The classroom of Class 2-B at Hoshimi Municipal Academy was still filled with quiet murmurs after the transfer student's introduction.
Some students pretended to read their open textbooks.
Others whispered while stealing glances toward the back of the room.
Near the window, Yamamoto Souma tried to keep a calm posture, but he couldn't ignore the feeling of being watched.
Curiosity.
Judgment.
Maybe even a bit of envy.
The morning sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating part of his desk and casting soft lines across the polished floor.
At the back of the room, Kanzaki Mio rested her chin on her hand and let out a dramatic sigh.
— How am I supposed to focus like this?
Aoi held back a laugh.
— Calm down, Mio… hehe.
Hina tilted her head slightly, observing Souma from a distance.
— Hm… if he were a 2D character, he'd be perfect.
Aoi chuckled softly.
— That's so you, Hina.
At that moment, the teacher lightly tapped his book against the desk.
— Alright. Let's begin.
Mio sighed again.
— We'll talk about this later…
The sound of pages turning filled the room.
Class began.
For a while, the only sounds were the teacher explaining formulas and pencils moving across paper.
Aoi tried to keep up.
She really did.
But without noticing, her gaze drifted once more to the other side of the room.
Souma sat in profile, listening while writing something in his notebook.
The light from the window illuminated part of his face.
His dark hair fell slightly over his eyes as he wrote.
Aoi rested her chin on her hand.
Watching.
Not even realizing how much time had passed.
Then a voice cut through her thoughts.
— Sakamoto…
She didn't respond.
Still looking at Souma.
— Sakamoto.
A little louder:
— Sakamoto! Answer me.
Aoi snapped back, startled.
— Y-yes!
The teacher looked directly at her.
— Solve the problem on the board.
Aoi turned to the blackboard.
An equation filled the center.
She thought quickly, trying to organize the numbers in her head.
After a few seconds, she answered hesitantly:
— Th-the result would be… x = 1 and x = 2?
The teacher sighed.
— You may sit down.
A few students exchanged subtle glances.
— Does anyone know the correct answer? — the teacher asked.
A hand went up immediately.
— Hanae.
The class representative stood calmly.
— The equation can be simplified by dividing by 3.
She picked up the chalk.
— Then we factor it.
She turned toward the class.
— Therefore, the solutions are x = 1 and x = 3.
The teacher nodded.
— Excellent.
Hanae returned to her seat.
— You all need to focus more and study — the teacher said, opening the book. — Turn the page.
Aoi kept her eyes on her notebook, slightly downcast.
Mio leaned toward her and whispered:
— Let's go to the courtyard later.
Aoi gave a small nod.
She turned toward Hina…
And found something unexpected.
Hina was drawing in her notebook.
With intense dedication.
It was her favorite game character.
But…
Only in underwear.
Mio noticed and started laughing silently.
— Drawing him again?
Hina blushed.
— It's for a contest!
Aoi covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Then—
TRIIIIIM
The bell echoed through the building.
The teacher closed the book.
— Study this well. It will be important.
Immediately, the classroom burst into movement.
Chairs scraping.
Bags closing.
Conversations returning.
Hina grabbed Aoi's sleeve.
— Come with me real quick to the shop!
Mio stood up as well.
— I'll go too. We can stop somewhere and study a bit.
She sighed.
— Sorry, Aoi… I'm terrible with numbers.
Aoi smiled.
— It's fine. I got distracted earlier… but I'm way worse at English.
— Let's go, let's go!
The three left the classroom, went down the stairs chatting, and on the last step—
THUMP
They bumped into someone.
— Woah— ah… sorry.
It was Fujimoto Takeo.
Aoi blinked.
— Takeo?
He adjusted his backpack.
— Ah, Aoi. How are you?
— Heading to club?
— Yeah… there's nothing today, but I want to practice my acting.
Aoi smiled.
— You're already really good.
Takeo scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed.
— R-really? Thanks… but I still have a long way to go to catch up to Shinohara!
At that moment, Aoi felt a small tug on her arm.
It was Mio.
Her eyes said everything:
Ask him.
Aoi blinked a few times.
Then remembered.
"Ah… she's interested in him."
Aoi started sweating nervously.
— W-well! We're heading out now… see you, Takeo!
— See you tomorrow!
They exited through the school gate.
Mio immediately turned to Aoi.
— Aoi! Why didn't you ask?!
— I-I can't just ask that out of nowhere! We've known each other since we were kids, but still… it's weird!
Hina laughed.
— It would've been funny.
Mio sighed.
