Anon felt very unlucky.
She had gone to school in Tokyo during middle school, had excellent grades, and was outgoing and friendly. She had even become the Student Council President.
Being looked at with admiration by her classmates and juniors made her a little full of herself, and for a while, she lost sight of her limits.
While everyone else was focused on preparing for high school entrance exams, Anon, driven by vanity, made a decision that betrayed her ancestors, she chose to study abroad in England.
Studying abroad in England, much like in America, came with an enormous price tag.
With annual costs starting at five million yen and countless other expenses without a ceiling, even her middle-class Chihaya family struggled to cover it.
But Anon didn't think that far. All she pictured was attending high school in England, speaking fluent British English, and then entering a top-tier university like Cambridge.
However, dreams were rich, and reality was poor.
After making all the preparations, she arrived in England with her head held high, ready to start her glorious new life, only to be hit by her first major problem.
Her middle school-level English wasn't enough to get by.
In England, Anon finally grasped what it means to be a big fish in a small pond.
Back home, she had been outstanding, admired by everyone. But here, she instantly became the worst-performing student.
Her brilliant future collapsed. The fall from heaven to rock bottom crushed her motivation. She gradually lost interest in studying and fell into a vicious cycle of falling further behind.
Her poor grades and weak English gave her a strong sense of inferiority. She rarely communicated with others and came across as a strange girl.
After enduring two semesters of high school in England, she finally couldn't take it anymore. She called home and said she wanted to return to Japan to continue her studies.
The third semester in England began shortly after the first semester started in Japan. Anon didn't want to stay a second longer and resolutely booked her flight home.
Even so, she was still filled with anxiety.
Would Ms. Yukinoshita be angry that she had returned so defeated after spending so much of the family's money?
And what if her old classmates asked why she wasn't in England anymore? How would she respond?
Troubled by these thoughts, Anon had been distracted when she bumped into Toru earlier, and everything had unfolded from there.
Now sitting at the boarding gate, legs pressed tightly together, hands gripping her phone, head down and lost in thought, Anon brooded over her worries.
Just then, a cup of coffee was handed to her.
Anon looked up, confused, and saw Toru standing in front of her, smiling. "I was also at fault earlier, so I bought you a coffee to apologize."
By now, Toru had taken off his sunglasses, revealing his face.
Anon's eyes lit up. Wow, he's handsome and so thoughtful!
Suddenly, she felt maybe today wasn't such a bad day after all.
The once-cheerful Anon, who had been feeling down because of the language barrier, felt her spirits lift upon meeting a "compatriot" she could communicate with. Her natural brightness returned.
She accepted the coffee, set it on the armrest beside her, then made a heart shape with her hands toward Toru, her big eyes sparkling as she smiled sweetly.
Toru laughed. This girl was pretty cute, and he sat down next to her.
"Let's get acquainted. I'm Fujiwara Toru. What's your name?"
"Chihaya Anon."
"So, Chihaya-san. Were you just sightseeing in England and heading back now?"
Anon's expression turned a little awkward. Of course, she couldn't admit she had failed in England and was heading home in defeat. So she could only lie, "Yeah, school's starting. I'm getting ready to go back."
"Is Fujiwara-kun here for sightseeing too?"
Toru nodded. "Yeah, just traveling. University is about to start, so I'm heading back too."
Anon asked curiously, "Which university are you attending, Fujiwara-kun? Ah, sorry, I probably shouldn't be asking something so personal."
It really was a question that could make things awkward.
If someone got into a top school, it was something to brag about.
But if they had just gotten into a so-so university, it was a tough subject.
For Toru, though, it wasn't an issue. He smiled and replied, "Tokyo University."
"To-Tokyo University?!"
Anon's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief and admiration.
For people in Japan, Tokyo University was the absolute pinnacle. Nothing else came close.
Anyone who got into Tokyo University was among the elite, with boundless future prospects.
Anon had always done well in school, but even she had never aimed that high.
As for getting into Cambridge? That had always been a fantasy. She never seriously considered it.
"Fujiwara-kun, you're amazing!"
Seeing the admiration in her eyes, Toru couldn't help feeling a little proud.
Who doesn't enjoy being admired? Especially by a cute girl.
"Oh right, how did you know I was on this flight, Fujiwara-kun?"
Anon suddenly thought of something and asked curiously.
Toru smiled faintly. "This is the only flight to Japan right now. If not this one, then which?"
Anon laughed awkwardly.
She had no idea there was only one flight at this time.
Just then, the airport announcement rang out, calling for first-class passengers on the Japan-bound flight to prepare for boarding.
Toru stood up and said to Anon, "I've got to board now. Want to exchange Line IDs and chat in Japan?"
"Ah, okay!"
Anon scrambled to take out her phone, opened Line, and added Toru as a friend.
International flights like this, especially first-class, had ticket prices that were outrageously expensive, well beyond what normal families could afford.
Naturally, Anon wouldn't be sitting near Toru. She couldn't keep chatting with him during the flight.
After adding her on Line, Toru sent her a smiling emoji to confirm the connection.
He waved goodbye, grabbed his folder, and headed toward boarding.
Young girls really are easy to fool.
Toru sighed to himself.
Still, this girl seemed a little familiar... like a character from some anime? He'd think about it later.
Though Anon was a bit disappointed, she could only wave goodbye to Toru and watch him board the plane, while she waited for the economy boarding announcement.
Maybe my luck isn't that bad after all. I met a handsome guy, and he's a top student. When I get back to Japan, I'll start fresh too. Let's go~
The girl cheered herself on.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇◇
◇ I'll be dropping two bonus chapters for every 10 reviews.
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ If you enjoy the story, please consider leaving a review, it helps a lot!
◇ Don't forget to add the book to your library.