The campus was loud again.
Chattering students, laughter echoing through the courtyard, and the constant shuffle of sneakers against concrete.
For most people, this was the sound of life.
For Shouma Kisaragi, it was just noise.
He adjusted his earbuds and turned the volume up—not because he was listening to anything, but because it was the best way to keep people from talking to him.
Shouma sat at his usual spot by the classroom window, eyes fixed on the world outside. A gentle breeze slipped through, rustling the papers on his desk. The sunlight was bright, but he didn't mind. He liked the quiet hum of the wind more than the noise of people.
"Hey, did you hear about the new girl?" a student whispered nearby.
"Yeah, apparently, she transferred from another university. Total weirdo though—she showed up wearing cat ears during orientation."
"Wait, seriously?"
"Yeah! Like… actual cat ears."
Shouma sighed. Another attention-seeker. He didn't care. Not his problem.
He closed his eyes, thinking about the peaceful nap he'd have before class started.
Then—
A cheerful voice pierced the air.
"Good morning! I'm Aiko Tsukishiro! Nice to meet everyone!"
The class fell silent.
Even the teacher blinked in surprise.
Standing by the door was a girl with soft brown hair tied in twin tails, bright blue eyes, and… yes—cat ears. Fluffy ones. And a small manga tote bag slung over her shoulder with pins of anime characters.
Oh no, Shouma thought. Please don't sit near me.
"Hmm, looks like the only empty seat is…" The teacher scanned the room and pointed.
"Next to Kisaragi."
The room collectively turned to look at him.
Shouma froze. "Wait—"
Too late.
Aiko skipped toward him with a smile bright enough to rival the sun and plopped down into the seat beside his.
"Hi, Kisaragi-kun!" she said, leaning over. "You look like one of those cool mysterious characters from a romance manga! Are you secretly a vampire or something?"
Shouma blinked, expression flat.
"No."
Aiko gasped dramatically. "Oh no, you're totally the stoic type! The 'I don't talk much but have a tragic backstory' kind of guy! Classic!"
He turned his gaze to the window. "You talk too much."
She smiled wider. "That's okay! I talk enough for both of us."
The class burst into muffled laughter, but Aiko didn't seem embarrassed. In fact, she looked… proud.
Shouma thought she'd go hang out with her new friends.
Instead, she followed him outside, balancing a bento box shaped like a panda.
"You don't eat in the cafeteria?" she asked.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Too loud."
She grinned. "You're like a cat!"
"…What?"
"You like quiet places, nap a lot, and don't like crowds. You're basically a cat in human form!"
He raised an eyebrow. "You compared yourself to a cat five minutes ago."
"Yeah, but I'm more of a neko-girl. You're like a real cat. Grumpy and cute."
Shouma choked on his drink. "I'm not cute."
"Sure you're not," she said, opening her lunch. "Here, have a rice ball. I made them myself!"
"I don't—"
"Say ah~"
She held one up with chopsticks. A few students walking by giggled.
Shouma's face turned red. "Stop that!"
"Oh, come on! It's friendship food!"
"Then feed yourself!"
"I already am!"
He sighed. "You're impossible."
"Thank you!" she said brightly, as if it were a compliment.
After Class
As everyone left, Shouma stayed behind to pack up slowly. Aiko lingered too.
"Hey, Kisaragi-kun?"
"What."
"You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to. But… can I still sit here?"
He looked at her. For a moment, her bright smile softened into something gentler—quiet, almost shy.
"I just think," she continued, "you're probably not as scary as everyone thinks. And I… kinda like talking to you."
He didn't reply right away.
Then, with a sigh, he said, "…Do whatever you want."
Her grin returned. "Yay! I will!"
As she ran off, her cat-ear headband bounced with every step. Shouma found himself… smiling. Just a little.
Maybe, just maybe, this semester wouldn't be so bad.
Next Chapter Preview:
Aiko joins the university manga club — and drags Shouma into helping her with a cosplay photoshoot he definitely didn't agree to.