The perfect girl

The wind carried them gently.
Soft sakura petals fluttered through the air like a secret the season wanted to share. Some danced across the campus walls. Others clung to windows and backpacks, refusing to be ignored.
And among those petals stood a school as pristine as a painted memory—
A three-story private school nestled between quiet streets and a hillside park. Its gates had just opened for a new year, and the courtyard buzzed with energy: new shoes, new uniforms, new beginnings.
The classroom filled slowly—nervous smiles, whispered introductions, desks shuffled into place.
And then...
As always, all eyes turned the moment Yuzuki Haruna walked in.
She didn't try to make an entrance. She just was the entrance.
Her chestnut-brown long hair caught the light as if nature had placed a spotlight on her. Her steps were quiet, graceful — but her presence echoed through the room louder than any morning bell.
“She’s so pretty…”“It’s like petals follow her…”“I heard her family owns a fashion company or something.”“I bet she drinks sparkling water in the morning.”


Yuzuki heard it all. She always did.
She didn’t mind the admiration. She also didn’t mind the envy.
In fact, she thought it added flavor to her school day.
Jealousy means I’m doing something right, she thought with a soft smirk.


Her gaze drifted toward a group of girls whispering like they were auditioning for a drama club. Their narrowed eyes and twitching mouths screamed one thing: they hated that she made perfection look so easy.
Yuzuki beamed at them sweetly.
Just then—
“Good morning, Yuzuki.”
She turned, her expression softening.
“Good morning, Miyako,” she replied, her voice shifting into something warmer.

—
Miyako Airi — the class rep, the second-most admired girl in the year, and Yuzuki’s best friend since middle school. Elegant, composed, and polite to a fault.
If Yuzuki was a spotlight, Miyako was the soft glow of a bedside lamp.
People trusted her. Teachers adored her. And she had the kind of smart, helpful charm that made people forget to be jealous of her.
...Usually.
—

The two stood beside their desks as sunlight poured in through the windows. The chatter of the classroom buzzed behind them, but for a moment, it felt like their corner was calm.
Miyako adjusted her ribbon and leaned in slightly.
“Did you study for the upcoming math placement test? I barely survived the prep questions last night.”
Yuzuki tilted her head, pretending to think. “Study? No, of course not. I plan to let divine inspiration strike me mid-exam.”
Miyako stared at her.
Yuzuki finally smirked. “I’m joking. I studied. A little. Kind of. I looked at the textbook, and then my cat sat on it, and I took that as a sign to rest.”
Miyako sighed, but her smile betrayed her amusement. “You’re going to ace it anyway, like always.”
“Don’t jinx me,” Yuzuki said, playfully flicking Miyako’s sleeve. “Besides, I heard you're in the running for top five again.”
Miyako blushed faintly. “That’s just a rumor.”
“Then let it spread. You deserve it.” Yuzuki grinned. “Maybe we should have a celebration after exams.”

—
Just outside the classroom, the hallway echoed with footsteps and casual banter.
Kurosawa Renji strolled with his usual easy stride, slouched slightly under the weight of his volleyball bag. Two of his teammates walked beside him, still laughing about a joke none of them could remember clearly.
As they passed the open door of Class 2-B, Renji’s gaze drifted—almost on instinct.
And there she was.
Yuzuki Haruna.
Surrounded by light like she ordered the sun herself. Talking to Miyako, laughing softly. Her hair caught in the breeze from the window, glowing in the morning light.
He slowed.
Just for a second.
Then—
Thwap.
A hand smacked the back of his head.
“Ow—! What was that for?!”
His friend smirked. “Bro. Stop staring like that. You look like a stalker.”
The other leaned in, grinning. “Yeah, seriously. I get it, she’s cute, but don’t pause like you’re watching a drama recap.”
“I wasn’t staring!” Renji hissed, glancing over his shoulder quickly. “I was just—looking at the classroom. For spacing. Like… formation ideas. For club.”
“Formation of her face in your heart?”
“Shut up.”
The three laughed as they walked past, Renji tugging his hood up slightly as if it would erase the moment.
“She doesn’t even know I exist,” he muttered.
One of them patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, man. That’s how all great sports anime start.”


—

As the final bell rang and students began packing their bags, something small slipped off the edge of a desk near Yuzuki’s seat.
Tap.
Yuzuki and Miyako both glanced down.
A small, folded envelope had landed near her foot. Pale pink. Neatly sealed. No name—just a message scribbled across the front:
“Please come to the back of the school building after class.”


Miyako leaned over curiously. “What is it, Yuzuki?”
Yuzuki picked it up, read the front, and narrowed her eyes.
“Again,” she muttered flatly.

After School – Behind the School Building
The quiet back path of the building was mostly used for maintenance access and secret snack-eating spots. Nobody hung out there unless they had… intentions.
Sure enough, a third-year boy stood waiting, hands in his pockets, blazer casually unbuttoned, trying way too hard to look cool.
His face lit up when he saw her.
“Oh, Haruna-san! You actually came. I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up.”
Yuzuki stared at him with all the warmth of a frozen wall.
“I already told you,” she said coolly. “I’m not interested. Leave me alone.”
The boy’s smile faltered. “Wait, just listen—”
“No.”
She turned on her heel and walked away, her hair flipping dramatically behind her.

