy person."
"I don't sleep. Just rest your eyes." "Stale reason."
"You're more chatty than the teacher."
Ayaka held back a laugh, then wrote something on a small piece of paper and pushed it towards Rikuya.
Write on paper: If you fall asleep, I'll draw a mustache on your face.
Rikuya turned her head, looking at him with a flat expression. He wrote in reply: If you draw a picture, I will take a picture and spread it throughout the school.
Ayaka was silent for a while, then smiled obliquely. "Fufufu, New kid is not bad too."
Time passed. When the bell rang at the doorbell, Rikuya felt a little relieved. His first day turned out to be more tiring than he had imagined. He had just put the book in his bag when Ayaka stood beside him, crossing her arms.
"Hey, Asahina."
"What else?"
"Do you have time? The club needs a guy to coach."
Rikuya looked at him suspiciously. "Why should I?"
"Because I'm lazy to look for others. "Your face is so beautiful that it makes you feel like a human being."
"Thank you or insult, huh?"
Ayaka patted him on the shoulder. "Think of it as a golden opportunity. If you refuse, I told the teacher that you slept in class earlier."
"When am I going to sleep?"
"I can tell you as if you are sleeping. Teachers won't know the difference."
Rikuya stared at him for a long time. "You're the definition of extortion."
"Let's just say I'm recruiting talent," Ayaka replied casually.
Finally, reluctantly, Rikuya follows Ayaka to the drama club room. The room was full of colorful costumes, stage props, and piles of scripts. Some of the club members seemed busy, while the club chairman immediately welcomed Ayaka with relief.
"Minazuki! You brought people?"
Ayaka nodded, pulling Rikuya's arm forward. "That's it, Asahina. He can change the male role."
"Eh, wait a minute—" Rikuya protested.
But before he had time to refuse, the script had been presented to his hand. He could only sigh resignedly.
The training took place in a mixed manner. Rikuya was stiff, her voice was flat, and her expression was really like reading a textbook. Ayaka repeatedly held back laughter.
"Seriously, your expression is like a stone statue," Ayaka commented with a shaking her head.
"This is not my expertise," Rikuya replied.
"But it's not bad. At least... I don't hate to see it."
Those words made Rikuya a little speechless. Ayaka quickly turned away, pretending to be busy with the script.
The afternoon sun began to set as they finally came out of the clubhouse. The street behind the school was quiet, there was only the sound of birds and the wind blowing the cherry blossom petals.
"Eh, Asahina," Ayaka said suddenly, looking up at the twilight sky.
"What else?"
"You know I've only been in this school for a year."
Rikuya stopped walking, turned her head. "Why?"
Ayaka shrugged. "Family reasons. I kept moving. So don't expect too much from me to feel at home."
"So you mean, I have to keep my distance?"
Ayaka turned her head with a faint smile. "If you're strong, just try. But don't blame me if you get upset."
Rikuya looked at him for a while, then smiled slightly. "I don't like living meaninglessly. If it's only a year, yes, let a year be meaningful."
Ayaka was silent for a moment, then gently elbowed her arm. "Don't be so rude, little boy."
"That's not poetic. That's just honest."
Ayaka laughed. "Hmph, we'll see."
They parted at a crossroads, but the words continued to ring in Rikuya's head until nightfall. In his room, he pasted a new Polaroid—a photo of his classroom—on the blank page of a small album.
Underneath, he wrote in marker:
Day one: Stool with a weird girl named Ayaka Minazuki.