Chapter 1: The Transfer
Rain tapped gently against the windows of the morning train, a soft rhythm that echoed the nervous heartbeats of the twin sisters seated side by side.
Elena and Elira Hayashi, clad in crisp new uniforms, sat with their eyes lowered, their hands tightly gripping the straps of their identical school bags.
It was their first day at Sakuragaoka High School—a fresh start, far from the mocking laughter and cruel whispers of their previous school.
Elira peeked sideways at her sister. Elena was hugging her sketchbook close to her chest, her expression calm but distant, as if she had already retreated into a world of lines and colors.
Elira herself clutched a worn paperback novel, its cover softened by years of use. Their worlds were small, quiet, and safe—so long as no one tried to tear them apart.
"Do you think... it'll be different this time?" Elira asked, her voice a whisper barely audible above the hum of the train.
Elena didn't look at her. Her eyes remained fixed on the gray blur outside the window. "It has to be," she murmured.
...
The school gates of Sakuragaoka were tall, pristine, and intimidating. Students in navy blazers and pleated skirts swarmed through them like bees returning to a hive.
The twins stood awkwardly near the entrance, attracting glances—not because of their beauty, though it was undeniable—but because of their presence. Identical. Distant. Strange.
Before they could step forward, a soft voice interrupted their silence.
"You must be the Hayashi twins."
Both girls turned at once. Standing before them was a boy with neatly combed black hair, clean-cut features, and a gentle smile that didn't waver under their silent stares.
He wore the same uniform but with a small silver pin on his chest—class president.
"I'm Kaito Yamazaki, your class rep. I was asked to guide you to your classroom." He offered a small bow, the gesture sincere.
"Welcome to Sakuragaoka."
Elira blinked, caught off guard. Most people didn't bother with pleasantries—especially not when it came to her or Elena. Elena gave a polite nod, saying nothing.
Kaito turned and began walking, glancing back only once to make sure they followed. As they walked through the halls, students whispered and turned heads.
The twins remained close, almost shoulder-to-shoulder, and Kaito noticed how their steps matched perfectly, like mirror images moving through a world that had never quite fit them.
"You'll be in Class 2-B. The teacher's a bit strict, but fair," Kaito said as they stopped outside a sliding door. He looked at them, his expression softening.
"Don't worry. I'll be sitting near you, so if anything happens, you can count on me."
That simple statement—a throwaway line for most—lodged itself deep in Elira's chest. She glanced at Elena, who merely tilted her head as if to say we'll see.
Introductions were short. The teacher mispronounced Elira's name, then corrected himself with a cough. A few students laughed under their breath, but Kaito stood up almost immediately.
"Sensei, we prepared seats near the window for them," he said. "They can sit next to me."
The teacher nodded, and just like that, the twins were placed beside the class president. The room was filled with the scent of chalk and old wood, but here, for the first time in years, neither of them felt like they were drowning.
Kaito offered a gentle smile as they sat. "If you need anything—questions, supplies, even lunch—you can ask me."
"Why?" Elena asked bluntly, her voice low.
He blinked. "Why what?"
"Why are you being nice to us?"
Kaito tilted his head slightly. "Do I need a reason?"
Elira stared at him, unsure how to respond. Most people needed reasons. They needed explanations, gossip, validation from others.
But Kaito Ren simply shrugged and turned to face the board, as if kindness were the most natural thing in the world.
...
Lunchtime arrived with the usual clatter of bento boxes and chatter. Elena and Elira had packed their own lunches—simple rice balls and cut fruit, made earlier that morning by their grandmother.
They sat quietly at their desks, unsure if they should eat there or try to find somewhere more hidden.
Kaito returned with his tray and sat down beside them. "I hope you don't mind if I join you."
They didn't answer, but neither did they stop him.
A moment passed in silence before Elira, out of instinct or habit, pulled her book from her bag. Elena opened her sketchbook, pencil ready in hand. Kaito watched them, not with amusement, but curiosity.
"You like to draw?" he asked Elena.
She nodded, still sketching. A few strands of hair fell across her face.
"And you write?" he asked Elira.
Elira's fingers tightened on her book. "I... I try."
"That's amazing. I can barely write an essay without panicking."
A smile tugged at Elira's lips. It was faint, but it was there.
They ate together quietly, and when the bell rang again, signaling the end of lunch, Kaito stood and stretched. "I'll see you two after class. I'm in charge of the cleaning roster today, but I'll walk with you to the gates afterward."
The twins watched him leave. For the first time in what felt like forever, they didn't feel like ghosts drifting through someone else's story.
After school, true to his word, Kaito appeared at their side.
"Did anyone bother you today?" he asked as they exited the gates together.
Elira shook her head. Elena remained silent.
"Good. People here can be curious, but they're not bad. Just... give them time."
The twins exchanged a glance.
"You don't even know us," Elena said again.
"I don't need to," Kaito replied, smiling. "But I'd like to."
...
That night, back in their small shared bedroom, the twins sat cross-legged on their futons. The rain had returned, tapping gently against the windows once more.
Elira stared at the ceiling. "Do you think we can trust him?"
Elena didn't answer immediately. She looked down at her sketchbook. On the page, she had drawn a boy with soft eyes and a kind smile, standing between two girls who had spent their lives hiding in the shadows.
"Maybe," she said. "Maybe this time... we don't have to hide."
Elira smiled into the dark.
For the first time in years, the thought didn't feel like a lie.
To be continued...