The month of April in Japan is a season of new beginnings. It is the time when the sakura petals drift like pale pink snow, and every student carries a heart full of unspoken expectations.
Hana had always been like the spring sky—clear, distant, and quiet. She was the pride of her household and a favorite among the faculty. Having finished her previous year ranked second in the entire prefecture, she looked at the new semester not with anxiety, but with the calm pride of a scholar.
However, standing by the shoe lockers on the first day, she saw him.
"I heard he's a transfer from a top-tier academy in Kyoto," her friend whispered. Hana slid her outdoor shoes into her cubicle and changed into her white uwabaki. A small, confident smirk played on her lips. "So, a new rival has appeared. How interesting."
But deep down, as she caught a glimpse of the boy's profile, she felt a strange tug at her chest. It wasn't just competition. It was the faint, terrifying spark of Hatsukoi—first love.
The Science Laboratory
The first period was Science. Hana took her usual spot—the "protagonist's seat" by the window at the very back. The transfer student, Ren, was seated in the middle row, right at the front.
When the Sensei posed a question that left the rest of the class silent, two hands shot up in perfect unison: Hana's and Ren's. As Hana spoke her answer, Ren stiffened. He had never heard a voice like hers before—crystal clear and unwavering. He was trapped, captivated by the sound of a girl he hadn't yet seen.
The Hallway Encounter
Ding-Dong-Dang-Dong.
The lunch bell echoed. Ren lingered by the washing station in the corridor, waiting for the face that matched the voice. Just then, a friend called out, "Hana-chan! Wait for me!"
A girl turning away from the sink paused. The midday sun caught the silkiness of her dark hair. In that singular moment, Ren's world stopped. She was exactly as he had imagined. It was the realization that his heart was no longer his own.