The bus rumbled to a halt, and as Jin stepped down, a girl's voice called out.
"Hey, mister, are you a new student at Seiryu Academy? I don't think I've seen you around before."
"Yeah, I am," he replied, a thrill of excitement threading through his voice. "It's my first day. I'm really looking forward to it."
"Well, good luck," she smiled, and Jin moved forward, the academy gates towering ahead like a promise of a new world.
The crowd of students immediately caught his attention. Each one radiated talent, confidence, and ambition. It was dizzying—and exhilarating.
Then he saw Yoshi.
"Jin! Great news! We're in the same class—AAA, the top section!"
"Of course," Jin replied, smiling at his friend's boundless enthusiasm.
"Wouldn't expect anything less from the top student of our town," Yoshi said, and Jin felt a swell of pride.
Just then, his phone pinged, and a holographic interface sprang to life.
"Greetings. I am Ichiban Kashikoi, or Ishi for short. My name translates to 'the smartest among all,' reflecting my unrivaled artificial intelligence," the voice explained.
"Wow," Jin murmured, impressed by the sheer sophistication of the technology.
"Before you head to your classroom, allow me to introduce you to some of the most prominent students and the head teacher. This is a secret, okay?" Ishi added.
Jin's attention sharpened, curiosity sparking in his chest.
Yukari, moving with effortless grace, immediately drew his gaze. Her beauty was striking, but it was the quiet confidence in her movements that made him pause.
Beside her stood Kenji, radiating an almost magnetic aura. His effortless charm, style, and confidence made heads turn, and Jin felt a faint ache of admiration mixed with awe.
Then it happened.
Jin accidentally brushed against Yukari, causing a stack of her papers to tumble to the ground. His pulse jumped, and heat rushed to his cheeks.
"I-I'm so sorry!" he stammered, his nerves tingling with something unfamiliar yet thrilling.
Yukari bent gracefully to gather her papers, their eyes locking for a moment that stretched just a little too long.
"It's fine," she said softly, her tone gentle yet laced with curiosity. Jin felt his chest tighten, as though the air between them had shifted.
Kenji's gaze flicked toward them, sharp and discerning. Jin sensed the quiet intensity in Kenji's observation, a mix of amusement and authority that sent a strange thrill through him.
Jin straightened, trying to steady his racing heart. Something in this academy felt different—electric, magnetic, alive.
He noticed how Yukari's hand lingered on a paper, how Kenji's laughter reached her first, and how the murmurs of other students faded into the background. It was as if the world had contracted to this single, shimmering moment.
Rumors, songs, and whispered secrets might swirl endlessly in this academy, but Jin's attention was caught, anchored, and irrevocably drawn to the spark between them—the tension, the unspoken stories, the possibilities waiting to unfold.
As he stepped toward his classroom, he knew this was more than just the first day at a prestigious school. It was the beginning of a chapter where hearts, ambitions, and desires collided—and somehow, he was already caught in the current.
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