The days at Akatani Academy began to fold into a routine, a rhythm that started to feel less foreign and more like a heartbeat. Mornings were a rushed chaos of bathroom lines and pulling on stiff gakurans. Classes were a mix of boring lectures and fascinating people-watching. My eyes always found their way to Kaito Nakamura in Literature, whose calm focus was like a magnet. I'd watch the way his hand moved as he wrote, so precise, and my mind would whisper, Handsome.
During one particularly dry history lecture on the Edo period, Arata, sitting beside me, slid a note onto my desk.
This is worse than watching grass grow. Think he'd notice if I screamed?
I stifled a laugh and scribbled back.
Probably. But the look on his face would be worth it.
Arata grinned, giving me a thumbs-up under the desk. These small moments made the days pass easier.
Lunch with Kenji, Arata, and Kiyoshi had become the highlight of my day. The noise of the dining hall was now a comfortable backdrop to their bickering and stories. But my attention was often stolen by the entrance of the third-years. A particular senpai always caught my eye. He had a confident walk and a laugh that seemed to light up his whole group.
One afternoon, as he walked by our table, I couldn't help but stare. Kiyoshi, noticing my gaze, followed it.
"Who is that, Kiyoshi?" I asked quietly, trying to sound casual. "That senpai with the dark hair, always laughing."
Kiyoshi didn't even need to look twice. "Ishikawa Ren. He's the captain of the kyudo club—the archery team. He's very respected. Why?"
My heart did a little flip. Ren Ishikawa. The name was as strong and graceful as he was. An archery captain. It made perfect sense. "No reason," I said quickly, turning back to my food. "He just seems... notable."
Arata, ever the instigator, wiggled his eyebrows. "Notable, huh? Our Haru has an eye for the talented ones!"
I kicked him under the table, my face heating up. "Shut up."
One rainy Thursday, everything changed. I had stayed late in the library, trying to finish a difficult math assignment. By the time I packed up, the sky was dark and a steady rain was falling. I realized I'd left my umbrella in the dorm. Cursing my forgetfulness, I pulled my jacket over my head and made a run for it.
I was sprinting across the courtyard, head down, when I collided hard with someone coming the other way. We both stumbled, and my textbook and papers flew out of my arms, landing in a growing puddle.
"I'm so sorry!" I gasped, looking up.
And my heart stopped.
It was him. Ren Ishikawa. Up close, he was even more stunning. His eyes, a warm brown, were wide with surprise. "Whoa, easy there! Are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of genuine concern. He was already bending down, grabbing my papers before I could even process what was happening.
"I—I'm fine," I stammered, kneeling beside him. "I'm so sorry, Senpai! I wasn't looking."
"Don't worry about it," he said with a gentle laugh. He was trying to wipe the muddy water off my homework with his sleeve. "It's just water. Here." He gathered the soggy pages and handed them to me. Our fingers brushed. A jolt, like a tiny electric shock, went straight up my arm. I flinched back, my face burning.
He noticed. A small, curious smile played on his lips. "You're one of the new first-years, right?"
"Y-yes. Haru. Haru Kurosawa."
"Haru," he repeated, and my name sounded like a melody in his mouth. "I'm Ren. Look, your notes are a mess. Come on." He stood up and gestured for me to follow him.
"Where?"
"Just to the covered walkway by the kyudo dojo. It's dry there. We can try to save your work."
I followed him, my mind reeling. Under the covered walkway, the sound of the rain was a soft drumming on the roof. It was quiet and secluded. He leaned against a pillar while I spread the wet papers on a dry bench.
"This is hopeless," I mumbled, looking at the blurry ink.
"Here," he said softly. He moved next to me, his shoulder almost touching mine. He pulled a clean notebook from his own bag. "Just copy it over. I'll wait with you. It's not safe to run in the rain, you know." He was teasing me, but kindly.
So, under the dim light of the walkway, with the rain creating a private curtain around us, I rewrote my math notes. And we talked. He asked me if I was settling in okay. I asked him about kyudo. His voice was calm and warm, and every time he laughed, my stomach fluttered.
When I finished, the rain had slowed to a drizzle. "Thank you, Ren-senpai," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Really."
"Any time, Haru," he said, smiling. "See you around."
He walked away, disappearing into the misty evening. I stood there for a long time, clutching the notebook to my chest. It smelled like him—like rain and clean soap.
That night, lying in my bed, the memory of Ren Ishikawa's smile was a brand against my eyelids, a secret I knew would keep me awake for hours to come.
The next morning, something was different. I woke up before the harsh screech of the bell, my eyes snapping open in the pre-dawn grey light filtering through the dorm window. For the first time, I didn't feel a heavy dread about the day. Instead, a nervous, fizzy energy buzzed under my skin. I was dressed and ready before Ryūnosuke had even swung his legs out of his bunk. He gave me a rare, slightly puzzled look as I stood there, my bag already packed.
"You're eager," he stated, his voice rough with sleep.
I just shrugged, a smile tugging at my lips. "Couldn't sleep anymore."
Everything felt brighter. The chaotic bathroom line seemed more lively than annoying. The morning air smelled fresher. In Literature class, even the teacher's droning voice couldn't dull my mood. I glanced at Kaito Nakamura, but my mind didn't whisper handsome with the same intensity. It was too busy replaying a different name, a different face.
Later that morning, homeroom sensei made an announcement. "Club recruitment begins next week," he said, passing out forms. "All first-year students must join at least one club. Consider your choices carefully. It is an important part of your life here at Akatani."
My eyes immediately scanned the list. My finger trailed down the page until I found it: Kyudo Club (Archery). Captain: Ishikawa Ren. My heart did that now-familiar flip. I quickly folded the paper and tucked it safely into my notebook.
The day flew by in a pleasant blur. I was so absorbed in my thoughts about clubs and the upcoming weekend that I lost track of time after my last class, organizing my locker. By the time I snapped it shut, the halls were eerily quiet. Dinner had already started.
A panic shot through me. I hated being late, hated the feeling of every eye on me as I walked into the crowded dining hall alone. My stomach growled, reminding me of the urgency. I decided to make a quick stop at the bathrooms near the hall first, to at least wash up and try to calm my nerves.
The corridor leading to the dining hall was silent, the only sound the distant clatter of trays from behind the large double doors. I hurried towards the bathrooms, my footsteps echoing. Just as I reached for the handle, the door swung open from the inside.
And I froze.
Standing there, still adjusting the collar of his gakuran, was Ren Ishikawa. He was alone. Our eyes met. For a terrifying second, I just stared, my brain short-circuiting. My mouth felt dry. I should say something. Good evening, Senpai. Anything. But no words came out. I just stood there, probably looking like a complete idiot.
A smile—the same one from the rainy walkway—spread across his face. It wasn't a big smile, just a gentle, acknowledging curve of his lips. He didn't seem surprised or awkward at all.
He lifted his hand in a small, casual wave. "Haru."
That single word, my name, broke the spell. I managed to lift my own hand, a clumsy, jerky motion, and wave back. "S-senpai," I finally squeaked out.
He nodded, his smile lingering, and then he walked past me, heading out . I stood there for a moment my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Then, I slipped into the empty bathroom, leaning against the cool tile wall. I looked at my reflection in the mirror—a flushed face and wide, dazed eyes. A goofy, uncontrollable smile spread across my own face. I turned on the tap, splashing cold water on my skin, but nothing could cool the warm thrill spreading through my chest. The sound of the running water was the only thing that could drown out the happy, buzzing silence he had left behind.
END OF CHAP 4