A fresh start

A gentle breeze drifted through the air, carrying the soft warmth of spring. Pale pink petals fluttered down from the branches, swirling gently before settling like a delicate veil over the stone path.

Standing at the gate of Hoshizora High School, Seraya tightened her grip on her bag’s strap. The sight of the school, with its towering buildings and bustling students, was overwhelming. Her heart pounding in her chest as she took a deep breath.*A fresh start—an opportunity to leave the past behind and rebuild myself from the ground up.*

Her mother stood beside her, offering a reassuring smile. "You'll do great, sweetheart. Just be yourself."

With hesitant steps, Seraya followed her mother through the school gates. The hallways buzzed with chatter, students laughing, exchanging stories, and stepping into a future that already seemed familiar to them. Everyone moved with purpose, effortlessly blending into the rhythm of school life. 

*They all seem so at ease, like they already belong here. I wonder… will I ever feel that way?*

They arrived at the teacher's office, where a middle-aged teacher greeted them. He adjusted his glasses, glanced at some papers, and gave Seraya a reassuring nod.

"Ah, you must be Seraya Hosino. You'll be in Class 1-B. Your seat is already assigned. Textbooks will be distributed later, but for now, you're free to head to your classroom. It's on the second floor, first door to the left."

The hallway was packed with students rushing past, their voices overlapping in a chaotic buzz. Seraya kept her gaze low, clutching her bag strap tightly as she navigated through the crowd. Just as she turned a corner—she bumped into someone. A sharp intake of breath. Her fingers clenched around her bag strap. Memories from middle school surfaced in an instant. The accusing stares, the whispered insults, the way a single moment had spiraled into endless torment. She braced herself, expecting the worst.

Instead—

"Oh, my bad!”. A lively voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Seraya looked up to see a girl standing in front of her. She had mid-length black hair tied up in a messy ponytail, her uniform slightly untidy, as if she had been rushing. Her amber eyes held no trace of annoyance—just an easygoing energy.

“I was in a hurry and wasn’t looking. You okay?” Seraya blinked, caught off guard. She quickly nodded, barely managing a sound before the girl grinned. Before Seraya could respond, she checked her watch and let out a sigh.

"Ah, I really gotta go. Sorry again!" And just like that, she was gone, weaving through the crowd with hurried steps.

Seraya stood there, stunned.

No cruel remarks. No stares. No one whispering behind her back. Her grip on her bag loosened slightly. *I want to believe this time will be different.*

Seraya stood frozen in front of the classroom door, her gaze fixed on the nameplate that read 'Class 1-B'. Through the crack in the door, Seraya could hear the lively hum of students inside—their voices blending into a constant buzz, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the scraping of chairs. It felt like a world she didn’t quite belong to, a space full of confidence and ease that she wasn’t sure she could step into. Seraya’s feet felt heavy, as though the floor was pulling her back. Her mind urged her forward, but her body refused to move. *Just open the door. Just take one step*. But the fear of stepping into the unknown held her in place, each passing second making the room beyond seem even more intimidating.

" Are you going to just stand there?"

The voice, gentle yet clear, caught Seraya off guard. She turned to find a boy standing behind her, a warm smile tugging at the corners of his lips. His posture was relaxed, and there was something effortless about the way he stood, like he was completely at ease in his surroundings.

He stepped forward and gently pushed the door open. "Aren't you going in?" His tone was light, but there was a reassuring kindness to it, as if he understood the nerves she was feeling.

He glanced at her briefly, then stepped aside to give her space, silently encouraging her to follow without pushing.

Seraya quietly walked into the classroom and found her seat beside the window, two rows from the back. It was the perfect spot, far enough from the front to avoid attention but close enough to the door if she needed to escape the buzz. The class was already full of chatter—voices overlapping as students settled in, excited about the first day. Seraya sat down, wrapping her arms around her bag as she tried to sink into the background. The students seemed comfortable, already forming their little groups, their conversations spilling into the air. Seraya sighed softly, trying to focus on the view outside the window, but the chatter kept pulling her attention.

Just then, the door swung open, drawing everyone’s gaze. Two boys entered, their presence immediately commanding attention. The first boy had black hair, tall and athletic, with a quiet confidence that seemed to make the room shift when he stepped in. His appearance was effortlessly handsome, and there was a certain air about him that made people take notice.

Behind him was another boy, with striking blonde hair that stood out in the sea of black. His playful demeanor and easy smile hinted at his carefree personality. Even though he had a more relaxed vibe, the way he moved through the room still had an undeniable pull. As they walked in, the volume of conversation dropped and whispers rippled through the room. Some of the girls exchanged excited comments, their voices a mix of admiration and intrigue. “Wow, look at him… He’s even more handsome in person!”, one girl murmured. "He's the top student. Always at the top of every exam."

"Yeah, and the other one... he's also got the looks. Definitely the type to steal the spotlight," another girl added, giggling.The blonde boy gave a playful smile to the class, his eyes scanning the room before making his way toward an empty desk beside Seraya. He dropped his bag on the chair and sat down without a second thought, still with that same relaxed air.

The teacher entered the room just as the chatter began to subside. With a calm, authoritative voice, he asked, "Alright, everyone, please settle down and take your seats."

The blonde boy, who had just sat beside Seraya, turned slightly toward her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, I'm Noah. What’s your name?" he asked, his tone casual but inviting.

Seraya, still feeling the weight of the room, struggled to meet his gaze. She lowered her eyes to her desk, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her sleeve. Her gaze dropped to her hands, and she simply nodded in response, not trusting her voice to form the right words.