— I'll handle it tomorrow.
They started walking down the street.
— It's to the right — Hina said. — About six blocks.
— Let's stop by the convenience store first — Mio added. — I'm hungry.
As they turned the corner…
They saw someone walking a few meters ahead.
Hina narrowed her eyes.
— Look… the new guy.
Mio recognized him instantly.
— Ah… Yamamoto-kun.
Aoi looked at him quietly.
Mio smirked.
— Want to walk home with him, Aoi?
Aoi turned red instantly.
— W-what are you talking about?!
Mio laughed.
— I'm kidding! But I saw you staring.
Aoi blushed even more.
— Mio-chan!!
They kept walking.
Then—
— Uh… hi.
Yamamoto Souma had stopped and turned around.
Aoi froze.
Mio stepped forward.
— Oh, hello. You're the new student, right?
— I-I'm Yamamoto Souma.
— I'm Kanzaki Mio. This is Takase Hina, and Sakamoto Aoi.
— H-hi…
They started walking together.
— What do you usually like? — Mio asked.
— I like running… action movies…
He hesitated.
— And video games… but I didn't say that in class so I wouldn't seem weird.
Hina's eyes lit up.
— You like games?!
— I-I like RPGs…
Hina practically exploded.
— AAA YOU LIKE RPGs?!
People on the street glanced over.
Aoi laughed nervously.
— Calm down, Hina…
— Could you be Prince John?!
Souma blinked.
— Who?
— It's from a game — Aoi explained.
— Ah… sorry… I don't know it.
They kept talking until they reached a crosswalk.
Mio pulled Hina back, letting Aoi and Souma cross first.
— Why'd you pull me?! — Hina whispered.
— Let's see how Aoi does.
— That's not fair…
On the other side, Souma said:
— …I had a few friends back there.
Aoi glanced behind her.
— But you still had time to cross…
Then she realized.
Her face turned slightly red.
— I-I'll wait for them here.
Souma pointed to a nearby house.
— I live there.
It was a two-story white house, with a light wooden balcony, small plants near the entrance, and a low fence. A small cherry tree swayed gently in the afternoon breeze.
— Sakamoto… right?
— Yes?
Souma opened his mouth…
But said nothing.
At that moment, Mio and Hina crossed.
Souma stepped back.
— See you tomorrow.
— See you.
Hina quickly stepped forward.
— Before you go, here's my number.
Souma's eyes widened.
— What?!
Mio covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
— Let's talk on LINE! — Hina said. — Do you play Eternal Aegis Online?
— Y-yes… I'm level 23.
Hina beamed.
— I'm level 20! We can fight the third dungeon boss!
Souma hesitated.
— A-are you sure?
— Of course!
His phone chimed.
Pling.
— Done! — Hina said.
— Thank you… see you tomorrow.
— See you!
He went inside.
The three continued walking.
Mio looked at Hina.
— I've never seen you do that before.
Hina smiled mischievously.
— Now I can take out my stress on bosses while someone else suffers with me.
Mio laughed.
A few steps ahead, Aoi walked in silence.
— Aoi-chan? — Mio called.
No response.
— Did I annoy you? — Hina asked.
Aoi turned, surprised.
— What?
She smiled.
A slightly forced smile.
— It's nothing… really.
Mio and Hina exchanged a glance.
— I'm going to buy something — Mio said, entering the convenience store.
Hina stayed with Aoi.
— Sorry for asking for his number…
Aoi frowned.
— Why?
— I thought you wanted to.
Aoi stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then slowly walked toward Hina, smiling… but with a hint of tension.
— What are you talking about, Hina-chan?
Hina swallowed.
— I-it's been a long time since I've seen that expression…
— I barely know him — Aoi said — Why would I act like that?
Silence lingered.
Hina thought for a moment.
Then said:
— I'll lend you one of my consoles.
— What?
— This game has crossplay. We can play together.
Aoi hesitated.
— I haven't played games in years… the last time was with…
She stopped.
Her gaze dropped.
Hina gently touched her shoulder.
— It's my way of apologizing.
She smiled.
— And you can get closer to Souma that way.
Aoi narrowed her eyes.
Hina laughed nervously.
— Just kidding!
At that moment, Mio came out holding a sweet bread and a juice.
— Let's go to the game shop already.
Aoi took a deep breath.
— And after that, I'll help you with math, okay?
— Deal.
As they walked under the soft light of the late afternoon…
A thought quietly formed in Aoi's mind.
Soft.
Curious.
"I wonder… what that game is like."