Haru woke up feeling different. It wasn't fear exactly, but something heavy sat quietly in her chest. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, trying to understand why she felt so uneasy. Everything was normal. Her room, her books, her quiet morning. Yet her heart refused to calm down.
She got ready for school slowly, her movements absent-minded. Today was still part of her new beginning, her new life. A new school. New people. A place where no one knew her. That thought was supposed to comfort her, but instead, it made her feel strangely alone.
As she walked through the school gates, she kept her eyes forward. Students stood in groups, laughing and talking like they belonged there. Haru walked past them silently, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag. She told herself this was normal. She just needed time.
But then she felt it.
A gaze.
Heavy. Unmoving.
Watching her.
Her steps slowed slightly, her heartbeat quickening without reason. She didn't want to turn around. She didn't want to confirm what she was feeling. But the sensation was too strong to ignore.
She turned.
And saw him.
He stood a short distance away, his tall figure still among the moving crowd. Everyone else was talking or walking, but he wasn't. He was only looking at her. His dark eyes held no emotion, yet they felt intense enough to make her chest tighten.
Haru quickly looked away, her breath becoming uneven. She didn't know who he was. She had never seen him before. Yet the way he looked at her made her feel exposed, like he could see through her.
She told herself it didn't matter. He was just another student. Nothing more.
Still, the feeling didn't leave.
Throughout the day, Haru could feel his presence. She didn't see him in her classes, but somehow, she knew he was nearby. Every time she stepped into the hallway, every time she turned a corner, her heart beat faster without reason.
She hated it.
She hated not knowing why.
When the final bell rang, Haru let out a quiet breath of relief. She packed her things quickly, ready to leave. She just wanted to go home and escape the strange tension that followed her all day.
But as she stepped into the hallway, she froze.
He was there.
Leaning against the wall as if he had been waiting.
Her heart began to pound loudly in her chest. His eyes found her instantly, calm and steady. He didn't look away. He didn't pretend not to notice her.
He pushed himself off the wall and walked toward her.
Each step was slow and confident.
Haru couldn't move. Her body refused to listen to her. She watched him stop in front of her, close enough to make her nervous.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
"Haru," he said finally, his voice low and calm.
Her eyes widened slightly. Hearing her name from him felt strange. She had never spoken to him before.
He studied her face quietly, as if memorizing every detail.
"So you're Haru."
It wasn't a question. It was a simple statement.
Haru didn't know how to respond. Her fingers tightened around her bag, her heart refusing to slow down. There was something in his presence that made her uneasy, something she couldn't explain.
He looked at her for one last second before turning away.
He didn't say anything else.
He simply walked past her and disappeared into the crowd.
Haru stood there, frozen, her heart still racing.
This was supposed to be her new beginning.
But somehow, it didn't feel simple anymore.
It felt like something had just begun.