The Morning That Changed Everything

It was a pleasant morning — the first day of my first year in high school.

The air was cool, the sun gentle, and the world felt… new.

On my way to school, I heard the laughter of children coming from a nearby park.

For some reason, I stopped walking.

That single pause — that tiny moment — became the turning point of my life.

There, among the children, I saw her.

She was playing with them, smiling softly as sunlight danced across her hair.

And when she looked up, her eyes—those warm brown eyes—caught the morning light.

They weren’t just eyes.

They were stories waiting to be read.

Soft, yet full of depth… like they carried the whole sky within them.

For a heartbeat, everything else disappeared.

The laughter, the wind, the world.

All that remained was her gaze — gentle yet powerful, pulling me in like gravity itself.

Then she noticed me staring.

Her expression shifted slightly — startled, curious.

I froze.

Our eyes met.

Time stopped.

It wasn’t just embarrassment. It wasn’t just surprise.

It was something deeper — like two silent worlds brushing against each other.

I looked away quickly, pretending to be lost in thought, but my heart betrayed me.

It pounded so loud I could hear it in my ears.

Even after she turned back to the children, her image stayed in my mind.

Those eyes. That warmth. That moment.

I knew it would never fade.

As I slowly turned to leave, something inside whispered:

Talk to her.

But my feet wouldn’t move.

And so, I didn’t.

That silence — that single choice — became my first regret of high school.

By the time I reached the school gates, the student council president was giving a speech on the courtyard stage.

I barely listened.

I wasn’t interested in making friends anyway.

When I entered the classroom, I chose a seat near the window — quiet, far enough to be left alone.

A few minutes later, our teacher walked in.

He smiled politely and wrote his name on the board.

Satoru Minasa.

“Good morning, everyone. Let’s start with introductions,” he said.

One by one, the students stood up and shared about themselves — their hobbies, their dreams.

I just kept staring out the window, my mind still trapped in that park.

When my turn came, I stood up slowly.

“My name is Haruki Shimizu.”

I sat down.

Mr. Minasa gave a small smile.

“You can tell us more about yourself, Haruki.”

I shook my head.

“I have nothing more to say.”

He nodded gently.

“Alright then. Next.”

The introductions continued.

I let my eyes wander — and noticed the seat in front of me, slightly to the right, was still empty.

A strange feeling stirred in my chest.

Unease? Anticipation? I wasn’t sure.

To calm myself, I leaned against my hand and closed my eyes.

Then, a knock echoed through the quiet classroom.

A soft, delicate voice followed.

“May I come in?”

And somehow… my heart knew.

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To be continued…