Rinato opened his eyes lazily, sunlight slipping through the gap in his curtains. The apartment felt quiet, as usual. No noise from the street, no music from the neighbors, just the ticking of a clock and the occasional distant vehicle. Rinato's life had always been like this—silent, calm, without surprises.
His days at school were usually just as monotonous. He sat in the back row, didn't talk much, observed his classmates from afar, and occasionally suppressed a smile at something funny happening around him. Rinato preferred being an observer rather than part of the crowd. In his solitude, he felt comfortable; the outside world seemed too noisy and demanding.
Yet that morning, something felt different. As Rinato stepped out of his apartment toward the stairs, he caught a strange scent. From the neighboring hallway came a soft perfume he had never smelled before. Rinato turned, but saw no one. His instincts told him someone was in the apartment next door. He frowned, trying to ignore it, but curiosity stirred inside him for the first time in a long while.
He closed his door and walked slowly down the stairs. Light footsteps echoed from the hallway, and eventually, Rinato saw a girl standing in front of the neighboring apartment. Her hair was neatly tied, with a few loose strands giving her an elegant look. Her face was calm, she glanced at Rinato briefly before giving a small smile and bowing her head.
Rinato stood frozen. Rarely did someone make him feel even a little curious. He wasn't scared, just… strange. Someone so calm, yet leaving a deep impression on Rinato, who was usually hard to impress. The girl held her school bag, ready to leave, yet her aura of tranquility made Rinato feel there was something special about her.
"Who is she?" Rinato murmured softly, almost to himself.
The girl walked down the hallway, and Rinato kept watching until the door closed. His heart beat faster than usual—not out of fear, but out of curiosity he hadn't felt in a long time. Rinato took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and closed his eyes for a moment. He knew, even if he didn't want to admit it, the new neighbor would change his quiet, monotonous life.
On the way to school, Rinato couldn't stop thinking about the girl. Every step felt different, and the usually monotonous world seemed a little more alive. He remembered her expression, the small smile that wasn't directed at anyone, the light footsteps that sounded like soft music. Everything felt unfamiliar, yet intriguing.
Arriving in front of the apartment, Rinato glanced once more toward the neighboring door. The girl had disappeared from sight, but the impression she left remained. Rinato realized, without realizing it, that his quiet life had encountered its first "disruption"—a disruption that might follow him every day.
Rinato opened his apartment door and looked at the space he usually occupied, smiling faintly. He didn't know how or when, but he was sure of one thing: the new neighbor—the girl who was too calm—would become something unusual in his otherwise monotonous life.
Rinato had just prepared a cup of coffee for himself when a soft knock came at the door. His heart skipped a beat—still feeling strange about the new neighbor.
"Um… Rinato-san? Could I borrow… uh, some sugar this morning?" A soft, calm voice came from behind the door. Rinato stared at the door for a moment, surprised but trying to calm himself.
He opened the door and saw Ayaka, the girl next door he had only seen in the hallway before. Ayaka's white hair was slightly loose from the morning breeze, and her bright blue eyes radiated a warmth that captivated Rinato. Her gentle smile was soothing yet intriguing. Rinato swallowed hard, trying to sound casual.
"Ah… yes, of course. Come in," Rinato replied, attempting to appear relaxed even though his chest was pounding.
Ayaka stepped inside, looking around Rinato's apartment with soft curiosity. Rinato remained silent, waiting for her to find the sugar she wanted. An awkward atmosphere filled the room, as if words were too heavy to speak.
After taking the sugar, Ayaka gave a faint smile. "Thank you… Rinato-san."
Rinato nodded, his hands stiff as he returned his coffee cup. He looked at Ayaka for a moment, trying to capture the details of her face that intrigued him—her smooth white hair, bright blue eyes, and calm aura that was so different from his classmates.
"Um… want to have a little breakfast?" Rinato asked spontaneously, offering some leftover bread he had just made.
Ayaka looked slightly hesitant, then smiled shyly. "Alright… if it's not too much trouble."
They sat at the small table, a simple breakfast, but the awkwardness was immense. Rinato tried to talk about ordinary things—the weather, the aroma of coffee, even the smell of toasted bread—while Ayaka simply listened and occasionally offered light comments. No big topics were discussed, yet the silence between them felt comfortable.
Throughout breakfast, Rinato realized how little he knew about his neighbor. Ayaka seemed cheerful yet calming, and Rinato felt… strangely safe around her. Something rare for him.
The moment was filled with soft laughter when Rinato accidentally spilled a little jam on the table. Ayaka covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, but her bright blue eyes sparkled—showing joy without exaggeration. Rinato smiled wryly, realizing that simple interactions like this, which he used to avoid, now felt important.
After breakfast, Ayaka stood to leave Rinato's apartment. "Thank you… Rinato-san. See you later," she said, gently closing the door.
Rinato stared at the closed door, slowly realizing that this brief encounter had changed his morning routine. He smiled faintly to himself, a little awkward but feeling… happy.
The next morning, Rinato walked to school with slow steps. His head was still full of memories from breakfast yesterday—Ayaka with her shining white hair and soft, bright blue eyes gazing at him.
In the school hallway, he tried to keep himself normal. He didn't want anyone to notice his strange expression, especially since he had shared breakfast with Ayaka that morning—the calm yet captivating new neighbor.
As he entered the classroom, Rinato lowered his head, hoping no one would notice. But his eyes accidentally fell on a girl sitting in the corner, surrounded by friends—and his heart skipped a beat.
Ayaka.
She looked different at school: full of energy, popular, and always surrounded by friends. Her smile was captivating, and her bright blue eyes met anyone who spoke to her. Rinato was startled, realizing the contrast between the Ayaka he knew in the morning and the Ayaka who was the center of attention at school.
"Rinato-san!" a cheerful voice snapped him back. Some students greeted him, but Rinato only gave a faint smile, trying to remain humble.
Throughout the lessons, Rinato couldn't help but glance at Ayaka. He tried to memorize the small details—the way she combed her white hair, the blue eyes sparkling when laughing with friends—and felt his school world suddenly become more alive.
During break, Rinato stepped aside to the corner of the hallway to eat his lunch. From afar, Ayaka waved at him, as if reminding him of yesterday's encounter. Rinato lowered his head, holding back a shy smile.
Yet, curiosity remained: how could a girl who seemed so calm in the morning become the center of attention at school? Rinato decided to wait for a chance to meet Ayaka in the hallway, hoping to chat briefly without drawing attention from her friends.
When the bell rang for the next lesson, Rinato walked slowly to his classroom and saw Ayaka passing through the hallway—laughing with her friends, still with shining white hair and striking blue eyes among the crowd.
At that moment, Rinato realized—Ayaka wasn't just his neighbor, but also a popular girl at school. And he knew, no matter how small their interactions, their relationship had to be kept discreet.