A week passed since the entrance exam results were posted.
Spring sunlight had grown warmer, the air filled with the faint scent of blooming flowers.
To him, Seiryu High was just the next step in his routine—another place to pass time, nothing more.
And yet, on the morning of April, as sunlight spilled softly through his curtains, the familiar sound of his sister's voice echoed through the hallway once again.
"Ren! You'll be late again if you keep pretending you're asleep!"
Ren stirred under his blanket, only one eye opening slightly.
"…Five more minutes."
Akari opened the door, sighed, hands on her hips. "You always say that, moron! Get up already—today's your first day at Seiryu High. You can't be late for the entrance ceremony."
Her voice carried a mix of irritation and care, the kind only an older sister could master.
Ren sat up slowly, hair slightly messy but eyes sharp despite his sleepy tone. "You're loud in the morning."
"Only because someone won't wake up," she said, pouting as she turned toward the door.
Downstairs, breakfast was already prepared — grilled salmon, miso soup, and rice. The faint aroma filled the kitchen, sunlight spilling across the neatly arranged table.
Akari, already dressed in her school uniform, checked her watch. "I'll be heading out first. The ceremony staff needs to be there early."
Ren didn't respond, quietly eating as if he hadn't heard her.
Akari narrowed her eyes, marched back to him, and leaned down. "Hey, did you hear me?"
Ren kept chewing.
Akari puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance — then reached out and pinched both his cheeks.
"Ow—! Okay, okay!" Ren mumbled through squished lips.
"I said, I'll be going now," she repeated, grinning in triumph.
Ren sighed, rubbing his face. "Yes... yes take care..."
She chuckled, stepping toward the door. "That's more like it."
"Don't forget to lock the door after you leave," she added, adjusting her ribbon in the mirror.
"Yeah."
Akari smiled faintly. "You excited?"
Ren shook his head slightly. "Not really."
"Of course you'd say that," she teased, walking towards the door. "Still, try to enjoy it. You worked hard to get in, you know?"
He stayed silent, chewing calmly.
"Maybe you'll actually make friends this time," she added teasingly as she slipped on her shoes.
"I already have one."
Akari smirked, opening the door. "Having one friend doesn't mean you don't need more, you know?"
Ren looked up briefly, meeting her eyes from the dining table, then returned to his meal. "One's enough for now."
She laughed softly, waving as she stepped out. "You really haven't changed at all, have you? I'll be going now, don't be late, okay?"
Ren's eyes followed her until the door clicked shut. The house fell quiet again, except for the faint sound of cherry petals brushing against the window.
Ren finished his meal in silence, set his chopsticks neatly on the table, and glanced at the clock. The faint hum of the city outside had started to grow — the sound of students, bicycles, and distant chatter filling the morning air.
He grabbed his bag, locked the door behind him, and started down the quiet residential street. The spring breeze brushed softly against his hair, carrying drifting petals from the sakura trees that lined the sidewalk.
The world felt unusually awake — sunlight spilling over rooftops, the faint chatter of students heading the same way.
As he turned the corner, a familiar voice called out.
"Ren! You're early for once!"
Ren looked up to see Kaito, his middle school friend, jogging toward him with a grin. His tie was loose, and his bag hung lazily from one shoulder.
"You didn't oversleep this time? That's rare," Kaito teased.
Ren slipped his hands into his pockets. "Someone kept waking me up."
"Oh? Someone?" Kaito raised a brow, his grin widening. "Don't tell me… your sister again?"
Ren gave him a silent stare that clearly said,
"What do you think?"
Kaito laughed, scratching his head.
"Man, if I had a sister like Akari waking me up every morning, I'd never be late either."
Ren sighed quietly. "You'd also never get any peace."
"Hah! Worth it," Kaito said with a grin — earning the faintest smirk from Ren.
They fell into step together, walking side by side. The road gradually widened, and more students appeared, their uniforms crisp and new.
"You know," Kaito began, shoving his hands into his pockets, "I still can't believe we actually passed the entrance exams. And you—top three in the entire batch. Feels nice, huh?"
Ren's expression didn't change. "Not really."
"Still pretending to be modest. You're impossible."
Ren didn't reply. His gaze lifted slightly — the school gates were now in sight, framed by rows of blooming cherry trees.
The gymnasium of Seiryu High was spacious and immaculate — sunlight pouring through the high windows, banners draped neatly along the stage, and rows of new students sitting in polished order. Every sound — footsteps, chairs, even whispers — carried a quiet sense of control.
Ren and Kaito sat near the middle row, both in their new uniforms. The faint murmur of introductions faded as the ceremony began, the principal giving his welcome address.
"Man… this place feels too perfect. Even the air smells rich," Kaito muttered under his breath.
Ren glanced at him briefly. "You're imagining things."
The principal's speech began — a long, steady rhythm of formality and tradition. Students listened politely, some trying not to yawn. Ren remained still, half-listening, half-observing the flow of the crowd.
Then, the host's voice echoed through the mic:
"Next, a message from our Student Council President — Hayashi Akira."
Kaito blinked. "...Wait, Hayashi?"
Ren didn't move.
Polite applause rippled across the hall as a girl stepped onto the stage — confident, radiant, with a natural smile that seemed to light up the room. Her voice carried easily, warm yet full of authority.
"Good morning, everyone! I'm Hayashi Akira, Student Council President. On behalf of the entire student body, welcome to Seiryu High!"
The way she spoke drew attention — not from formality, but from her energy. She smiled brightly, waving slightly to the new students. A few chuckled softly, the tense atmosphere easing.
"I know everyone's nervous today," she continued cheerfully, "but don't worry — even the teachers here were new students once. Just… a few decades ago."
Laughter filled the room. Even the principal smiled faintly.
Kaito stared. "Wait... Isn't that your sister?" he whispered, eyes wide.
Ren's tone was flat. "Yeah."
Kaito shook his head, still stunned. "I— wow. She's completely different from you. Are you sure you're related?"
Ren exhaled softly. "Unfortunately."
Akira continued her speech, bright and full of presence.
"High school isn't just about studying — it's about finding who you are, who you want to be, and who you'll meet along the way. So don't be afraid to try, fail, and try again. That's what Seiryu High is for."
Applause filled the gymnasium, genuine and lively.
As she stepped down from the stage, Akira caught sight of Ren in the crowd. Her grin widened slightly — she didn't wave, but the look in her eyes said, "I saw you."
Ren averted his gaze immediately, pretending not to notice.
Kaito chuckled under his breath. "She definitely saw you."
Ren replied calmly, "And she's going to make fun of me for it later."
As the ceremony ended, students began filing out, chatting about classes and clubs.
Kaito stretched, his voice calm but genuine. "Still, she's impressive. You don't have to be like her, but… I get the feeling you already know where you're going."
Ren slung his bag over his shoulder. "I just go where it's quiet."
Kaito smiled faintly. "Then I guess I'll follow you there — until things stop being quiet."
Ren didn't answer, but a small, almost hidden smile crossed his face before fading again.
Outside, sunlight spilled through the trees, scattering petals along the stone path. The day was still young — and the calm life Ren preferred was already beginning to change.
The ceremony ended with polite applause, followed by a wave of motion as students began to stand. The quiet atmosphere dissolved into soft chatter and laughter.
Ren waited until most of the crowd thinned before getting up. Kaito followed, his usual unhurried pace matching Ren's.
"That went better than expected," Kaito murmured. "Your sister handled that like a pro."
Ren gave a light shrug. "She always does."