The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, soft and golden, brushing against Noa Itsuki's sleeping face like a silent whisper. He stirred, blinking against the light, before turning his head slightly—and there she was.
Miyu Tachibana sat at the edge of his bed, cross-legged, already dressed in her school uniform. Her hair, shoulder-length and silky, caught the light like fine ink. She had that gentle smile again—the one that made it hard for Noa to tell if he was dreaming.
"You're going to be late again," she said, voice low and teasing.
Noa sat up, rubbing his eyes. "You say that like you weren't the one who snuck in here twenty minutes ago."
Miyu tilted her head playfully. "I did knock. You were just too dead to hear it."
He chuckled, still groggy. But already, his chest felt lighter. Mornings were hard, but with her, they were bearable.
"I dreamt of falling again," he said, half to himself.
Miyu leaned in slightly. "Did I catch you?"
He smiled faintly. "You always do."
They sat there in comfortable silence for a moment. Her fingers reached for his, warm and firm. She held his hand like it was something she wanted to protect—not just hold. Noa looked down at their entwined hands, then up at her.
"I don't say it enough," he murmured. "But I love you."
Miyu's expression softened. Her brown eyes were calm, like the surface of a quiet lake.
"I know," she said. "And I love you too."
The school gates loomed ahead like the edge of a battlefield.
Even from a distance, Noa could see them—Renji Kuroda and his two hyenas: Daigo Morishima and Shunpei Sato. Renji leaned against the gate like a smug king on his throne, arms crossed, mouth already curled into something nasty.
Noa's heart sank, like it did every morning.
Miyu glanced at him. "I'll be nearby."
"I know," he said, trying to steel himself.
As they passed through the gates, Renji stepped forward, blocking Noa's path.
"Well, if it isn't the rat and his princess," Renji sneered. "Tell me, Itsuki, do you practice being pathetic, or does it come naturally?"
Daigo snorted, punching the air like he just heard the best joke in the world.
Shunpei added, "Bet he cries himself to sleep every night. Right, Noa?"
Noa tried to step around them, but Renji shoved his shoulder—not hard enough to leave a bruise, but just enough to make a point.
Miyu was instantly between them, placing herself in front of Noa like a wall of steel wrapped in a school uniform.
"Back off, Kuroda," she said coolly.
Her voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the air like a blade. Students nearby looked over, sensing tension.
Renji laughed but didn't press further. "Whatever. Have fun babysitting, Tachibana."
As they walked on, Noa muttered, "I hate that I can't stop them."
"You don't have to," Miyu said. "You just have to keep walking. I'll handle the rest."
Noa gave her a small, grateful nod. It wasn't fair. She shouldn't have to protect him. But she did—and he loved her for it.
Why am I always the one needing to be saved? he thought bitterly. Why can't I be strong enough to stand up for myself?
He hated that part of himself—the quiet, helpless part that just endured everything. The part that stayed silent while others laughed at his expense. Sometimes he wondered if his classmates even saw him as a person, or just background noise.
Homeroom was its usual blend of sleepy chatter and last-minute homework copying.
Takeshi Hoshino sat near the window, already flipping through his textbook. Always early, always prepared. Aiko Kirishima leaned beside him, chewing gum as she scribbled in her notebook. Her presence felt like the opposite of Takeshi's, but the two always stuck close—like heat and gravity.
Riku Tanegashima barged in late again, his sports bag barely zipped and his hair a nest of confusion.
"Yo, Noa!" he shouted across the room. "Did you finish that math stuff? I might've... forgotten everything about it."
Noa offered a weak smile. "I barely finished mine."
Riku flopped into the seat next to him anyway, grinning like nothing ever fazed him.
The classroom door opened sharply, and all conversations quieted.
Ms. Naomi Fujimoto entered, heels clicking with precision. Her presence always shifted the atmosphere like a gust of wind.
She set her bag on the desk and looked around with her sharp, dark eyes.
"Good morning," she said briskly. "Let's begin."
Noa sat up straighter. Ms. Fujimoto didn't tolerate slackers, but she wasn't cruel. Her lessons were intense, but not unfair.
