The air at Meiji-Koyama University was thick with the scent of spring and the nervous energy of thousands of new students. Haruki Sato adjusted the strap of his messenger bag, feeling out of place. He wasn't particularly loud or flashy; he was the kind of guy who preferred the quiet corners of a library to the roar of a football stadium.
As he walked across the stone bridge leading to the main campus, a gust of wind sent a flurry of pink sakura petals swirling around him.
"Ah! My hat!" a voice cried out.
Before Haruki could react, a white beret landed right against his chest. He caught it instinctively. Standing a few feet away was a girl with long, silken black hair and eyes that seemed to sparkle with a mix of embarrassment and relief.
"Thank you so much!" she said, hurrying over. Her name tag read Aimi Tanaka, a first-year Literature student. "I've been chasing that for three blocks. I'm such a klutz."
"It's no problem," Haruki replied, handing it back with a polite smile. "I'm Haruki. Are you lost too?"
Aimi laughed, a sound like small silver bells. "Is it that obvious? This campus is a maze."
As they stood there talking, Haruki didn't notice the curious glances from other students. He didn't realize that his simple act of kindness was being watched by Rin Ichigaya, the sharp-tongued daughter of the university's chairman, who was standing nearby, or Hana Suzuki, his childhood friend who had just spotted him from across the plaza.
For Haruki, it was just the first day of college. He had no idea that this bridge was where his quiet life would end, and a complicated, heart-pounding journey would begin.
Next: Chapter 2 - The Childhood Friend's Reappearance
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