The bell rang, and the classroom buzzed with life. Students shuffled to their bags, the rustle of lunch boxes and laughter filling the air.
Kaito stretched in his seat. "Finally. My stomach's been complaining since halfway through introductions."
Ren stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "You were the one who said breakfast was overrated."
"Yeah, well, I regret it now."
They made their way to the courtyard, passing through groups of chatting students. Finding a quiet spot under the shade of a cherry tree, they sat down. The breeze carried a faint scent of petals, the noise of the schoolyard fading into a comfortable background hum.
Kaito unpacked his lunch, glancing around. "Man, it's the first day and everyone already formed mini groups."
Ren opened his own bento box calmly. "People move fast when they're nervous."
"Guess so."
Before they could say more, a cheerful voice cut through the air.
"Heyyy! There you are!"
Both turned to see Shun Takeda jogging toward them, holding his lunch. His grin was as bright as ever.
"Mind if I join? Everywhere else is full — or too loud."
Kaito smirked. "Sure, take a seat. Though I doubt anywhere's louder than this courtyard."
Shun sat cross-legged beside them. "True, but at least you guys look peaceful. And Ren looks like he'll give me some free silence therapy."
Ren glanced at him. "That's not a service I offer."
Kaito chuckled. "He means he's flattered."
The three shared a light laugh — until another voice joined in, louder, unapologetically energetic.
"OHHH, so this is where the quiet squad hides!"
They turned to see Rika Aizawa standing behind them, her hands on her hips, her smile dazzling and chaotic all at once. Her energy didn't match the calm courtyard in the slightest.
"You guys didn't think you could eat lunch without me, right?"
Kaito blinked. "Uh, I didn't know we were already a group."
Rika plopped down without hesitation. "We are now!"
Shun laughed, amused. "You really just decide things, huh?"
"Of course. Life's too short to wait for invitations," Rika said, opening her lunchbox. "Also, this spot's got the best breeze. Good choice, quiet boys."
Ren didn't reply, but Kaito caught the faintest trace of an exhale — almost a sigh of surrender.
Then, Shun snapped his fingers. "Wait, Aizawa-san — you're the one who said something about 'turning the class into a talk show' earlier, right?"
Flashback when Aizawa Rika is introducing earlier.
"Aizawa Rika, from Meguro! I like music, ramen, and I'll make this class into a talk show! "
The class laughed, of course. Ms. Sato smiled.
"I'll hold you to that, Aizawa-san."
Rika grinned. "No promises, Sensei!"
End of flashback.
Rika grinned proudly. "Yup! That's me! Rika Aizawa — professional noise generator, future idol of Class 1-A."
Kaito laughed. "At least you're self-aware."
"Oh! Speaking of that—" Rika pointed her chopsticks toward Ren. "Hayashi-kun! You were, like, top three in the entrance exams, right? I didn't realize we were sitting with a secret genius."
Shun raised his eyebrows. "Wait, seriously? Top three?"
Kaito groaned softly. "Yeah, Teacher said it earlier, you're not listening huh? and after that he's been pretending he's invisible ever since."
Ren muttered, "Because this is exactly what I was trying to avoid."
Rika gasped dramatically. "A man of mystery and brains? Unfair. You should at least wear glasses or something to balance it out!"
Kaito burst out laughing, while Shun shook his head. "You're impossible, Aizawa-san."
Rika grinned wider. "I know."
Rika gasped dramatically, waving her chopsticks.
"A man of mystery and brains? Unfair. You should at least wear glasses or something to look like one!"
Kaito burst out laughing. Shun grinned, shaking his head.
"You really never stop talking, huh?"
"Nope!" Rika replied proudly. "Silence is the enemy of fun."
Ren was about to reply — probably something sarcastic — when a familiar, confident voice cut through the noise.
"Oh? What's this? I didn't expect the quiet brother I have to be eating lunch with this many people."
Ren froze mid-bite. Kaito and Shun turned. Rika almost dropped her chopsticks.
Standing behind them was Hayashi Akira, the Student Council President herself — bright smile, sharp posture, and the same calm poise from the ceremony earlier.
"P-President Hayashi?!" Rika practically shouted. "You know him?!"
Akira crossed her arms, smirking slightly.
"Know him? I raised him."
Rika blinked. "...Wait—what?"
Shun stared. "No way—he's your brother?!"
Kaito sighed, completely unfazed.
"Told you it'd happen eventually."
Ren set down his chopsticks. "I was hoping it wouldn't."
Akira chuckled, clearly enjoying herself.
"He's been like this forever. He thinks staying invisible is a superpower."
Kaito smirked "She's not wrong."
"Anyway," Akira said, leaning slightly toward Ren. "Don't forget to drop by the student council office later. We need to talk."
Ren frowned. "About what?"
"You'll find out when you get there."
She turned to the others, offering a polite smile.
"Nice meeting you all. Please take care of my brother — he's harmless, just socially inefficient."
Rika immediately nodded like she was accepting a quest.
"Yes, ma'am! I'll make sure he talks at least five times a day."
Akira laughed lightly. "Good luck with that," she said before walking off.
As soon as she was out of sight, Rika turned to Ren, eyes wide.
"YOU. DID. NOT. TELL. US. YOUR SISTER IS THE PRESIDENT?!"
Shun added with a laugh, "That's next-level secret keeping, man."
Ren sighed. "It wasn't relevant."
Shun leaned back against the tree, smirking.
"Relevant or not, you just made lunch a lot more entertaining. It's a big scoop man."
Rika pointed at Ren dramatically.
"From now on, I'm calling you 'Mr. President's Brother.'"
Ren gave her a look that screamed please don't, but she only grinned wider.
Kaito chuckled, opening his drink.
"Told you your quiet life wouldn't last."
Ren glanced up at the drifting petals, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
"Apparently not."
The wind blew softly, carrying the sound of laughter — the kind that made even a quiet day feel alive.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Students began drifting back to their classrooms, laughter and chatter filling the hallways.
Ren followed Kaito and the others back to their room.
"Can't still believe your sister's the president," Rika said for the fifteenth time that day.
"You've said that four times in the last minute," Ren replied.
"Yeah, because I still can't believe it!" she said, pouting.
Shun chuckled. "To be fair, Ren doesn't really give off that 'student council president's brother' vibe."
"What vibe do I give off?" Ren asked.
Kaito grinned.
"Background character number three."
Rika burst into laughter. Even Ren couldn't help but sigh — the kind that sounded like defeat more than annoyance.
When they entered the classroom, their teacher was already at the front, erasing the board.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats. We'll continue with the lesson from this morning."
The room quieted down. Pages flipped, pens clicked.
Ren opened his notebook, pretending to focus, but his thoughts drifted.
Akira's words echoed in his mind — "Come by the student council office later. We need to talk."
He wasn't sure what she wanted, but knowing his sister, it wasn't going to be simple.
Kaito leaned over slightly, whispering,
"You spacing out already?"
"Thinking."
"Dangerous habit," Kaito teased.
Ren just ignored him, eyes back on the board.
The lesson dragged on for some time before the teacher finally closed her notes.
"Alright, that's all for today. Don't forget your homework for tomorrow."
As soon as the dismissal bell rang, chatter filled the air again. Rika stretched in her seat.
"Finally. My brain's fried."
Shun laughed. "It's the first day. You'll survive."
Ren packed his bag quietly.
"You heading somewhere?" Kaito asked.
"Yeah. Student council office."
Kaito smirked. "Oh yeah, your sister asked you earlier to come. Wish you luck man."
Ren sighed.