Tokyo didn't welcome people.
It swallowed them.
The moment Itsuki Kuonji stepped out of the station, the world changed.
Noise.
Lights.
Voices overlapping endlessly.
People moving in every direction like waves crashing into each other.
For a second—
She froze.
"…This is Tokyo?" she whispered.
It felt unreal.
Too big.
Too fast.
Too much.
Back in her town, everything had space.
Here—
Even the air felt crowded.
"Move, please."
A voice snapped her out of it.
"Ah—sorry!"
Itsuki quickly stepped aside, nearly losing her balance as people brushed past her.
Her suitcase bumped against someone's leg.
"Sorry! I'm really sorry!"
No one stopped.
No one cared.
The city kept moving.
Without her.
"…I can't stand here forever."
She tightened her grip on the suitcase.
"I chose this."
A deep breath.
Then another.
"Okay… let's go."
Finding her apartment wasn't easy.
Actually—
It was a disaster.
"Wait… this isn't the street… right?"
Itsuki stared at her phone, then at the road, then back again.
Everything looked the same.
Tall buildings.
Narrow alleys.
Endless signs.
"…I'm lost."
A small sigh escaped her lips.
Her feet already hurt.
Her arms were tired.
And the sun was slowly disappearing.
"Excuse me…"
She turned to a passerby.
"Can you tell me where this address is?"
The man glanced at her phone for half a second.
Then pointed vaguely.
"That way."
"Ah—thank you!"
She walked in that direction.
Ten minutes later—
"…This is definitely not it."
By the time she finally found her apartment…
It was night.
Itsuki stood in front of the building, breathing heavily.
"…I made it."
The building wasn't fancy.
But it was enough.
A small step.
A new beginning.
Inside, her room was simple.
A bed.
A desk.
A window.
Nothing more.
Itsuki placed her suitcase down and slowly walked to the window.
Tokyo stretched endlessly outside.
Lights glowing like stars that never faded.
"…So this is my new life."
She smiled faintly.
But her chest felt tight.
A little lonely.
A little scared.
"…Reo."
His name slipped out before she could stop it.
She quickly shook her head.
"No… focus."
She didn't come here to hesitate.
She came here to move forward.
That night—
Sleep didn't come easily.
The next morning—
It got worse.
"I'M LATE?!"
Itsuki rushed out of her apartment, her bag barely zipped.
Her hair was a mess.
Her uniform slightly uneven.
"First day and I'm already late… this is bad…!"
Tokyo didn't slow down for her.
Cars.
Signals.
Crowds.
Everything moved with perfect timing—
Except her.
By the time she reached the college gate—
She was out of breath.
"…I'm going to die…"
The classroom door slid open.
Every eye turned toward her.
"…S-sorry I'm late!"
She bowed quickly.
A few whispers spread.
"New student?"
"She looks lost…"
Itsuki awkwardly walked to an empty seat.
Her heart refused to calm down.
"Introduce yourself."
The teacher's voice was calm.
Itsuki stood up again.
"…I'm Itsuki Kuonji. I came from a countryside town. I want to become a fashion designer."
Silence.
Then—
"Ohhh~ big dream."
A girl whispered.
Not mocking.
Just surprised.
Itsuki clenched her hands slightly.
"I'll work hard."
She sat down.
Classes passed slowly.
New concepts.
New techniques.
New pressure.
But also—
New excitement.
"This… is what I wanted."
Itsuki smiled to herself.
For the first time—
She felt like she was in the right place.
By evening—
She was exhausted.
But happy.
"Let's go home…"
She stepped outside.
The sky was dark again.
Clouds gathered quietly.
Then—
Rain.
"…Seriously?"
Itsuki looked up as drops began to fall.
Within seconds—
It turned into a downpour.
She quickly ran toward the nearest store and stood under the shade.
"…Guess I'm stuck here."
Rain hit the ground loudly.
Cars passed by, splashing water.
The city blurred behind falling drops.
"…Tokyo rain feels different."
She hugged her bag closer.
Cold.
Lonely.
Quiet.
Then—
Flap.
Something hit her face.
"Ah—!"
She grabbed it instinctively.
A paper.
"…What is this?"
She looked at it.
A form.
A modeling audition form.
Photo attached.
A boy.
Sharp features.
Confident expression.
Unfairly good-looking.
"…Eh?"
Before she could think—
A shadow stepped in front of her.
"That's mine."
A calm voice.
Itsuki looked up.
And froze.
The boy from the photo.
Standing right there.
Real.
Closer than expected.
Souta Amagiri.
"Oh—! I'm sorry!"
She quickly handed the paper back.
"I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine."
His voice was smooth.
Calm.
Unbothered.
He took the form.
Their fingers brushed—
Just slightly.
Itsuki's heart skipped.
"Thank you," Souta said.
Simple.
But his gaze lingered for a moment.
Curious.
Observing.
Itsuki looked away quickly.
"N-no problem…"
Why was she nervous?
It was just a stranger.
Just a random encounter.
"…You're new here."
He said suddenly.
Itsuki blinked.
"Huh?"
"You don't look like you belong in this area yet."
She hesitated.
"…Is it that obvious?"
"A little."
A faint smile.
Barely visible.
"I just moved to Tokyo," she admitted.
"First day?"
"…Second."
"Hmm."
He looked at her for a second longer.
Then—
"You'll get used to it."
Silence.
Rain filled the space between them.
"…Are you going somewhere?" Itsuki asked, trying to break the awkwardness.
"An audition."
He lifted the paper slightly.
"I see…"
She nodded.
"…Good luck."
Souta looked at her again.
Then—
"Thanks."
Another pause.
Then he turned.
Stepping back into the rain.
Itsuki watched him go.
Without an umbrella.
Without hesitation.
"…That guy…"
Her heart was still beating faster.
Why?
She looked at the paper he had taken.
Then at the direction he left.
"…Attractive."
The word slipped out quietly.
And for the first time—
A feeling she didn't understand…
Began to grow.
✨ Sometimes… attraction begins with a single moment.
💭 Before you even realize what it means.