Noah chuckled softly but didn’t press further. He leaned back in his seat, clearly enjoying the attention from the others as the teacher began speaking.

“Good morning, class. I’m your homeroom teacher, Reiji Takahashi. Before we start the lessons, I’d like everyone to introduce themselves. Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself."

Mr. Takahashi gestured to the class, prompting the first student to stand.

“Let’s start with you,” he said.

A boy with messy, dark brown hair stood up, his posture confident and his eyes gleaming with excitement. “I’m Haruto Saionji. I like basketball and playing video games. Nice to meet you guys." He quickly sat back down, his voice steady and assured. A few girls whispered, clearly impressed by his bold, outgoing nature.

Next was a girl with mid-length black hair, tied neatly at the nape of her neck. She stood up, her hands folded in front of her. “I’m Emi Hinokawa. I enjoy reading and cooking. N-Nice to meet everyone.” Her voice was soft, she quickly sat back down, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

Following Emi was a tall girl with deep indigo hair that cascaded down her back, her expression calm and collected. She smiled warmly as she spoke. “Hi, I’m Rei Arisawa. I love drawing and visiting cafes. Let's have tons of fun everyone.” Her tone was friendly, though she carried herself with an air of quiet grace.

The room grew quieter as Itsuki stood. His jet-black hair was styled with just the right amount of messiness, complementing his tall, soft yet athletic figure. A soft, confident smile played on his lips as he spoke-

“I’m Itsuki Sakuragi” he said smoothly. “I’m into volleyball. Let's play volleyball together sometimes.”

The room seemed to pause, and the girls couldn’t help but blushed, whispering among themselves, captivated by his effortless charm. Itsuki gave a casual nod as he sat down, his attention returning to the front as though he were used to this kind of reaction.

Next, Noah , sitting beside Seraya, stood up with a carefree, almost playful grin on his face. His sun-kissed blonde hair was tousled slightly, and his electric brown eyes sparkled with mischief.

“I’m Noah Whitmore,” he said in a smooth, easygoing tone. “I like to hang out and meet new people. You can just call me Noah” He glanced briefly at Seraya, a teasing glint in his eyes as he introduced himself. His grin widened as he returned to his seat beside her.

Then, the girl Seraya had bumped into earlier stood up. She had a wild, untamed mane of black hair, falling loosely past her shoulders, giving her an effortlessly cool vibe. Her amber eyes were full of warmth as she waved at the class. “I’m Yuki Fushimi. I’m into sports, especially basketball."

The room turned to Seraya, and she felt the weight of their gazes. Her heart raced, and she felt her introverted nature beginning to overwhelm her. Slowly, she stood, clutching her hands tightly together.

“I’m Seraya Hosino,” she said in a soft voice, barely audible. “I… I like reading.”

She quickly sat back down, her face flushed with embarrassment, feeling herself shrink into the seat. She knew the others had probably already moved on, but it didn’t feel that way to her.

After everyone had finished their introductions, Mr. Takahashi began to speak, outlining the plans for the day. His voice was steady, guiding the students through the schedule, when suddenly a sharp, mechanical sound echoed through the classroom. The mic clicked on-

"Attention, all students! Please make your way to the auditorium for the opening ceremony. Thank you."

The class began to stir as everyone stood, moving towards the door. Seraya, followed the group, trying to keep a low profile as they all made their way out of the classroom.

As she walked, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and found Yuki, the girl she had bumped into earlier in the hallway. The same warm amber eyes met hers, and Seraya was surprised to hear her speak.

"Hey Hosino, are you okay?" Yuki asked, her voice gentle, a bit concerned. "I didn’t mean to bump into you earlier. I was rushing and didn’t see you." She gave Seraya a sheepish grin, clearly feeling bad about the incident.

Seraya opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. Her heart raced. * What if I said something wrong? What if she hates me and don't talk again?*

She glanced down, clutching her bag tighter, and simply nodded in return.

Yuki seemed to take this as a cue to keep talking, and Seraya, though still nervous, didn’t mind. She was surprised by how easy it was to listen to Yuki. The girl’s words flowed effortlessly, her voice upbeat and full of energy as she spoke about her love for sports and how she had just joined the basketball team. She asked Seraya about her hobbies, though Seraya just answered softly, not sure how to keep the conversation going.

By the time they reached the auditorium, the principal and the student council president had already taken the stage. The principal, an older man with graying hair, took the stage. His presence commanded attention as he adjusted the microphone.

"Welcome, students," he began, his voice deep and steady. "Today marks the beginning of an important chapter in your lives. Each of you has walked a different path to get here, but from this moment on, you share a common goal—to learn, to grow, and to shape your futures. But make sure to have lots of fun." The speech ended with a polite round of applause, and soon the student council president took the stage to explain school rules, club activities, and upcoming events.

Finally, the ceremony concluded, and the students began filing out of the auditorium. As Seraya made her way back toward the door, she heard a voice—deep but clear, cutting through the noise around her.

"So, it really is you…”

Seraya froze, unsure where the voice had come from. She turned, but the crowd was moving too quickly, she couldn’t see anyone clearly enough to figure out who had spoken. Just as she was about to dismiss it, Yuki appeared beside her once again, her bright energy standing out against the bustle of students.

“Hosino, let’s go together!” Yuki said, her voice light and cheerful. “You’re still kind of new here, right? It’s better to stick together.”

Seraya, still startled by the strange voice she had heard, nodded, not wanting to seem rude. She followed Yuki as they walked side by side, crowd around them buzzed with excitement, but Seraya’s thoughts remained quiet. *Maybe I really did hear wrong.*