"…ther! Brother!"
A loud voice echoed through the room, pulling Nagi out of his sleep.
"Mmgh… what now…?" he mumbled, barely lifting his head from the pillow.
Still half-asleep, he sat up slowly and stretched with a big yawn, scratching his messy hair.
"You… You got chosen!" his little brother shouted, running into the room and holding up a phone like it was a treasure.
Nagi rubbed his eyes. "Chosen for what…?" he asked with a tired voice. "Go away. I'm going back to sleep."
"You're so boring," his brother said, grinning. "Don't you want to see this? It's big."
"I don't care," Nagi groaned, waving his hand lazily. "Whatever it is, it can wait. Out. Get out."
But his brother didn't leave. He just smiled wider. "You sure about that?"
"Yes. I'm sure," Nagi said, turning to lie back down.
"Alright then. Maybe I should go overseas instead."
That made Nagi stop.
"…Overseas?" he repeated slowly. He sat back up and squinted at his brother. "Wait. Let me see that—"
"Nope," his brother said, pulling the phone away with a smirk. "You said you didn't care."
"Hey—! Give it here, you brat!"
From downstairs, their mom's voice rang out. "Sho-kun! Let your brother see it already!"
Nagi jumped out of bed and snatched the phone before Sho could run away again.
"What's gotten into everyone this morning…" he muttered.
Then he looked at the screen. His eyes widened.
Pacifica International Academy: Official Announcement
Japan's Selected Representatives (1st Year Students):
Riku Takanashi
Hina Aoyama
Nagi Kashiwagi
He blinked once.
Then again.
And again.
"Huh? What? Me?"
He stared at his name, printed clearly next to two others. Nagi Kashiwagi.
That was really him.
He looked at it again. Still there.
"This… can't be right."
"It's... It's that prestigious school!" He added.
Nagi Kashiwagi. A normal second-year high school student. Not smart. Not athletic. Not famous. Just… average.
He didn't win contests. He don't join clubs. He don't even talk to many people.
Just a quiet guy who liked anime and video games. Your typical shut-in gut. That was all.
So why…?
"Is this a prank?" he muttered.
His brother laughed. "Nope! It's real! I saw it on the official page!"
Nagi sat down on the edge of his bed, the phone still in his hand.
"This doesn't make sense…"
He read the names again.
Riku Takanashi. Right. He's that basketball genius, right? Went to the nationals or something. Makes sense.
Hina Aoyama. Of course. She's a famous actress. Even I know her name.
But me? Why am I even on this list? There has to be a mistake.
"Maybe there's another Nagi Kashiwagi somewhere…" he mumbled.
His brother raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? That's your excuse?"
"I mean, what else could it be?!"
Downstairs, their mom called again, this time sounding super happy. "Nagi! You're going overseas! That's amazing!"
Sho grinned. "Guess you gotta start packing, world traveler!"
But Nagi didn't move.
He just stared at the screen, his heart beating faster and faster.
He wasn't sure what he was feeling. Was it excitement? Fear? Both?
He sighed and fell back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"I didn't ask for this…"
His usual life was calm. Peaceful. Boring, maybe—but safe.
He liked it that way. Sleeping in. Walking alone to school. Listening to music. Watching clouds. Avoiding people.
Now, that was all going to change.
New country. New school. New classmates from all over the world.
And it wasn't just any school—it was Pacifica International Academy, the most talked-about place in the news.
They said getting in meant you had a bright future. That it was the school for leaders, for the best of the best.
But Nagi didn't feel like one of the best. Not even close.
"This has to be a mistake," he whispered.
But no matter how many times he checked the screen… his name was still there.
Nagi Kashiwagi.
No typo. No joke.
Just reality.
"...Hell no," he muttered.