"Since Chiya Came"

Chapter 1

The Transfer Student

Mornings at the start of a new school year always feel the same.

Clear skies.

The sound of bicycles passing along the small road to school.

Students chatting as birds chirp in the trees.

I walked toward the school gate at an easy pace and let out a small sigh.

“Ah… third year already.”

My name is Chikaru Ryusei.

A third-year student whose life is… pretty normal.

I’m not as smart as Hayashi Naoki, not as energetic as Miyako Nekomiya, and I’m definitely not the kind of person who likes drawing attention.

I just go through my days like usual.

The moment I stepped into the classroom, the usual noise greeted me.

“Ryusei! You’re late again!”

That cheerful voice reached me before I even sat down.

I turned my head.

As expected.

Miyako Nekomiya was standing beside my desk with her hands on her hips. Her short hair looked a little messy, like she had just run here.

“I’m not late,” I replied flatly.

“There are still five minutes before the bell.”

Miyako let out a small huff.

“You’re way too relaxed.”

Behind her, a girl was sitting calmly while holding a small cup.

Soft steam slowly rose from it.

Kohane Miu.

She gently blew on the drink before taking a sip.

“Good morning, Ryusei.”

Her voice was soft, as always.

“Tea again?” I asked.

She gave a small smile.

“Warm tea is calming.”

Meanwhile, in the corner of the classroom…

A boy with glasses was reading a thick book.

I didn’t even need to look closely to know who it was.

Hayashi Naoki.

And of course, someone was already sitting in the seat in front of him.

“What were you reading earlier?”

The girl’s voice was full of curiosity.

Takahashi Shiori.

Naoki slowly closed his book.

“A physics book.”

“…Seriously?” Shiori sighed quietly.

Their dynamic was always like that.

Shiori constantly approaching him…

and Naoki staying just as stiff as ever.

I had just sat down when the classroom door opened.

Our homeroom teacher walked in.

“Alright, everyone. Take your seats.”

The classroom quickly became a little quieter.

But instead of starting the lesson, the teacher glanced toward the door.

“Today, we have a transfer student.”

Instantly, the class started buzzing.

“A transfer student?”

“In third year?”

“Seriously?”

The teacher gestured toward the door.

“Please come in.”

And then—

A girl slowly stepped into the classroom.

Her long dark hair fell neatly down her back.

Her eyes were slightly lowered.

She looked… very nervous.

“Please introduce yourself.”

The girl lightly held the edge of her uniform before speaking in a quiet voice.

“…Chiya Yorune.”

Her voice was so soft that some students almost didn’t hear it.

“I… just transferred here.”

She paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words.

“…Please take care of me.”

Then she gave a small bow.

The classroom immediately filled with whispers.

“She’s cute…”

“She’s really quiet.”

“She looks kinda scared.”

I found myself watching her without really meaning to.

For some reason…

She looked like she was trying to make herself smaller.

Like she didn’t want to stand out.

The teacher pointed to an empty seat.

“Yorune-san, you can sit there.”

Coincidentally—

It was the seat next to mine.

Chiya walked slowly toward her desk.

As she passed by me, I got a clearer look at her face.

She looked incredibly tense.

After she sat down, she simply stared at her desk without saying anything.

A few seconds later—

Someone suddenly appeared beside her.

“You can’t stay quiet like that!”

Of course.

Miyako.

She flashed a bright smile.

“I’m Miyako Nekomiya!”

Chiya looked startled.

“A-ah…”

Miyako pointed at me.

“That’s Ryusei.”

Then she pointed behind us.

“The one drinking tea is Miu.”

“The guy with glasses is Naoki.”

“And the girl in front of him is Shiori.”

She spoke as fast as a storm.

Chiya looked a little overwhelmed.

But after a few seconds…

She gave a small nod.

“…Nice to meet you.”

That was it.

Short. Quiet.

But enough.

The first day for a transfer student is usually like that.

Awkward.

Quiet.

But for some reason…

When I glanced toward Chiya—

I felt like something was a little strange.

She was looking out the window.

Outside, a cat was walking along the school wall.

And for just a brief moment—

Chiya’s expression changed.

Not shy.

Not nervous.

But…

Like someone who had just found something interesting.

Then she quickly lowered her head again.

As if nothing had happened.

“…Strange.”

I don’t know why.

But my instincts were telling me—

The ordinary days in this classroom…

might not stay ordinary for long.