Kaizen's First Day at College
Kaizen glanced at the clock.
"Ah, I'm late again! Today's my first day of college—I can't mess this up!"
He shouted, "Mom! Where's my new uniform?"
Silence.
He rushed through the house. "Mom? Mom!" But she was nowhere to be found.
Noticing a piece of paper on the table, Kaizen picked it up.
> "Sorry, Kai. Had to leave early today. I've made breakfast for you, so please eat on time. Love ya, bye."
"Ah, she always does this!" Kaizen groaned.
Unable to find his uniform, he threw on whatever clothes he could grab and dashed out—skipping breakfast.
"I'm so late! Hurry, Kaizen, hurry!"
As he rushed toward college, Kaizen collided with someone. A girl.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" she snapped.
Kaizen quickly stepped back. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! I'm in a hurry!"
The girl crossed her arms. "What's 'sorry' going to fix? Give me 2000 rupees right now."
"What?! For what?" Kaizen gawked.
"For crashing into me like a total maniac!" she barked.
"But you're not even hurt! I'm not paying you—I'm already late for my first day of college!" he protested.
Unmoved, the girl blocked his way. Kaizen sighed, pulling out his wallet and handing over the money.
"That was my entire month's pocket money…" he muttered as he walked off. "I was saving that for manga…"
---
When Kaizen arrived at his new classroom, he froze.
There she was. That girl. Sitting at a desk like she owned the place.
"You sneaky brat!" Kaizen shouted. "Give me back my money!"
The girl turned slowly and smirked. "Who you calling a brat, kiddo? Keep your voice down."
"Don't call me kiddo! You robbed me!"
She shrugged. "Too bad. It's mine now."
Before Kaizen could yell again, the professor walked in, scowling.
"What's going on here? You two—sit down and stop making a scene!"
Grumbling under their breath, Kaizen and the girl obeyed, still glaring at each other.
"Everyone, this is Kaizen," the professor announced. "He's a first-year student transferring mid-semester. Make him feel welcome."
Whispers broke out.
> "This guy's the transfer?"
"He already caused a scene."
"He's kinda cute, though."
"Wait, wasn't the new student supposed to be a girl?"
Kaizen ignored them and introduced himself confidently, sharing his interests and goals.
"Excellent," said the professor. "Kaizen, take the empty seat… beside her."
Kaizen's eyes widened. "What? Sir, please—anywhere but there!"
The professor raised a brow. "Now."
Reluctantly, Kaizen slumped into the seat beside the girl.
---
Break time.
Kaizen's stomach growled. Loudly.
"Ugh… I'm starving. And I'm broke, thanks to that brat," he muttered.
Suddenly, she approached and tossed a folded note onto his desk. Inside—his money.
"Here, kiddo. Take it back. You've been pouting all morning," she said, teasing.
Kaizen blinked. "You're giving it back?"
"Yeah. You're lucky I'm in a generous mood."
Kaizen grinned. "Thanks, brat. Maybe you're not that evil after all."
"I told you—name's Akane, not brat," she said.
"And I'm Kaizen, not kiddo," he replied smugly.
Akane laughed. "Whatever you say, kiddo."
"Brat."
Their stomachs growled again in sync, and they both burst out laughing.
"Let's go to the canteen," Akane suggested. "I'm starving."
"You don't even have money," Kaizen said suspiciously.
"I forgot my wallet, okay? And I gave your money back, didn't I?"
Kaizen sighed. "You really are a brat."
"Come on, kiddo." Akane grabbed his arm and dragged him to the canteen.
---
After finishing their lunch...
"Ah, I'm full now," Akane sighed in relief.
"Yeah, me too," Kaizen agreed.
"So where are you from, kiddo? I haven't seen you before."
"I was born here," Kaizen said. "But my mom got transferred to another state. We just moved back recently."
Akane nodded thoughtfully. "So you're back in your hometown... I get that. I'm kind of in the same boat."
Kaizen looked at her curiously. "Wait, what do you mean?"
Akane waved it off. "Nothing, kiddo. Let's go to the rooftop."
"Stop calling me that, brat."
"Shut up and follow me, kiddo."
Akane grabbed his hand again and pulled him along. They reached the rooftop—and stopped dead in their tracks.
Before them was something totally unexpected…
Something that would spark a brand-new adventure and take their bond to unexpected places.