Chapter 1: The Sleeping Boy

The faint scent of cherry blossoms still lingered in the spring air as the third-year students of Class 3-B filed into their classroom, voices buzzing with the usual mixture of boredom and new-term energy.

The seats filled quickly—except one.

In the far back, beside the window where light filtered through gently swaying leaves, sat a boy with his head resting silently on his folded arms. His black hair, slightly tousled, moved faintly with each breath. No books. No pencil case. Just silence.

"Yasu-kun is already asleep?" a student whispered.

“Of course,” another chuckled. “It wouldn’t be the start of school if he wasn’t.”

Yasu Fujihara. A name teachers barely remembered and students barely mentioned. He wasn’t bullied. He wasn’t disliked. He simply… existed. Always at the back, always silent. Eyes often closed—though no one knew if he was truly asleep, or just dreaming with his eyes shut.

The homeroom door slid open.

In stepped someone unfamiliar. Young, striking, and out of place—like a breeze that didn’t belong in a stuffy classroom.

“Good morning, everyone,” she said with a soft, clear voice. “My name is Hoshiko. I’ll be your new science sensei this year. Please treat me well.”

Murmurs passed through the class. Boys sat straighter. Girls exchanged wide-eyed glances. Even the desks seemed to hum with attention.

Except one.

Hoshiko-sensei scanned the classroom, her eyes finally settling on the boy in the back. The only student who hadn't moved an inch since her entrance.

Without a word, she walked down the aisle. Her heels clicked gently against the floor. The class watched in anticipation.

She stopped beside Yasu’s desk. He was still resting, eyes closed, lips calm.

Leaning slightly, she brought her face near his ear, her voice lowering into a whisper:

“wake up… it’s class time, sleepyhead.”

Yasu's eyes fluttered open, hazy with sleep. He turned his face slightly toward the voice. And in that moment—

Brown eyes met hers.

Warm. Clear. Unexpected.

His heart skipped.

“...Who are you?” he asked, still caught in the haze of dreams.

A small smile curved her lips. “I’m your new science sensei,” she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Hoshiko. Try not to fall asleep before the first experiment, ne?”

And just like that, something stirred in Yasu’s world.

A voice had reached him in the quiet.

A star had appeared in his sky.