You, Me, and The Transfer Student

Keith had always considered coincidence a myth. Life, in his experience, was a series of logical consequences, a chain of predictable reactions. 

But after that fateful night—that singular, inexplicable meeting under the falling snow—his rigid belief began to crack. 

Still, he wasn’t entirely convinced. Not until this moment, as he stood frozen at the school gate and saw her. All his doubts melted away like flakes on warm skin. 

“Keith?!”

“Akira-san?"

The exclamations burst from them in unison, their faces flushing with equal measures of shock and delight. 

Their expressions became a comical mirror of one another, and they spoke again, words tumbling out in a rush.

“What are you doing here?!”

Akira’s two friends watched the awkward exchange unfold, their confusion palpable. On Akira’s left stood Rina Kojima, her surprise morphing into curiosity. 

On her right, Shiori Fujiwara watched Keith with widened, astonished eyes, her heart pounding against her ribs. 

The carefree smile she had worn moments before vanished, replaced by a look of intense, focused interest.

Oblivious to the unspoken drama, Akira stepped closer to Keith, her eyes crinkling shut in a warm smile. 

"I can't believe we go to the same school. What a coincidence."

Yeah, and don't I know it, Keith thought, his own expression a comical mixture of disbelief and flustered joy.

"Which class are you in?" Akira asked.

"Class 2-C. What about you?"

"I'm in Class 2-A."

"I see. Well, then I guess I'll be seeing you around." 

Keith offered a small, hesitant wave as he began walking towards the school building.

"Yeah, see you around!" 

Akira waved happily, her smile a beacon of pure joy, a sight her friends had rarely witnessed.

As Keith continued on, his hand still faintly gesturing a goodbye, Rina remained baffled by Akira's reaction. 

Next to her, Shiori’s eyes held a gentle, distant light, a lingering blush still on her cheeks. Noticing her daze, Rina nudged her gently.

"Say, Shio. Are you good?"

Shiori startled, snapping back to reality with an embarrassed flush. Rina's eyebrows shot up, her gaze probing.

"I'm fine, I'm totally fine, why do you ask?"

"Cause you were spacing out. Get a hold of yourself, girl."

Before Shiori could protest further, Akira called out for them to head inside. The three of them moved toward their classroom, their easy chatter resuming. As it turned out, the three of them were in the same class. 

Meanwhile, Keith had reached the main entrance. He exchanged his outdoor shoes for his indoor ones at his assigned locker and walked into the school's interior. Each step felt thoughtful, his hands in his pockets, his eyes cast downward.

What are the odds? This is ludicrous. How is it possible that we've been going to the same school and yet have never run into each other? That's just stupid.

He walked up the stairs, passing Class 2-D before arriving at Class 2-C. The door slid open, and a hush fell over the room as every student turned to look. 

Unfazed, he made his way to his seat at the back of the third row. He settled in, his bag beside him, as the class’s scattered chatter resumed. 

He paid them no mind, resting his head on his hand as his gaze drifted towards the window, watching the green leaves sway on the branches outside. 

His thoughts, however, were not on the view but on Akira. He shook his head, trying to dismiss her from his mind. 

A sharp slap on his back broke his reverie. Snapping out of his thoughts, he turned to see Shintaro Nagai, his sole friend in the school. Shintaro chuckled as Keith's annoyance flickered across his face.

“Oh, morning, Shintaro. Give me one good reason for smacking me like that.”

“Wasn’t it obvious? You were in dreamland.”

“Even so, that shouldn’t give you the right to smack me.” Keith’s voice was calm, his eyes returning to the window.

“Just grow a pair, ya? Toughen up.”

“Would you like me to show you how tough I am?”

“No… absolutely not.”

“Great, then take your advice to someone else.”

“Oh come on, I was just joking. Why do you gotta be a downer all the time? Anyway, did your aunt leave already?”

“Yeah.”

“Mmmmm…”

“What?”

“Nothing, don't pay attention to me.”

Shintaro pulled the seat beside Keith and leaned back, his eyes falling on the empty desk on Keith's left. 

“So that seat has been empty since Mei left, huh?”

“You just said not to pay attention, ugh… You know that, so why are you asking?”

“Just curious, I guess.”

“You're stupid dude.”

Just then, the bell for homeroom rang, and a new wave of students hurried to their classes. The homeroom teacher, Ms. Ogawa entered the room, clapping her hands.

“Settle down, class. Now then, we have a new student who will be joining us today."

A cacophony of whispers filled the room.

“A transfer student?”

“At this time of the year?”

“That’s crazy.”

“You’re telling me.”

Shintaro, his anticipation evident, announced loudly, “I hope she’s easy on the eyes.” 

The class laughed, and a student asked, “Dude, how do you know it’s a girl?”

“My instincts are telling me it’s a girl.”

While everyone buzzed with excitement, Keith remained still, his focus outside the window. Who transfers schools this late in the year? That’s just weird.

Ms. Ogawa clapped her hands again, and silence fell. 

“You can come in now.”

The door slid open gently. The first thing to appear was a medium-length black skirt, followed by a perfect figure and a straight, disciplined posture. 

Long, champagne-blonde hair framed a beautiful face, and startling blue eyes surveyed the room. The new student walked majestically to the front of the class, holding her bag in front of her.

Everyone was immediately captivated by her beauty, their impressed looks a stark contrast to her composed demeanor. 

Keith heard the murmurs and slowly turned his head. Their eyes met. Both sets of blue eyes widened, and Keith’s mouth parted slightly in recognition. 

He took his hand from his cheek, the easy support forgotten. In turn, her breath caught for a fraction of a second — a ghost of recognition tightening in her chest. 

She forced her gaze away, but her pulse betrayed her calm façade, hammering against her ribs like a secret begging to be heard.

