First Glimpse of Tomorrow — Aoi & Ren's University Invitation
The cherry blossoms had just begun to bloom again, painting the city streets with soft shades of pink. Ren stood at the school gates, clutching a neatly sealed envelope. He had already read its contents twice, but the words still felt surreal.
"Congratulations, Ren Arisaka. You have been officially selected to join Tensai University — Department of Advanced Cybernetics and AI Engineering."
Across the yard, Aoi practically skipped toward him, waving her own letter. Her bright eyes shimmered with excitement, her usual gal-like aura elevated with a radiance that could light up a stadium.
"Ren! We both made it! Tensai University, the best tech university in the country!" she shouted.
Ren gave a small, proud smile. "Yeah. Looks like we're heading there… together."
There was a quiet comfort in that word: together. In the past few months, the two had grown close — coding late into the night, challenging each other, supporting one another. It wasn't love, not quite yet, but it was something more than friendship. Something unspoken but warm.
Later That Week — High School Assembly
The school auditorium was packed. Students whispered and speculated about the sudden announcement during morning assembly.
When the principal took the stage, he cleared his throat dramatically. "We have two incredible achievements to celebrate. First, allow me to congratulate our students Ren Arisaka and Aoi Kisaragi… for winning the Tokyo Tech Hackathon!"
The auditorium exploded into murmurs and gasps.
"Wait, that Ren?"
"No way… he's so quiet and… average?"
"Aoi I get, but Ren?"
Some classmates who used to laugh behind Ren's back looked stunned, their expressions twisted in a mix of awe and jealousy. Even Katsuro, the cocky sports guy who once mocked Ren in front of Aoi, sat frozen, his mouth slightly open.
The principal continued, "Not only did they secure the victory — but they were invited as special guests to represent Japan in the international division next year. In addition, both have received admission to the highly prestigious Tensai University."
This time the applause thundered. Aoi beamed as she leaned toward Ren and whispered, "Jealous much, huh?"
Ren chuckled softly, eyes still lowered. "A bit overwhelming…"
"You'll get used to it," she said, nudging his shoulder. "You're amazing. It's time people saw that."
A Week Later — Tensai University Campus Visit
The gates of Tensai University gleamed with sophistication — a fusion of modern steel architecture and elegant traditional design. It looked more like a tech-savvy paradise than a university. Glass halls, floating digital signs, solar-integrated rooftops — everything screamed future.
"Wow…" Aoi said breathlessly as they walked in, carrying visitor badges.
Ren couldn't hide his admiration either. "It's like walking into an anime version of Silicon Valley."
They were guided through the labs, classrooms, and innovation domes, each more impressive than the last. Then, during a lunch meet-and-greet with other selected students, they were introduced to their future classmates.
A girl with long black hair, sparkling eyes, and impeccable posture approached them.
"I'm Hina Tsukimori. I'm a part-time idol and just got accepted into the AI and Media Interaction division," she said with a soft smile, bowing slightly. Her presence was warm, and a few students in the room whispered her name like fans in awe.
"I've heard about you two. That hackathon win was incredible."
Beside her was a tall, sharply dressed guy in designer wear and platinum earbuds.
"And I'm Riku Kanzaki. My family owns Kanzaki Technologies — not that I care much about that," he said coolly. "I'm here to make a name for myself… and I'm already dating someone, so no fangirling, please."
He gave a playful smirk, clearly used to attention.
Aoi raised a brow. "Rich, cool, and unavailable. Got it."
Riku laughed. "You two seem interesting. Let's be friends — but fair warning, I'm competitive."
Hina nodded. "Same. I want to work with people who challenge me."
As the group settled under the shade of a sakura tree in the university courtyard, the bond of something new began — friendship, potential rivalry, and a glimpse of the future.
Aoi looked at Ren with a small smile. "This… feels like the beginning of something big."
Ren nodded, eyes scanning the vibrant campus. "Yeah… and I'm glad I'm not walking into it alone."