"Bye Sofu! Have a great day."
Messy white hair, bright blue eyes, as deep as sapphire with a calm glint in them glanced at the middle-aged man who despite being in his thirties, had started living the life of retirement early for him. Sofu pursued his lips, nodded at his father acknowledging him, clenched the straps of his schoolbag and walked straight towards his destination where he would spend his next three years.
It was in march, the surroundings were covered in cheery blossoms- on the sidewalks, drifting across the sky with the breeze, painting the world pink. Sofu walked the road with a blank look on his face, he had seen cherry blossoms on his previous visits to Japan. It will be the first time for him to see these trees change and although he was looking forward to them turning bear and then budding, he didn't look excited. His white hair and blue eyes were a sight to behold, and he stood out from the crowd as he walked into the Rikkai University affiliated Junior High School while carrying his tennis bag and school bag on his shoulders. He was wearing a dark green uniform, like the rest of the students around him.
Sofu, twelve a freshman at Rikkai, glanced at the gate in anticipation, a junior high school that has dominated the Kanto region in tennis since before he was even born.
Sofu just moved to Japan from Germany with his father. After his mother's death last year both the father and son were depressed. The silence that surrounded them was ignored until Sofu fainted in school because of lack of food and sleep, it was then that Yukishiro Akihiko realized that even when he drowned in work from sorrow, there were people to look after him but if he did not look after Sofu, no one would give a single thought to his child and would let him suffer. So he decided to change, change himself and change the environment Sofu lived in, away from these cold blooded relatives.
Sofu had become closed off since Helene died, Akihiko believed it was partly his fault, hence after returning to Japan he decided to retire. His and Helene's savings were enough for Sofu to live a lifetime without worry. He decided to take on the many minor matters in Sofu's life that he had previously overlooked and relax on his own terms.
Sofu walked into the gates of his new school, his eyes cold, but curiosity continuously bubbled inside of him. This was his first time in a Japanese school, although he had researched a lot about it, just knowing and experiencing are definitely two different things. He felt gazes on him, which he chose to ignore. However, the most piercing gaze, that felt like it could burn a hole in him, made a shiver run through his spine, still he did not look in that direction but just walked forward hurriedly to avoid it.
During freshmen orientation, Sofu stood in line with his classmates, completely blocking out the whispers of other students around him. He followed the crowd back to his class, 1-C
Following other's introductions he then quietly introduced himself in class, "Hello, I am Yukishiro Sofu." , and then he quietly headed towards the window seat at the back of the classroom, rested his chin on his palma and looked out the window lost in thought. Before anyone else could go forward with the introduction, a boy with big blue eyes, and dark blue hair headed to the front to introduce himself, he sported a gentle smile and greeted everyone, " Good morning everyone, I am Yukimura Seiichi. Nice to meet you all." with that he went towards the back of the classroom and sat beside Sofu.
Yukimura glanced at his new deskmate. He had seen him at the gate earlier, and the thought struck him again—he looked like a rabbit. Now, under Sofu's vigilant scrutiny, the impression only grew stronger. To ease the tension, Yukimura offered a soft smile. Strangely, the boy's unhesitant gaze made him happy.
Yukishiro Sofu fascinated him. Frosty on the outside, yet to Yukimura he seemed like a small pet animal—one that had wandered the wild for years, nerves sharpened, always on guard.
Sofu was surprised. After his introduction, he hadn't expected anyone to show interest in sitting beside him. Yet here was this boy, calm and unshaken, his presence almost soothing. Sofu studied him carefully—the gentle curve of his serene smile, the way his eyes seemed to twinkle with quiet warmth as they met his own.
After observing for a while, Yukimura came to the conclusion that this shy rabbit will most probably not speak on his own initiative.
"Hello Yukishiro-kun, I heard your introduction, I am Yukimura Seiichi, you can call me Yukimura or Seiichi. I haven't heard your accent before, may I ask where you are from?"
Sofu nodded after hearing Yukimura greet him, but then he felt that he was rude for not replying, he had heard from his dad that social etiquette was very important in Japan.
Sofu hesitated, lips pressed tight, he replied, "Hello Yukimura-kun. I just recently moved from Hamburg, Germany."
Yukimura's eyes widened. Germany—home to youth tennis champions. His interest sharpened.
"By any chance… Do you play tennis?"
Sofu paused, torn between silence and promise. Then, with a small nod, he answered.
Yukimura smiled. He had decided—this rabbit would not stay in his burrow for long.