The sound of chatter filled the halls of Hoshikawa High, one of the most respected schools in Tokyo. The students wore crisp uniforms, but the air carried the usual mix of laughter, footsteps, and hurried voices. Ren Yamazaki walked quietly through the corridor, books in hand, his mind already racing ahead of the day.
Ren was well known in school, though not in the way athletes or popular students were. His name carried weight because of his father, the famous scientist, and because of his own reputation as a genius. Teachers admired him for his sharp answers, and students sometimes whispered about how he never seemed to struggle with homework or exams. To Ren, none of this mattered much. He preferred the calm of his thoughts over the noise of attention.
Still, he was not alone. He had friends who accepted him for who he was, not for the name he carried. His closest friend was Daichi, a boy with messy brown hair and a wide grin. Daichi was the opposite of Ren in many ways. He loved sports, food, and jokes that often made no sense, but his loyalty was unshakable. Where Ren was serious, Daichi was lighthearted, and together they balanced each other.
Another important friend was Hana, a girl who sat beside Ren in class. She was quiet but sharp, with eyes that noticed more than she said. Hana admired Ren's intelligence but never treated him like someone distant. She often challenged his ideas, asking questions that forced him to think in new ways. Over time, their study sessions had turned into long talks about the future, their dreams, and even the strange theories Ren's father obsessed over.
There was also Yuto, a boy with a love for technology. He carried gadgets wherever he went, often trying to impress the group with something he built. Ren enjoyed his company because Yuto reminded him of his own curiosity, though less disciplined. Together, the four of them made an odd circle, bound by trust rather than popularity.
That day, the group met during lunch under the large cherry tree in the schoolyard. It was their usual spot, away from the crowded cafeteria. Daichi was already there, biting into a sandwich with little care for neatness. Hana sat with a book in her lap, though she looked up when Ren arrived. Yuto was tinkering with a small device that sparked faintly before going silent.
"You are late," Hana said, though her tone was soft.
Ren placed his bag down. "My father asked me to look at some notes before I left the house."
Daichi grinned with his mouth full. "Notes from the genius himself. What's he building this time, a machine to cook breakfast for him?"
Ren gave a small smile. "Not exactly. He still believes there are other worlds. He thinks he is close to proving it."
Yuto's eyes lit up with interest. "That is insane. Imagine another world where there are versions of us. What if there is a Yuto who actually gets his inventions to work?"
Hana rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "Or a Daichi who studies instead of eating."
Daichi laughed loudly. "That sounds like a nightmare world. I would not want to live there."
Ren listened to them and felt the weight on his shoulders ease. These moments with his friends were simple, far removed from the silence of his home. They made him feel like a normal teenager instead of the son of a man chasing impossible theories.
As the bell rang, the group stood and began walking back to class. Hana walked beside Ren, her voice low enough for only him to hear. "Do you ever believe your father could be right? About other worlds?"
Ren paused, then answered honestly. "Sometimes I think it is possible. The universe is too vast for only one version of us. But I also fear what it would mean if it is true."
Hana looked at him thoughtfully but said no more.
The rest of the day passed with lessons, notes, and the usual rhythm of school life. Yet Ren's mind wandered more than usual. He thought about his father's theories, his mother's fading smile, and the strange feeling that his life was heading toward something greater than exams or grades.
When the final bell rang, Daichi clapped him on the back. "We are heading to the arcade later. You in?"
Ren hesitated but nodded. "For a little while."
As they left the school together, Ren felt a quiet sense of peace. He did not know it yet, but these friendships would soon be tested in ways none of them could imagine. The simple days of school would not last. Something was waiting for him, hidden in pages of an old book that would change his life forever.