Ren couldn't sleep.
No matter how many times he shifted positions, his heart refused to slow down. His mind kept replaying the image he had seen earlier — the girl beneath the cherry blossoms. The way her hair caught the wind, the serene expression on her face, the haunting beauty in her violet eyes.
She wasn't like the others.
He didn't even know her name, but something about her presence gripped him in a way he couldn't explain.
It scared him.
Because he had never felt this way before.
The next morning, Ren sat quietly in the grand lecture hall, clutching his notebook tightly. His first day of classes had officially begun.
Around him, dozens of girls filled the large room, chatting animatedly. Some glanced at him with open curiosity, others whispered behind their hands. A few were bold enough to wave or smile at him, their intentions painfully obvious.
Ren kept his eyes down, silently praying the professor would arrive soon and rescue him from this suffocating attention.
But then…
The classroom door opened.
And in she walked.
His breath caught instantly.
It was her.
The girl from last night.
She glided into the room with an effortless grace that seemed almost unreal. Her long black hair shimmered under the morning light, falling perfectly down her back like a silky waterfall. The navy skirt of her uniform swayed slightly with her movements, accentuating her slim waist and long legs wrapped in elegant black stockings.
But it was her eyes that held him captive.
Cold.
Sharp.
Violet like polished amethysts.
Her face carried no trace of the giggles or flirtation the other girls threw at him. Instead, she looked through the room with a distant, indifferent gaze — as if none of this mattered to her.
As if he didn't matter.
Ren's heartbeat quickened.
Who was she?
The whispers resumed immediately.
"That's Sakura Nishimura."
"She's a year older."
"They say she never dates anyone."
"I heard her last boyfriend broke her heart."
"She doesn't care about the prize money at all."
Sakura Nishimura.
Now he had a name to match the face haunting his thoughts.
Ren couldn't help but steal glances at her as she calmly took a seat in the far corner of the lecture hall, placing her notebook down with delicate precision.
She didn't even glance in his direction.
Not once.
The professor finally arrived, launching into an hour-long lecture that Ren barely absorbed. His attention kept drifting back toward Sakura. The way she wrote with neat, flowing handwriting. The faint furrow of her brows as she concentrated. The occasional way she tucked her hair behind her ear.
Every small movement fascinated him.
And yet, at the same time, intimidated him beyond words.
When class ended, the students began filing out, and once again, a small group of girls immediately surrounded Ren.
"Ren-kun! Do you want to have lunch with us today?"
"We could show you around the campus if you like!"
"You must be feeling lonely here all by yourself…"
Their voices overlapped like waves crashing onto him, making his head spin.
Ren tried to politely decline. "Ah… t-thank you, but I—"
But before he could finish, one of the girls — a petite brunette named Emi — grabbed his arm with surprising boldness.
"Come on! You have to socialize a little. Don't be shy."
Ren's panic rose. His throat closed up as he froze, completely overwhelmed.
And then…
A voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.
"Let him go."
The girls stiffened.
Everyone turned to see Sakura standing nearby, her violet eyes cold and piercing.
Emi quickly released Ren's arm, her confidence visibly shaken. "S-Sakura-senpai…"
Sakura stepped forward, her tone calm but firm. "If he doesn't want to join you, don't force him."
The other girls exchanged awkward glances before mumbling half-hearted excuses and slowly dispersing.
Ren stood there, stunned.
Sakura glanced at him for the first time, her eyes briefly meeting his.
"You should learn to say no more clearly," she said softly, before walking away without another word.
Ren's heart raced wildly in his chest.
That was the first time she had spoken to him.
The rest of the day passed in a daze.
No one dared approach him again after that encounter. The atmosphere around him shifted slightly — not out of respect, but out of caution. It was as if Sakura's brief defense of him had created an invisible barrier others were hesitant to cross.
Ren didn't know whether to feel relieved or even more anxious.
That evening, as the sun dipped behind the Tokyo skyline, Ren found himself once again standing near the garden beneath the cherry blossoms.
He wasn't sure why he came here.
Maybe he was hoping to see her again.
The pink petals fluttered around him like falling snow, the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of spring.
And then… as if summoned by his thoughts… she appeared.
Sakura walked along the stone path, her hands folded neatly in front of her, her expression as unreadable as ever.
For a brief moment, she paused, noticing his presence.
Their eyes met.
Ren's mouth went dry.
"H-Hello…" he managed to whisper.
Sakura tilted her head slightly. "You're out late."
"I… I just wanted some air."
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips — the smallest hint of amusement. "Careful. The girls might think you're inviting company."
Ren's face flushed crimson. "N-No! I mean… that's not… I'm not trying to—"
Sakura let out a soft chuckle — the first time he'd seen her express any warmth.
"Relax," she said. "I'm just teasing."
Her voice was gentle, almost melodic.
Ren exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves. "Thank you… for earlier. In class."
She shrugged lightly. "I don't like seeing people get cornered. That's all."
He hesitated, then bravely asked, "Do you… do you come here often?"
Sakura glanced up at the cherry blossoms swaying above them. "It's peaceful here. No noise. No games."
"No games?" Ren echoed softly.
She nodded. "Unlike most girls here, I'm not interested in chasing prizes."
Ren swallowed. "So… you know about the offer?"
Her violet eyes darkened slightly, a flash of something — pain? Resentment? — crossing her face before vanishing.
"Everyone knows," she replied.
For a moment, silence stretched between them, filled only by the whisper of the wind.
Finally, Ren spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to be part of their game either."
Sakura studied him carefully, as if trying to decide whether to believe him.
"I hope you mean that," she said quietly. "Because if you let them… they'll tear you apart."
Before he could respond, she turned and walked away, her long hair flowing like silk behind her.
Ren stood frozen beneath the cherry blossoms, his heart pounding.
For the first time since arriving at Seiryu Academy, he didn't feel entirely alone.
And deep down, he knew one thing for certain:
He wanted to know more about Sakura Nishimura.
No matter how dangerous that might be.