—

The sky was painted in soft shades of orange and purple as Yuzuki and Miyako walked side by side down the residential street.
Miyako sighed. “Did that creep not leave you alone again?”
Yuzuki groaned under her breath. “I’ve rejected him twenty times. Twenty. And he still shows up with these desperate notes like we’re in some tragic love drama.”
“You’re gonna have to deal with that all year, huh?”
“Looks like it.” Yuzuki huffed, arms crossed. “Maybe I should start carrying pepper spray in a Chanel case.”
Miyako chuckled. “Why don’t you ask someone to pick you up? I mean, don’t you have a big fancy car or something? Guys like him always go after rich girls.”
Yuzuki blinked. “Y-Yeah. That’s true. But… I didn’t want to leave you walking home alone.”
Miyako paused, then grinned. “Aw, Yuzuki, you care about me that much?”
Yuzuki smiled back, just a little too stiff. “O-Of course I do.”
They reached the split in their route.
“I’m going this way,” Yuzuki said quickly.
“Okay! See you tomorrow,” Miyako called with a cheerful wave.
“Bye.”
Yuzuki turned, waiting for Miyako to walk far enough ahead before she let out a small sigh.
That was close.
The sun dipped lower behind the rooftops as Yuzuki Haruna strolled through the quiet park.
She preferred this route home. It was longer, but it avoided the busy train station—and more importantly, her classmates.
“If anyone sees where I really live… I’m doomed.”


She whispered to herself, her tone sharp with paranoia and pride.
The gravel path curved around trees dressed in early spring green. It was peaceful.
Until she saw it.
Lying on the grass beneath a tree, almost blending with the clouds above, was a massive dog.
Its fur looked so soft, she nearly gasped aloud.
Fluffy… Like a pillow made of whipped cream…


She crept closer, eyes wide. Then her phone was out.One picture. Then another. Then a wide-angle. Then a close-up.
But it wasn’t enough.
She wanted to touch it. Just once.
I deserve this. After everything I dealt with today, I deserve one soft thing.


She crouched and slowly reached toward the sleeping dog’s back.
Just as her fingers hovered over the fluff—
BARK!
The dog’s eyes snapped open.
Yuzuki screamed and stumbled backward onto the ground.
The dog lunged slightly, barking wildly, its growls echoing through the trees like something from a horror film.
She covered her face with both arms. “HELP—!!”
There was no one.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
Then—suddenly—the barking stopped.

“White! Stop.”

A firm, calm voice.
She slowly opened one eye.
The dog now sat quietly, tail wagging, as a boy held it gently by the collar.
Tall. Ash-brown hair. Orange eyes that caught the last rays of sun.His skin was warm-toned, and he wore civilian clothes—casual, slightly oversized. Clean, but plain.
The kind of boy you'd see once and assume he was from somewhere else entirely.
He looked down at her.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice polite and even.
“I—uh… y-yes. I think so,” she muttered, still sitting on the ground.
He glanced at her uniform, something familiar flickering in his eyes.
That uniform…


He gave her a quiet nod. “Good then.”
With that, he turned and walked away, his dog happily trotting beside him.
Yuzuki blinked. Her mouth opened slightly. Then her eye twitched.
“Huh? Wait—what?!”


She jumped to her feet, brushing dirt and grass off her skirt.
“No apology?! No explanation?! What kind of rude—ugh!”
She looked in the direction he vanished, crossing her arms with an offended huff.
“If you can’t control your monster dog, maybe you shouldn’t have one!”

—

The next morning, Class 2-A buzzed with casual chatter as students filtered in. Yuzuki Haruna sat at her desk, her phone out, casually showing Miyako something on the screen.
“Ahh, this is cute!” Miyako said, eyes sparkling. “Look at that fur—it’s like a walking marshmallow!”
On the screen was a perfectly angled photo of a large white dog, peacefully sleeping in the grass, its coat looking fluffy enough to sleep on.
“Isn’t it amazing?” Yuzuki replied, tilting her head proudly. “He’s kind of camera-shy, but I managed to capture him just right.”
Miyako gave a dreamy sigh. “Your dad bought you a dog? That’s so cool! I wish my dad would let me have one, but he says even goldfish are too much work…”
Yuzuki blinked.
Wait—what? She thinks it’s mine?


She cleared her throat, quickly putting on a graceful smile.
“Oh, yes. Of course. This sort of thing is normal for us,” she said, lifting her chin slightly. “He brought it back from a foreign trip. I barely had space in the garden for him.”
And there goes my nose, growing longer like Pinocchio.


Miyako clapped her hands together. “You’re so lucky! Can I visit your apartment and meet him? Please?”
Yuzuki froze. She had absolutely not prepared for this level of excitement.
“M-My apartment…? Oh, yes. Of course! Why not?” she said with a faint, twitching smile.
“Yay! Let’s plan for next weekend then!” Miyako beamed.
Next weekend…?!


Before Yuzuki could fake a cough or pretend to faint, the classroom door slid open.
“Everyone to your seats,” Miyako said quickly, standing as class rep. “Stand up. Bow.”
The students followed in rhythm.
A moment later, the homeroom teacher, Mr. Fukuda, entered with a clipboard in one hand and a calm but firm presence. His glasses slid halfway down his nose as he addressed the class.
“Before we begin, we have a new transfer student joining us today.”
Murmurs buzzed across the classroom. Everyone straightened up a little in their chairs, curious.
The door opened behind Mr. Fukuda.
And he walked in.
Yuzuki’s smile vanished.
A tall boy in a clean but casual uniform. His ash-brown hair hung slightly over his forehead, and his warm-toned skin caught the light in a soft, unfamiliar hue. His orange eyes scanned the room politely.
The teacher adjusted his glasses.
“This is Ayan Shouta. His mother is from India, and his father is Japanese. He’s just returned to Japan after several years abroad.”
Ayan gave a light bow. “Nice to meet you all. I’m Ayan Shouta.”
The classroom fell into a wave of quiet surprise, intrigued whispers already starting.
Yuzuki blinked twice, then whispered to herself—
“met him yesterday… at the park.”


Her voice was small. Possibly haunted.
Because the same boy who held back the beastly fluff she’d just lied about owning…Was now standing in her classroom.