Sachiko stood quietly beneath another cherry blossom tree at the school's gate, her schoolbag pressed against her side. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint fragrance of the blossoms as petals drifted down like soft snow. She brushed one from her shoulder and sighed.
"I wonder what's taking her so long. Did she oversleep again? Naomi always cuts it too close…"
Just then, her gaze caught someone in the school uniform walking by near the base of the hill.
Her breath caught.
"Wait... it's him again. The same person from this morning. He looks exactly like someone I knew long ago. I'll try talking to him."
She stepped forward slowly, but as he walked by alone, her timing faltered.
"Um… morning."
To her shock, he passed right by without even a glance, as if she weren't there.
Sachiko stood frozen in disbelief. "What? Did he just ignore me? But why?"
Just then, a girl came running down the hill path, her bag bouncing behind her.
"Oh crap, I'm going to be late! The first day of school… how embarrassing would that be?" she panted. "I hope Sachiko doesn't get mad at me for almost being late. I couldn't help it."
Spotting her friend under the tree, she brightened.
"That's Sachiko! Hey, good morning, Sachi!"
Sachiko turned, shaking off her daze. "Oh, Naomi. What took you so long?"
"Yesterday was the last day of track camp, so I was exhausted. That's all," Naomi explained between breaths.
"Oh, okay. Let's go to the entrance ceremony."
Naomi nodded, and they made their way together onto campus.
The gymnasium hummed with the restless energy of hundreds of students, the sound of shifting feet and quiet whispers filling the space. When the principal adjusted the microphone, the static crackle made several students flinch into silence.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Daiji Sato, and I am the principal of this fine institution, Toshigawa Academy. His voice was deep but measured, each word echoing through the hall. Some students sat up straighter, eager to impress, while others—Naomi included—fought to keep their eyelids from drooping.
Each of you achieved high-ranking scores on the entrance exams, and I congratulate you on your hard work. You should all be proud of making it this far. I will now hand over the podium to the student council president."
A poised girl stepped forward, capturing the room's attention with her presence.
"Good morning. My name is Hitomi Yoshida, and as you know, I am the student council president. I applaud each and every one of you for qualifying to attend one of the most prestigious high schools in the prefecture. The entrance exam was a challenge for many, but all of you proved yourselves worthy."
She continued, "During your first sessions today, you will receive a handbook that includes information about the school's sports programs, the anthem, the school songs, and most importantly, the rules and regulations we all must abide by. That's all. Enjoy your first day of school."
The boys in the audience whispered quietly, many clearly smitten.
Naomi nudged Sachiko. "Let's sit together."
Sachiko nodded and found an empty seat beside her.
Naomi peeked at her class assignment. "Who would've thought I'd end up in the elite class, 1T? I thought I barely passed!"
Sachiko smiled. "Don't say that. You studied really hard to get here."
"You're right, but it was still surprising. By the way, congrats on ranking second in the exams! We definitely need to celebrate today. How about karaoke after school?"
Sachiko chuckled. "Sure, let's do it."
As the ceremony ended and the crowd dispersed, Sachiko's thoughts lingered. I don't mind coming in second place, but that guy… he looks exactly like Tetsu-kun, a boy I knew years ago. Why would he suddenly appear after all this time? I wonder…
Their new homeroom class was already full by the time the teacher arrived.
"Good morning. My name is Satomi Hayami, but you can call me Hayami-sensei. I will be your homeroom teacher for the year. Let's start with introductions. Begin from the first row."
"My name is Makoto Kurai. I'm 15, and there's nothing special about me—just your average daily student," Makoto said as he immediately sat down and yawned.
"My name is Naomi Nakamura. I'm 15 as well. My hobbies are reading, playing sports, and karaoke. In the future, I'd like to become a professional female sprinter and represent this country in the Olympics," Naomi said, standing proud and confident.
"You'll definitely succeed with that optimism and confidence of yours," Hayami-sensei said.
"Thank you, Hayami-sensei," Naomi replied gratefully.
The next student stood up, trembling.
"U-um… my name is Shi-Shino Ka-Katsuragi. I'm 15 years old. N-nice to meet all of you," he stammered, bowing so fast he nearly smacked his forehead against the desk.
A few students chuckled under their breath, though not unkindly. His ears burned crimson as he slid back into his seat, fiddling with the zipper on his pencil case.
"My name's Noboru Takemoto," he announced, voice carrying easily across the room. He smirked, one hand casually tucked into his pocket. "I'm fifteen, obviously, and yeah… I'm kind of a big deal around here. You'll probably hear about me a lot."
Naomi rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, just loud enough for herself, "Not this annoying punk again… How did he even get into this class?"
Several students stifled laughs at Noboru's antics, while others rolled their eyes. Noboru strolled back to his desk, the polished floor clicking under the heels of his shoes, and flopped into his chair with exaggerated ease.
"Anyway," he continued with a cocky grin, "I like sports, I like winning, and I talk… well, a lot. But don't worry, I'm mostly charming." He shot a wink at a few girls across the room. A ripple of whispers ran through them—some exchanged confused glances, others shook their heads subtly, clearly unimpressed.
Hayami-sensei's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression sharp and unwavering. "Thank you, Noboru. Let's keep the introductions brief and orderly."
One by one, the students introduced themselves. When it was finally Sachiko's turn, she stood up calmly.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Sachiko Takahashi. I'm 15 years old. My hobbies are makeup, cosmetics, and cooking. I aspire to become a dermatologist."
"That's a great goal. I hope you succeed," Hayami-sensei said.
"Thank you, Sensei."
Finally, it was Tetsuo's turn.
"My name is Tetsuo Kawaguchi. I'm just your average teenager. I don't have a dream yet, but hopefully, I'll figure it out soon. I don't do anything special in my free time. It's nice to meet all of you."
Sachiko's eyes widened. I was right. He really is Tetsuo Kawaguchi… the one who placed first in our class.
Hayami-sensei clapped her hands. "Now that we're all acquainted, let's begin the lesson."
"Oh, come on! It's the first day of school!" the students groaned.
"This school is the best of the best. We always start lessons on day one. Prepare yourselves!" Hayami-sensei snapped.
"Yes, Hayami-sensei!"
Makoto slouched dramatically over his desk, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Today is going to be a long day…" he muttered, resting his head on his arms.