The first morning of classes after New Year's carried with it a sense of sluggish normalcy. Students filled the corridors with chatter, laughter, and yawns, their winter uniforms buttoned tightly against the lingering cold that slipped through the windows. Decorations from the school's holiday festivities had already been removed, leaving the hallways bare, almost melancholic.
Inside Class 1-F, the sound of chalk tapping against the board mixed with the low murmur of papers being flipped.
"Alright, everyone, settle down." the homeroom teacher announced, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Let's begin the year with proper focus. Open your books to page thirty-six."
At his desk near the window, Jousuke Daikuhara straightened his back, suppressing a yawn. He wasn't particularly tired, but his mind felt elsewhere—still lingering faintly on the holiday break, on memories that made his chest feel both restless and strangely warm.
The teacher's voice droned on, explaining the new lesson, yet Jousuke caught only fragments of it. Instead, he caught the subtle gazes of two of his classmates.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Leah Boutsuki, her cheek resting on one hand as she stared dreamily in his direction. She wasn't even pretending to look at her textbook. Her lips were curved in the slightest smile, though whenever Jousuke shifted, she'd quickly avert her gaze to avoid being caught.
On the other side of the classroom, Rika Sakurai was no better. Her textbook was open, pen in hand, but the ink hadn't touched the page for several minutes. Her chin rested delicately against her folded arms, eyes softened as they lingered on Jousuke. The faintest blush painted her cheeks, making her look like she was lost in her own little world.
Jousuke, unaware of the depth of their daydreams, simply tried to focus on the board. He let out a quiet sigh, scratching his head. "Why do I feel like someone's staring at me?"
The lesson carried on without incident, and soon the bell signaled the arrival of lunchtime. Students shuffled out, some heading to the cafeteria, others gathering in small groups by the windows. Jousuke stretched his arms, preparing to grab his bento, when a familiar voice broke through the chatter.
"Daikuhara-san."
Jousuke turned. Standing by the doorway was Seiichi Sakamoto, hands tucked casually into his blazer pockets. His calm but serious expression drew a few curious looks from classmates, but Sakamoto ignored them.
"Ah, Sakamoto-san." Jousuke said. "What's up?"
"Come here for a second." Sakamoto replied, stepping inside. His gaze softened only slightly, though his tone remained level. "I wanted to talk to you about something. Bring Asa along, too, if you can."
Jousuke blinked. "About what?"
Sakamoto let out a small breath, almost a chuckle, but not quite. "Don't worry, it's nothing bad. Just... about the new manga that came out recently. Thought you'd be interested."
"Oh, the one Sensei recommended before break?" Jousuke asked, recalling the casual mention their teacher had made.
"That's the one." Sakamoto confirmed with a nod.
The atmosphere wasn't heavy, but there was something deliberate in Sakamoto's manner—a calm weight that suggested he was thinking more deeply than he let on. Still, Jousuke smiled faintly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sure. Asa's probably in the cafeteria already. We can grab him after this."
Sakamoto gave a simple nod. "Good."
The two of them spoke briefly, trading a few lines about the series and other casual topics, while some of their classmates looked on curiously. The room had its usual lunchtime energy, yet a sense of anticipation stirred in Jousuke's chest, though he wasn't sure why.
And then—
The classroom door slammed open.
A sharp, commanding voice rang out, instantly silencing the scattered conversations.
"Jousuke Daikuhara! Come to the student council's office now!"
The words echoed across the room with undeniable authority.
Standing there was Kaede Miyazaki—her 2nd-year uniform crisp, her long hair swaying with the force of her entrance, and her cheeks faintly flushed as if she had run here. Her eyes locked straight onto Jousuke, not giving anyone else the time of day.
The classroom froze. A mix of whispers and stifled laughter erupted among the students.
"Eh?! The student council vice-president herself?"
"Why's she calling out Daikuhara by name?"
"Did he do something?"
Jousuke's jaw fell slightly, caught between shock and embarrassment. "M-Miyazaki-san…?"
Sakamoto raised an eyebrow, his calm composure unshaken, though even he seemed mildly intrigued.
Miyazaki's voice carried no hesitation this time, firm yet colored with something only Jousuke could recognize—an urgency, a nervousness, hidden beneath the bold front she was putting on.
"Don't just sit there!" she snapped, though her eyes betrayed a softer glimmer. "Hurry up and follow me!"
Jousuke scrambled to his feet, half-aware of the countless gazes boring into his back. His heart thudded against his chest.
"M-Miyazaki-san, wait, what's going on—"
"Now!" she cut in, her voice a mixture of command and plea.
The air inside Class 1-F buzzed with unspoken curiosity, the silence louder than the chatter from moments ago.
Jousuke, clutching his bento absently, gave Sakamoto a helpless look.
Sakamoto only shrugged lightly, lips quirking into the faintest smirk. "Guess you'd better go."
And with that, Jousuke found himself being pulled into yet another moment where Miyazaki's presence turned the ordinary day into something charged, unpredictable, and unshakably alive.
The chapter closes on that note—Miyazaki's voice still echoing, Jousuke caught off guard, and the classroom left buzzing with questions none of them could yet answer.