April — the month of new beginnings, when cherry blossoms drift through the air like soft confetti. For most of Japan, it's a season of joy. But at Reniki High School? It's a battlefield.
Students clutching entrance exam sheets, arguing over grades, bragging, doubting — chaos dressed in uniforms.
And in the middle of it all— Akatsuki Fujimoto, completely unfazed, sleep-deprived, and radiating peak "couldn't care less" energy.
"Man, it's spring… just what the hell's wrong with this place? Everyone's way too high on life," he muttered, hands in pockets, eyes half-open.
Then—
"Don't push me, please…!" A soft voice cut through the crowd. Gentle. Musical. The kind of tone that could calm storms.
"Please… it's not good to push…"
Through the swirl of students, he caught a glimpse — a girl with long black hair that shimmered under the sunlight, eyes like crimson glass, surrounded by a horde of overly enthusiastic classmates.
Akatsuki squinted.
"Looks like a chicken swarm…" he thought, deadpan.
Then— bump.
"S-sorry…! I didn't mean to!"
She looked up — flustered, cheeks slightly pink, words tripping over themselves.
"Oh, it's fine! Don't worry. But, uh, seems like you're having quite a start, huh?"
"W-w-w-well…"
Before she could finish—
"Let's run!"
He grabbed her hand — soft, warm, almost too gentle — and darted away through the crowd.
"Got you! Don't get caught by those chickens again!" he laughed.
Her face turned bright red. And just like that — spring started to feel a little different.