What in the actual... Sophia?  Keith thought while looking intently as the girl.

“Well then, everyone, this is our new student. She’ll be a part of our class from now on. Why don’t you introduce yourself.”

The girl took a deep, steadying breath. Her voice was like warm honey to the ears, though a little flustered from Keith’s intense stare. 

“Good morning to you all. My name is Sophia Marlowe. I moved here from London due to uhm… circumstances.” 

She glanced quickly in Keith’s direction, then continued.

"My Japanese isn’t that good, and my accent tends to slip out sometimes, so please bear with me. But even so, I look forward to being a part of your class. Thank you for having me.”

Sophia bowed gracefully, and the class applauded in a choreographed rush. Ms. Ogawa directed her to the empty seat next to the back of the last row. 

As Sophia walked to her desk, she looked at Keith again, her expression confirming her thoughts. She sat down and composed herself.

“Okay everyone, time for homeroom.”

Ms. Ogawa began homeroom, and everyone settled in, opening their books. After a few periods, the recess bell rang. Students vacated the classrooms while some stayed inside.

The school became a cacophony of life, with students heading to the cafeteria, bathrooms, or simply lingering in the halls. 

A crowd quickly surrounded Sophia's desk, but some students went about their ordinary recess routines. 

Hearing the bell, Keith took out his bento. As he stood up, Shintaro noticed and asked with a goofy expression.

"You going there again?"

"Yeah, why?"

"No reason, just askin’."

"Uh… huh… Well then, see you later."

"Later my dude… don't hit on anyone, alright." Shintaro teased with a chuckle.

"Like I would ever… you idiot." Keith said, exiting the classroom.

Sophia watched their conversation from her desk, her gaze fixed on him until he disappeared through the door. Her newfound fan club had already dispersed.

It's really him. He's gotten so tall. And so… no Sophia, you're being weird again. 

A blush crept onto her cheeks, but she composed herself, her eyes following the students outside the window. 

The second-floor view complemented her thoughtful expression. It's been such a long time. I wonder if he'll remember me.

Meanwhile, Keith went up the stairs to the roof. He opened the door, stepped out, and closed it behind him. 

He walked to the railings, holding his bento as he leaned against them, looking down at the school grounds.

*****

"I'll be right back," Akira said, standing up.

"Where you goin'?" Rina asked.

"I'm just going to the bathroom."

"Okay. Don't take too long, though. Knowing you, you'll probably get sidetracked." Shiori said with a casual smile.

"I won't be long, but you can start eating without me." 

Akira replied, walking out of the classroom. She strolled casually down the hall before stopping in front of Class 2-C. 

A familiar voice called out, “Hey, Akira, it’s been a while.”

“Hello, Shimizu-san.”

“To what do we owe the pleasure?”

“I’m just looking for someone is all.”

As they spoke, Sophia, still at her desk, glanced at them before looking away again, her interest piqued. Shimizu, her curiosity overflowing, leaned in conspiratorially.

“Who? If they’re in this class, then you’re in luck.”

“His name is Keith Yamasaki.”

Sophia’s head snapped up. Her eyes widened in surprise as she listened, a new thought forming. 

She's looking for Keith… Does she know him or something? Maybe she's his girlfriend. 

The possibility sent a jolt of anxiety through her. Keith does have above-average looks, so it would make sense for him to have a girlfriend already, but I strongly hope not. She felt her face pale, her jaw tightening as she listened.

“Oooooh? You’re interested in him too, hehehehe… I don’t blame you, though. He’s got the looks if not anything. But don't even bother with him, his the type of guy who dishes out rejections like free food—”

“No, you’ve got it all wrong. I’m not interested in him in that way.”

Sophia breathed a deep sigh of relief. Then her thoughts poked away at her. He rejects anyone who confesses to him, huh? 

The revelation made her thoughts race. An old memory flashed into her mind: a boy with blue hair and blue eyes, smiling as he ran, with her following close behind, her own smile bright. 

Having seen that image in her head, Sophia's heart pounded as she held her shirt tightly. 

“Oh, my bad then, sorry,” Shimizu said, her teasing tone fading.

“Please don’t worry about that, it’s fine.” Akira brushed away the apology with a wave of her hand.

“Alright… Well, I last saw Keith heading up the stairs, but I don’t know where he was going, though.”

“Thanks, Shimizu-san. See you.” Akira gave a quick wave and headed for the stairs.

“Yeah, see yah.”

Akira’s pace quickened as she left Shimizu and Sophia, who was still processing the new information.

*****

On the roof, Keith had settled onto a step-like ledge by the railings and began eating his bento. 

The roof door opened, and his eyes found Akira walking towards him, a happy smile on her face. 

“Why are you here by yourself… Oh, that’s right, you don’t like being around people, right?”

How the heck did she find me? Keith thought, holding his chopsticks in mid-air before placing them back into the bento box.

“Since you’re here, I'm guessing that means you found your keys.”

“Yes, I found them the day I left your house.”

Akira sat down next to him, her playful smile glinting in her eyes.

"Are you as excited as I am?”

"Excited, about what?"

Akira jumped up and walked around him, hands clasped behind her back, a childlike energy in her movements. She leaned down, her face close to his, and closed her eyes in a conspiratorial whisper.

"Being schoolmates, I can already tell that it's gonna be fun, I can't wait, Tehee."

Keith blushed, pulling at his bangs with a flustered smile. 

"Right, then I look forward to school life with you…”

“Likewise, Mr. Yamasaki, hehehehe…”

The two of them lingered there on the sunlit rooftop, their hearts thrumming like a gentle rhythm. The quiet smiles on their faces reflected a light they were finally starting to share.

『To be continued…』