"Open your history books to page forty-seven," she continued. "Today we're discussing the Meiji Restoration."
Noa flipped open his book. His hand was still a little shaky from earlier. He could feel Renji's eyes burning into the back of his head, but he tried not to look.
He focused instead on Miyu, who was sitting diagonally across the room, pencil already moving gracefully over her notebook. Just watching her write made him feel steadier.
Miyu looked beautiful as always—maybe even more so with those earrings I'd given her. They'd cost more than I should've spent, but seeing her wear them made it feel worth it.
Halfway through the lesson, Ms. Fujimoto called on him.
"Itsuki. Can you summarize the role of the Choshu and Satsuma domains in the restoration?"
He swallowed.
"They... they formed an alliance," he began, voice quiet. "To oppose the Tokugawa shogunate. They worked with imperial loyalists to—um—bring back direct rule under the emperor."
Ms. Fujimoto nodded. "Not bad. Work on projecting your voice."
A few snickers floated from the back of the room.
Renji.
Noa clenched his fists under the desk, but said nothing.
Laugh while you can, he thought, surprised at the cold edge in his own mind. One day, I'll make sure none of you can laugh again.
After class ended, Takeshi walked past him and paused.
"You answered well," Takeshi said simply, then walked on.
It was such a small comment, but it felt like a pat on the back. Noa's shoulders loosened just a little.
Lunch came, and with it, a little peace. Noa and Miyu ate together on the roof, as they always did.
The wind tugged at Miyu's bangs as she opened her bento box. "Your mom packed you the tamagoyaki again."
"Lucky me," Noa said. "What about yours?"
"I made mine."
He stared. "You made it this morning?"
She nodded proudly. "Woke up early just for it."
He took a bite of her rice ball and blinked. "That's... actually really good."
She smirked. "You sound surprised."
"No, I mean—it's just... you don't cook much."
"Well, I do now."
They sat there in quiet again. The school below felt like another world. Up here, it was just the two of them, a sky full of clouds, and the wind carrying the soft scent of the season.
Miyu turned to him suddenly. "I know today was rough. But you're still here. You still made it."
Noa looked at her.
"Some days," he admitted, "I wonder why I bother."
She didn't respond right away. Then, she leaned forward and pressed her forehead against his.
"Because there's still something worth showing up for," she whispered. "Even if it's just one thing. Even if it's just me."
He closed his eyes. Breathed her in.
"Then I'll keep showing up," he said.
For now, he thought silently. But someday... things will have to change. I can't keep being this helpless forever.
Lunch passed in warm silence, punctuated by small smiles and quiet laughter. Noa felt the weight of the morning loosen from his shoulders little by little, like a winter thawing into spring.
Eventually, Miyu stood and brushed the crumbs from her skirt. "We should head back. Fujimoto-sensei doesn't play around after lunch."
Noa nodded, rising with her. "Yeah. Last time I was late, she made me explain the industrial revolution to the whole class. In English."
Miyu chuckled. "I remember. Your accent was... bold."
He groaned. "I was trying."
They walked down the rooftop stairs together, the echo of their footsteps bouncing lightly through the stairwell.
By the time they reached the classroom, most students were already back in their seats. Renji Kuroda leaned back in his chair, twirling a pencil like he owned the room. Daigo and Shunpei snickered about something in the corner. Noa kept his eyes low as he passed them.
As they settled into their desks, Ms. Fujimoto returned, clipboard in hand, already moving briskly into the lesson.
"Take out your notebooks. We're continuing with the Meiji political reforms."
Pens rustled. Pages flipped.
Noa opened his notebook and started copying the bullet points from the board. Beside him, Riku was already poking his side with the eraser end of a pencil.
"Hey. You awake enough to help me understand this whole 'Diet' thing? Is it like a diet-diet?"
Noa smirked despite himself. "It's the government, Riku. Not weight loss."
"Oh," Riku said. "Guess that explains why it doesn't work."
Miyu turned slightly in her seat, just enough to catch Noa's eye. She smiled. Just briefly.
He smiled back.
Class resumed. The world spun forward.