[Mahiru's POV]
In the morning...
'This is my neighbor?'
His uniform was the male version of mine. His black hair and dark eyes were ordinary in color, but the look in his eyes carried a strange depth — calm yet sharp, as if he was quietly observing everything around him.
He wasn't necessarily bad-looking, but he wasn't striking either. What stood out most were those eyes — steady, clear, and oddly grounding.
This was just an observation, nothing more. No feelings or attachment came with it. If anything, the only emotion I had toward him was irritation that he happened to be my neighbor. If he turned out like the rest of them—
"Oh, sorry."
He spoke up first.
"No worries."
I could feel his gaze sweep over me, deliberate yet unintrusive. But…
'His eyes are so clear.'
There was no hunger, no overwhelming lust that I'd grown so used to seeing in others. He wasn't drooling over me — he was simply looking. Appreciating, perhaps, but in a way that felt… genuine.
I knew I was beautiful — everyone had told me that for years — but for once, I didn't feel like I was being put on display.
"Finished staring?" I asked, though my tone came out less cold than usual.
He only shrugged, answering with words I'd long become numb to hearing. We started walking to the elevator together. I felt his gaze again from behind, and that same strange sensation returned… yet it wasn't unpleasant.
'It's a natural reaction,' I told myself. He was nice enough, and those clear eyes filled with honesty earned him a pass.
----
"Just walk behind me."
'Huh?'
Fujimiya didn't even give me time to respond. He stepped forward, matching my pace perfectly, subtly positioning himself between me and the crowd ahead. His back shielded me as we walked toward the school gates.
To our right, a cluster of students surrounded the class placement board. I already knew which class I'd been assigned to, but for some reason, I followed behind him anyway.
A small part of me hoped — just a little — that we'd be in the same class.
We'd only known each other for maybe half an hour, yet I already felt a strange comfort with him. And he was my neighbor too.
'He'll help me… right?'
I could already imagine being swarmed once free time started. If he was in my class, maybe that would help…
"Looks like we're in the same class, Shiina-san."
'Yes!'
I barely stopped myself from pumping my fist in the air. My steps grew lighter without me even realizing. This idiot in front of me didn't notice a thing.
"Woah," he muttered under his breath, so quietly that I almost didn't catch it. My ears had always been sharp — a trait I was proud of — but right now, that ability betrayed me.
His eyes were wandering.
The same clear look he'd given me earlier now turned toward the other girls in the class.
Something in my chest stung.
"Ouch!"
"Hmph!"
We took our seats near the window, in the middle column.
We joked for a bit, and then—
He called me cute.
Just like that, my composure cracked. A tiny blush rose to my cheeks before I could stop it.
While lost in my thoughts, I noticed him chatting with another girl — black hair like his, but her icy blue eyes made her stand out immediately.
"I was talking about your girlfriend. Not you."
'Girlfriend?!'
My mind blanked. Everything after that turned into a blur.
Yukinoshita — I think that was her name — looked amused, while Fujimiya seemed genuinely entertained.
Most importantly… he hadn't denied it.
'Why does that sting a bit?'
---
"What if I just wanted to see your cute reaction?"
'Eh?!'
My brain short-circuited. Heat rushed to my face so fast I could feel it in my ears. This idiot was way too good at flirting for someone I'd just met!
And yet…
Despite knowing him for only a day, I couldn't deny how easy it felt being around him. The space between us seemed to shrink without warning, as if something unseen was pulling us closer.
His clear eyes — those eyes — they were unfair. Every word he spoke sounded sincere, honest, almost comforting.
'Being called cute… hehe~'
Why did that feel so good? I shouldn't have cared. We'd barely exchanged more than a few conversations.
But still… when I was near him, the weight in my chest lifted. The world felt quieter, lighter — peaceful.
Even the thought of my horrible, no— my bastardly parents faded from my mind.
'Why? How?!'
I couldn't understand it.
Before I realized it, we were already standing in front of our apartment doors again.
A strange regret welled up in me. I didn't want this moment to end. I wanted to keep talking or just… stay near him a little longer.
"Wait an hour, okay?"
He opened his mouth to say something, but I panicked and rushed inside before he could reply.
'God, what's wrong with me today?'