Three days passed.
The incident with Takeda Ryuji became the ghost that haunted every corner of Sakuragaoka High. Students whispered about it in hallways. Teachers exchanged knowing glances. And Kaito Sato remained exactly as he always was—cold, distant, untouchable—as if nothing had happened.
On the third day, Ms. Kobayashi entered Class 2-B with news.
"Takeda-kun has woken up," she announced, her voice careful, measured. "His parents wanted to involve the police, but the school managed to resolve the matter internally. Given the circumstances—that he initiated the attack—Takeda-kun has been suspended for the remainder of the semester. He will not be returning to school grounds."
A collective exhale rippled through the room. Justice, however complicated, had been served.
Ms. Kobayashi continued, clearly eager to move past the heavy topic. "Now, before we begin the lesson, I have another announcement. A new student will be joining our class starting today. A transfer student from Osaka."
Murmurs of curiosity replaced the tension.
The door slid open.
And the room fell silent.
She was beautiful. Not in the polished, calculated way of Riko Aoyama. Not in the regal, untouchable way of Hoshino Shizuka. This was a different kind of beauty—warm, radiant, alive. Her eyes sparkled with energy. Her smile was genuine, unguarded, and infectious. Dark hair framed a face that seemed to glow with positivity.
She walked to the front of the class with a spring in her step, turned to face them, and bowed deeply.
"Good morning, everyone! My name is Nakamura Yuki!" Her voice was bright, carrying the melodic lilt of Kansai dialect. "I just moved to Tokyo from Osaka because of my father's job transfer. But actually, Tokyo is my real hometown! I was born here before we moved to Osaka when I was little, so it feels like I'm coming home!"
She straightened, her smile widening. "I'm really excited to meet everyone and make lots of friends! I love festivals, food, and having fun! Please take care of me!"
The class blinked, processing this explosion of energy.
Then her gaze swept across the room with genuine excitement—until it landed on a specific person at the front.
Kaito Sato.
The entire class held their breath. Everyone had been carefully avoiding even the smallest eye contact with him since the incident. His presence had become something people navigated around, like a storm they didn't want to get close to.
But Nakamura Yuki didn't hesitate.
"Kaito-san!"
She said his first name. Not Sato-kun. Not Sato-senpai. Kaito-san. As naturally as breathing. As if she had said it a thousand times before.
Gasps echoed through the room. Students exchanged shocked glances. Someone dropped their pencil.
Ms. Kobayashi's eyes widened. "Nakamura-san... do you know Sato-kun?"
Kaito, who had been staring forward with his usual indifference, slowly turned his head. His expression flickered—just barely—something almost like recognition crossing his features. He opened his mouth, about to speak.
"We were childhood friends!"
Yuki cut in cheerfully, her smile never wavering. "We went to the same elementary school and middle school! But then my father got transferred to Osaka, so I had to move away." She clasped her hands together, practically bouncing with joy. "I can't believe we're in the same class again! This is so amazing!"
The room went dead silent.
Childhood friends. Elementary and middle school. Years of history that no one in Class 2-B knew anything about.
Riko's analytical mind raced. She knows him. Really knows him. From before. The implications stacked like dominoes. This girl had access to a version of Kaito that none of them had ever seen.
Hikari, from her seat behind Kaito, stared at Yuki with an unreadable expression. Her usual defiance was replaced by something sharper—wariness, perhaps. Or curiosity.
Kaito said nothing. He simply watched Yuki with that same unreadable mask, neither confirming nor denying anything beyond his small nod.
Yuki, oblivious to the tension—or perhaps perfectly aware and choosing to ignore it—beamed at the class.
"I'm so happy to be back! And to see Kaito-san again!" She turned to him, her eyes sparkling. "We have so much to catch up on, don't we?"
The unseen arrival had just become the most visible mystery in Sakuragaoka High.
(End of Chapter 52)