Chapter 6: Am I Cursed with Bad Luck or What?

Hayato walked into the classroom as usual. No one paid him any attention, as if he didn’t exist.

He made his way between his classmates’ desks, who whispered as he passed by.

When he reached the last seat by the window, he noticed the hateful messages scribbled on his desk and chair.

His face darkened for a moment as he heard the others laughing, but little by little, he was getting used to it.

He even looked with a touch of melancholy at the empty desk beside him; no one ever sat near him.

"Again… just me and my loneliness…"

He dropped into his chair, resting his elbows on the desk. His fingers brushed over the carved insults on the wood, tracing invisible lines between the words.

"I don’t get it… I just want them to leave me alone…"

He gazed out the window, watching the morning sunlight spill across the city. The distant noise of trains and the hum of the crowd felt so far away that, for a moment, he felt invisible—even to himself.

A small sigh escaped his lips.

"I guess this is Tokyo… everyone just keeps moving forward, and I’m just… here."

At that moment, the door swung open, and a small figure stepped in.
The students slowly began taking their seats as the person arranged some papers on the teacher’s desk.

Ms. Minori Kanzaki looked even more cheerful than usual. Given her short stature, she resembled a child who had just received a compliment.

She stood before the class with a wide smile.

“Good morning, desu! I have a big surprise for you all!”

“Did you finally get yourself a husband, sensei?” one of the troublemakers joked.

Laughter rippled across the classroom.

A vein popped on Minori’s forehead, though she smiled with dangerous calm.

“We’ll see about your report card, Takeda…”

Then she coughed twice, regaining her composure.

“I’d like to introduce a new transfer student.”
“You can come in now, desu!”

Hayato wasn’t even paying attention.

He assumed it was just another classmate who’d ignore him like the rest, his gaze still lost in the sky beyond the window.

Suddenly, a wave of murmurs spread through the class.

“Wooooah!”
“She’s gorgeous!”
“Sit next to me!”

The commotion grew so loud that Minori slammed her ruler against the desk.

“Ahem… quiet down, please.”

“She’s a transfer student from the United States. She’ll be staying in this class permanently, so treat her well,” the teacher announced before stepping aside.

Hayato’s ears twitched slightly, like antennas.

Did she just say… from the United States?

No way… it has to be a coincidence.

The girl bowed politely, and with almost flawless Japanese, began her introduction.

“Good morning, everyone. For personal reasons, I’ve come to study here in Japan.”

The boys in the front row stared at her with sparkling eyes, completely entranced.

Meanwhile, a chill ran down Hayato’s spine as he recognized that voice.

“My name is Asley Freya, nice to meet you!” she said brightly, raising one hand in greeting.

For an instant, the classroom fell silent.

Hayato’s worst nightmare had come true, but he still refused to look.

Why? There are so many schools in Japan… why did it have to be this one?

A boy eagerly raised his hand, trying to get her attention.

“Yes, you! The red-haired one!” Asley said with a dazzling smile.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

The entire class went silent, every student suddenly attentive.

Hayato could only think of the worst.

"Please… don’t say something crazy…"

She simply winked and flashed a mischievous smile.

“That’s a secret.”

The teacher rolled her eyes with a sigh.

“All right, all right. You can all ask her whatever you want during recess… Asley-san, sit wherever you like, desu.”

Asley nodded politely and walked down the aisle.

Some students invited her to sit beside them; others tried convincing their partners to switch seats.

The blonde girl reached the back of the classroom, where Hayato pretended to be deeply absorbed in the view outside the window.

“I like this seat… is it taken?” she asked casually.

“N-no, no… no one sits there,” he replied, his voice trembling as he avoided looking at her.

She adjusted her chair and sat down quietly.

The whispers started almost instantly.

“She seriously sat next to that loser?”
“No way…”
“See! It’s your fault she didn’t sit next to me!”
“We’ve gotta rescue her from there.”

At that moment, Asley understood why Hayato acted the way he did.

“Don’t listen to them,” she murmured gently. “They don’t know you… I like it here.”

Those words touched something deep inside him.
For the first time, Hayato turned to look at her.

Her radiant smile seemed capable of brightening even the grayest day.

Even so, Hayato didn’t want to drag her down with him…