Arthur's first day of the final year of high school began with the usual hustle and bustle. At the school gate, he found his friends—Henry, Richard, and Jane—waiting for him. The group exchanged enthusiastic greetings, and Luna, Arthur's older sister, joined them briefly.
"Best of luck this year, everyone," Luna said with a warm smile. "Make the most of it. It's your last year, after all."
She turned to Arthur. "Take care of yourself, and remember to help out when you can. I'll miss you all."
With a final wave, Luna left, her words hanging in the air. The four friends headed inside together, settling into their classroom. They were all in the same class, which promised another year of shared experiences.
Once they were seated, Arthur's desk was quickly surrounded by his friends. Henry, known for his playful nature and football prowess, leaned in with a grin."So, any of you thinking of finding a special someone this year? It's our last chance, after all."
Richard, the quiet yet charismatic one, shifted uncomfortably. Known for his cool demeanor and popularity among girls, he had his own thoughts about the question. Jane, the cheerful and attractive girl from a wealthy family, merely smiled at Henry's teasing.
Arthur, always at the top of his class and excelling in sports, shot Henry a disapproving look. "You should focus on studying seriously instead of worrying about dating."
Henry laughed, unperturbed. "I'm just looking for the right person. Besides, I'm not giving up on finding someone who truly matters."
Arthur scoffed. "You'll probably end up with someone even more rugged and chaotic than you."
Richard, who had a secret crush on Jane, was silent. He admired her from afar, fearing that his modest background might lead to rejection. Arthur and Henry were aware of Richard's feelings but respected his wish to keep it private.
As the school bell rang, signaling the start of the day, the students settled into their seats. Arthur, whose desk was by the window, glanced outside, thoughts drifting to how he could ease Luna's workload once he graduated. He shook off his worries and stood up with the rest of the class to greet their new teacher.
His gaze fell on the empty desk beside him and he wondered who might be the person who was brazen enough to be absent on the fist day. A new deskmate would occupy that seat, but for now, it remained vacant. Arthur wondered about his new companion—whether they would be a boy or a girl, and if they would be friendly towards him or would dislike him for his popularity among both girls and boys.
His mind raced with possibilities until a sudden thought interrupted. What if his new deskmate was someone….