Chapter 1 - The Transfer Student

The classroom clock ticked loudly on the wall.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Kyosokei Tokito rested his chin on his palm as he stared out the window. The bright afternoon sun painted the school courtyard in warm light. Students from other classes walked around, laughing and talking, while a gentle breeze moved the leaves of the tall trees outside.

Inside the classroom, however, everything felt painfully slow.

“…and that is why the historical reforms during that period were considered significant,” the teacher droned on.

Kyosokei didn’t even know what subject the class was currently discussing anymore. History? Civics? Maybe both.

Not that it mattered.

He sighed quietly.

Another boring day…

Nothing ever changed.

Every day was the same routine.

Wake up.
Go to school.
Listen to lectures.
Go home.

Repeat.

His classmates seemed entertained by small things—gossip, games on their phones, or silly arguments—but Kyosokei felt disconnected from it all. It wasn’t that he hated school. It was just… dull.

He leaned further against his desk.

If something interesting could happen just once…

Suddenly—

Knock. Knock.

The classroom door opened.

The teacher paused mid-lecture.

“Oh,” he said. “Perfect timing.”

The entire class turned toward the door.

“Everyone,” the teacher announced, adjusting his glasses, “we have a transfer student joining us today.”

Immediately, whispers filled the room.

“A transfer student?”

“Is it a girl?”

“Maybe from another city.”

Kyosokei barely looked up.

Transfer students weren’t that exciting.

Usually they were quiet for a few days, then they blended into the class like everyone else.

But when the girl stepped into the room—

Kyosokei froze.

His eyes widened.

Standing at the front of the class was a girl with soft brown hair tied loosely behind her head. She wore the same school uniform as everyone else, but somehow she carried herself with a cheerful confidence.

Her bright eyes scanned the room as she smiled.

Then she spoke.

“Hello everyone! My name is Soyoki Tokito. I’m happy to meet you all, so please take care of me!”

Her voice was lively.

Friendly.

Familiar.

Too familiar.

Kyosokei’s brain stopped working.

No way…

No way.

No way.

The teacher nodded approvingly.

“Very good introduction. Now then—”

He glanced at his class list before looking toward the students.

“Kyosokei.”

Kyosokei didn’t respond.

“Kyosokei?”

Still nothing.

A student next to him nudged his shoulder.

“Hey. Teacher’s calling you.”

Kyosokei slowly lifted his head.

“Yes…?”

The teacher looked between him and the transfer student.

“You share the same last name as our new student. Is there any relation between the two of you?”

The class immediately became curious.

“Oooh!”

“Same last name?”

“Are they siblings?”

Soyoki opened her mouth.

“Well actually—”

Before she could finish—

Kyosokei suddenly shot out of his seat.

The chair screeched loudly across the floor.

Everyone jumped.

In a single motion, Kyosokei rushed to the front of the classroom, grabbed Soyoki by the wrist—

“Come with me!”

—and dragged her out the door.

The classroom door slammed shut behind them.

Silence filled the room.

Then—

“…What just happened?” someone whispered.

The teacher slowly blinked.

“…I’m not entirely sure.”

Kyosokei pulled Soyoki down the hallway until they were far enough from the classroom.

Finally, he stopped.

He turned toward her with a shocked expression.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!”

Soyoki looked completely relaxed.

“What do you mean?” she said casually. “I came to school.”

Kyosokei stared at her like she had just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.

“THIS school!”

Soyoki tilted her head.

“Yes.”

Kyosokei rubbed his face in disbelief.

“You’re my mother!”

Soyoki smiled proudly.

“That’s right.”

“And you’re enrolled in my high school!”

“Yes.”

“AND YOU’RE IN MY CLASS!”

“Yes!”

Kyosokei grabbed his head.

“WHY?!”

Soyoki folded her hands behind her back and looked down the hallway with a gentle expression.

“Because… I never finished high school.”

Kyosokei paused.

Soyoki continued softly.

“When I was younger, I had to stop studying early.”

Her voice wasn’t sad, but there was a hint of nostalgia in it.

“I had responsibilities. Life happened. And before I knew it… years had passed.”

Kyosokei knew what she meant.

She had him.

Soyoki suddenly clapped her hands together cheerfully.

“So I decided! I want to experience high school properly!”

Kyosokei stared at her.

“You’re serious.”

“Of course!”

She pointed proudly at her uniform.

“Look! Doesn’t it suit me?”

Kyosokei looked.

Unfortunately…

It really did.

Soyoki still looked incredibly young. Most people would easily mistake her for a teenager.

Which made the situation even worse.

Kyosokei groaned.

“If anyone finds out you’re my mother, people are going to think it’s weird!”

Soyoki shrugged.

“Then we won’t tell them.”

Kyosokei blinked.

“…What?”

She smiled mischievously.

“We’ll just say we’re cousins.”

Kyosokei stared at her.

“…Cousins.”

“Yes!”

“You dragged yourself into my school, into my classroom, and now you want us to pretend we’re cousins?”

Soyoki nodded happily.

“That sounds fun, doesn’t it?”

Kyosokei slowly facepalmed.

“This is a disaster…”

Just then—

The classroom door behind them slid open.

A curious group of students peeked outside.

“Hey Kyosokei!”

“Are you two related or what?”

“Why did you drag her out like that?”

Soyoki immediately stepped forward with a bright smile.

“Hello everyone! I’m Kyosokei’s cousin! Nice to meet you!”

The students gasped.

“Ohhhh!”

“His cousin!”

“No wonder they have the same last name!”

Kyosokei slowly lowered his hand from his face.

He looked at Soyoki.

She winked.

Kyosokei sighed deeply.

My peaceful school life…

…is officially over.

And so began Kyosokei’s most chaotic school year yet.

Because the new transfer student—

was his mother.