PROLOGUE: — "First Steps"

The shrill beep of the alarm sliced through the quiet bedroom. Sakura Minazuki groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow. Five more minutes… ten… maybe if she stayed under the covers, the day would just… disappear.

But it wouldn’t.

Her stomach churned at the thought of stepping into a school full of strangers. A school where no one knew her, and she knew no one. Her fingers clutched the soft fabric of her blanket as if it could shield her from the world outside.

Finally, with a sigh that felt like carrying all the weight of her worries, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her socks slipped on the floor, and she stumbled slightly. Great start, she thought bitterly.

At the mirror, her reflection stared back, messy hair, dark circles under her eyes, and the kind of expression that screamed, “I’m about to panic any second now.” She tugged at her uniform shirt, adjusted her collar, then gave up. Close enough, she muttered.

In the kitchen, breakfast waited, though she barely touched it. Her hands shook slightly as she fumbled with her toast, butter smeared on the table more than the bread. Her mom hummed cheerfully, unaware of the storm brewing in her daughter’s chest.

Bag packed, charm clutched tightly in her palm, Sakura headed out the door. Every step toward the bus stop felt heavier than the last, as if the pavement itself was reminding her that she was entering a new world, and there would be no easy way back.

The bus pulled up with a hiss of brakes. Sakura’s stomach flipped. She climbed aboard, found a window seat, and stared outside at the familiar streets passing by, each one pulling her further away from the comfort of her old life and closer to whatever awaited her at the new school.

Please… let today not be a disaster.

The bus door hissed open, and Sakura hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the crowded school grounds. The massive gate loomed above her, iron bars glinting in the morning sunlight. Students streamed past her in clusters, laughing, chatting, and carrying the casual confidence of people who had belonged here far longer than she ever would.

Her hands gripped her bag straps tighter. Every laugh, every shout, every slamming locker sounded amplified in her ears. Her stomach twisted. Everyone already knows each other… where do I even go?

The bell rang sharply, echoing across the courtyard. Sakura flinched, her pulse jumping. The flow of students shifted almost instantly, converging toward the classrooms. With a deep, shaky breath, she followed the stream, trying not to draw attention to herself.

Inside the classroom, the chatter was slightly muted but still buzzing. Sakura froze at the doorway. Faces turned toward her, curious but uninterested in offering guidance. She had imagined standing at the front, introducing herself to the whole class, awkwardly stumbling over her words, all eyes on her… but instead, a gentle voice called out.

“You must be Minazuki Sakura. Please take a seat.”

Relief crashed over her like a wave. She hadn’t have to perform in front of everyone. No awkward self-introduction. No humiliation. Just… a seat. A normal, safe spot. She exhaled shakily and began moving toward the back of the classroom.

And then she heard it, a sharp, teasing laugh from a corner of the room.

“Look at her, standing there like a lost little mouse,” a girl’s voice rang out, lilting with mockery. Her friends tittered behind her. Sakura’s stomach dropped. The three girls turned their gaze toward her, eyes sharp and calculating.

Fear prickled along her spine. Her pace quickened. She clutched her bag tighter, cheeks warming, and hurried toward the empty seat at the far end. Every step felt heavy, every glance from the girls like a small punch to her confidence.

Please… just let me sit down. Don’t notice me… just let me be invisible.

Just as Sakura thought she could finally relax, the teacher cleared her throat and addressed the class.

“Everyone, we have a new classmate today. Minazuki Sakura has transferred here,” the teacher announced, smiling warmly. “Sakura, would you please introduce yourself? Tell us your age, your interests, anything you’d like to share.”

Sakura’s stomach flipped. Her palms grew clammy, her bag suddenly felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. Oh no… I have to talk… in front of everyone…

“I-I… um… M-m-my n-name...” Her voice trembled, faltering with each word. She wanted to sink into her seat and disappear entirely. The classroom felt impossibly large, every eye on her, every pair of curious gazes magnifying her fear.

“Take a deep breath, Sakura. Just do your best,” the teacher encouraged kindly.

Sakura inhaled shakily, counting to three in her head, and forced her voice forward. “I… I’m Sakura Minazuki. I-I’m sixteen… um, I… I like reading… and drawing…” Her words stuttered out, uneven and halting, but she pressed on, cheeks burning.

Slowly, her confidence grew. Each word came a little steadier than the last. By the time she finished, her voice still wavered, but she had managed to speak clearly enough.

“Thank you, Sakura,” the teacher said, smiling warmly. “Welcome to the class.”

Sakura exhaled a shaky sigh of relief. The teacher’s kind words were like a small anchor in the storm of her nerves. Finally, maybe, she could breathe.

She turned slightly in her seat and froze. The girl who had laughed earlier was now smirking at her, whispering something to her friends. Their quiet giggles stung more sharply than she expected. Her chest tightened, and the small sense of relief she had felt moments ago faded.

Why… why do they have to make this so hard?

The rest of the class proceeded normally, with students settling into their work and the teacher guiding the lesson. But Sakura couldn’t fully shake the uneasy feeling in her chest, the sharp awareness that some eyes were still on her, watching, judging, waiting for a slip.

She gripped her notebook a little tighter, silently hoping the day would pass without more trouble.