The newly bloomed cherry blossoms swayed gently in the school courtyard, their petals falling across the neatly lined pathway leading toward the auditorium.
The air was filled with the lively chatter of students, both old and new, as the new school year began in earnest.
Today, Haruya and his peers were officially stepping into their final year of elementary school.
The sixth grade.
The entrance ceremony was short but meaningful. Rows upon rows of students sat quietly, listening to the principal's speech about growth, responsibility, and the future that awaited them in middle school.
Parents sat on the sides, snapping the occasional picture, while teachers looked on with gentle smiles.
Haruya, seated among the sixth graders, only half-listened to the speeches.
His mind drifted between excitement and nervousness, wondering what the year ahead might bring.
Once the applause signaled the end of the ceremony, students began filing back into their assigned classrooms.
Haruya stared at the classroom in front of him.
The plate outside the door read: Class 6-B.
Haruya paused for a brief moment, his eyes darting around nervously as he stepped inside.
New classmates, unfamiliar chatter, the slight tension of a fresh beginning had started to press down on him.
But the weight lifted in an instant when he spotted a familiar figure waving energetically at him from across the room.
"Over here, Haruya-kun!" Nagisa called out, her bright smile instantly easing his nerves.
Beside her stood another familiar face: Hazuki. She gave a calm, gentle nod in greeting, clearly just as glad to see him again.
"Nice to see you again, Sumeragi-san." She waved.
Relief washed over Haruya. Not only was Nagisa in the same class, but Hazuki was too.
Hurrying over, he was met with Nagisa's cheerful words. "I'm so glad! You and Hazuki are in the same class again. It's like last year all over again!"
"Yeah," Haruya admitted, smiling happily. "Feels like some good luck for once."
Nagisa then pointed toward the sheet of seating arrangements pinned to the board beside the door. "Look, Haruya-kun. We're even sitting in the same spots as last year!"
Sure enough, Haruya's name was posted at the classic "protagonist seat" located 4th row from the back, by the window.
To his right, Nagisa's name. And directly in front of her, Hazuki.
Haruya blinked, amused. "Really…? Just like last year."
Nagisa giggled at the coincidence, but Haruya noticed something odd. The seat directly in front of him was blank. No name written at all.
"Huh," he muttered, tilting his head.
"Something wrong?" Nagisa asked, noticing his expression.
"Ah, nothing. Just thought it was weird that one seat doesn't have a name yet," Haruya brushed it off. "Maybe someone transferred late or something."
Nagisa shrugged and didn't press further. The three of them settled down happily, relieved to be together again.
But as Haruya scanned the classroom a little more carefully, he spotted some less-than-welcome faces.
Shouya Ishida. Kazuki Shimada. Keisuke Hirose.
The trio of troublemakers from last year's Class 5-B. The very same boys he had taught a lesson to after their run-in with Nagisa.
The moment their eyes met, the air in the classroom started to grow tense.
Shoya narrowed his eyes, glaring at him with a sharp stink-eye.
Kazuki turned his head away, his face as unreadable as ever.
And Keisuke lowered his gaze almost immediately, his shoulders shrinking as if afraid of catching Haruya's attention.
'Looks like this year won't be too peaceful,' Haruya groaned, as he leaned back in his chair.
Turning his gaze elsewhere, he noticed a group of girls chatting near the front.
A lively girl with glossy black hair laughed loudly, drawing attention with her confidence. Haruya recognized her faintly as Naoka Ueno.
Beside her was a bespectacled girl flipping through a book while listening, her posture neat and diligent... If he wasn't mistaken, this was Miki Kawai.
And lastly, a quieter girl with short hair, sitting with a reserved expression, Miyoko Sahara.
Having known many acquaintances in different grades and sections, their names resurfaced from the back of his memory.
Each of them seemed to carry their own kind of presence, filling the classroom with a different kind of energy.
But before he could observe further, the sliding door opened.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats," a familiar voice called out.
Their homeroom teacher stepped inside: Takuomi-sensei.
The same teacher who had guided them last year.
His relaxed smile and steady demeanor seemed to instantly calm the classroom's restless atmosphere.
"This will be your last year in elementary school," he said warmly, setting his papers on the desk. "Let's make this one even better than the last."
The chatter quieted as students started settling into their seats.
Haruya propped his chin up with one hand and looked outside the window, the cherry blossom petals flying all around outside.
"Before we dive into the year, let's start with introductions," Takuomi-sensei continued, clapping his hands together. "Most of you already know each other, but it doesn't hurt to refresh and get used to speaking up in front of the class."
A few groans spread around the room, but the teacher only smiled knowingly.
"Let's go row by row. Nice and simple. Start with your name, something you like, and maybe what you're looking forward to this year."
The first row began. Students stood one by one, giving everything from short and shy responses to long, enthusiastic ones.
Some mentioned hobbies, others talked about sports or clubs they hoped to join in middle school.
The three troublemakers gave their own, unique introductions, claiming to want to play pranks on everybody again this year, which already suddenly gave the teacher a slight headache.
Soon, it passed towards the group of three familiar girls. Naoka, Miki, and Miyoko gave their own answers, revealing some of their dreams and aspirations.
When it was Nagisa's turn, she practically bounced out of her seat. "My name is Nagisa Kubo! I love eating pastry made by Haruya-kun, and this year... I want to make even more memories with everyone!"
Her cheerful tone earned a few cheers, some surprised at the mention of Haruya, while Takuomi-sensei nodded approvingly.
Hazuki followed next, standing calmly. "Hazuki Kudou. I like running and track, and this year I'd like to improve more at it."
Polite applause followed her, and then it was Haruya's turn.
Standing, he confidently introduced himself. "Haruya Sumeragi. I like baking and helping out in one of our family's bakeries. And this year... well, I'll try not to fall asleep in class too much."
His introduction earned a small wave of laughter from his classmates, the atmosphere easing slightly.
Takuomi-sensei, recognizing his smart but always sleeping student from last year, covered his face with a groan.
"Tsk." Shouya looked at the rest of his classmates cheering and complained. "I don't get why everyone likes him. He's a jerk."
"A popular jerk," Kazuki added.
As the introductions went on, Haruya glanced at the blank desk in front of him again. Still empty.
Almost as if he read Haruya's mind, Takuomi-sensei spoke up after a while. "Ah, one more thing. That seat won't stay empty for long. We'll have a new classmate joining us soon. Due to some problems, they weren't able to arrive yet, but they'll be transferring in a few days, so please make sure to welcome them warmly when they arrive."
A ripple of curiosity went through the room. Nagisa leaned closer to Haruya and whispered, "A new transfer student, huh? That's exciting!"
Transfer students did not usually arrive during the last year of elementary, except for some rare occasions where their family had just moved nearby, or the student decided to move schools.
All of the students in Haruya's classroom were old students, having stayed at the school for years now.
Haruya couldn't help wondering what kind of person would end up sitting right in front of him.
'Hopefully not a troublemaker like Ishida,' he prayed.