The morning sunlight streamed through the classroom windows as students slowly settled into their seats.
The usual noise filled the room.
Laughter. Conversations. The scratching sound of pencils on notebooks.
But in the far corner near the window, everything was quiet.
Kaito Sakamura sat alone as usual.
A book lay open on his desk, but his eyes weren't really reading it. Instead, they drifted outside the window where cherry blossom petals floated gently in the wind.
It was peaceful.
Kaito liked peaceful things.
Talking to people, however… was something he had never been good at.
So he stayed quiet.
And that was fine with him.
Or at least, that's what he thought.
Until the classroom door slid open.
"Alright everyone, settle down."
The voice belonged to Mr. Takeda, their homeroom teacher.
The room slowly quieted as students returned to their seats.
Mr. Takeda placed a stack of papers on his desk and looked around the classroom.
"We will be starting our science project this week."
A few students groaned.
"Group projects again?"
"Man, I hate these."
Mr. Takeda ignored the complaints and continued speaking.
"This project will be important for your final grade."
That immediately caught everyone's attention.
Then he wrote two names on the board.
The chalk made a sharp sound as it moved across the surface.
KAITO SAKAMURA
HIKARI AOYAMA
The classroom began whispering immediately.
"Wait, those are the top two students."
"Ohhh I see what the teacher is doing."
Mr. Takeda turned back to the class.
"For this project, I want the top two students to work together."
More whispers spread.
Some students looked excited.
Others looked jealous.
Meanwhile, Kaito simply stared at the board silently.
Working with someone?
That almost never happened.
Then Mr. Takeda spoke again.
"Kaito. Hikari. You two will be partners."
All eyes in the classroom turned toward them.
Kaito slowly looked up.
At the same moment, Hikari turned around from the front row.
Their eyes met.
For a brief second, Kaito froze.
Hikari smiled.
Then she stood up and walked toward his desk.
Each step felt strangely loud to him.
When she stopped in front of his desk, she tilted her head slightly and spoke.
"So… looks like we're partners."
Her voice was cheerful and relaxed.
Kaito nodded slowly.
"…Yes."
That was all he managed to say.
Hikari blinked.
Then she laughed softly.
"You're really quiet, huh?"
Kaito didn't know how to respond.
Meanwhile, from across the classroom, Mika whispered loudly to Yui.
"Whoa, she actually went to talk to him."
Yui smiled gently.
"I think she's curious about him."
Back at the desk, Hikari pulled a chair closer and sat down.
"So," she said, resting her chin on her hand, "how do you want to do this project?"
Kaito glanced at the assignment sheet.
"We need to research renewable energy sources and create a presentation."
Hikari leaned forward slightly.
"You already read it?"
"Yes."
"That was fast."
There was a brief silence.
Then Hikari suddenly asked,
"Do you always sit alone?"
Kaito hesitated.
"…Yes."
"Why?"
He looked down at the paper.
"I guess… I'm just used to it."
Hikari studied his face for a moment.
Then she smiled again.
"Well, you're not alone for this project."
Kaito blinked.
That sentence felt strange.
But not unpleasant.
Hikari grabbed a notebook and opened it.
"Okay! Let's plan this properly."
She began writing quickly.
"You can handle the technical explanation since you're good at science."
Kaito nodded.
"And I'll design the presentation slides."
She looked up at him again.
"Does that sound fair?"
"…Yes."
"Great!"
Hikari closed the notebook with satisfaction.
"Then we should start today after school."
Kaito was surprised.
"Today?"
"Of course."
She smiled brightly.
"The library is quiet, and we'll finish faster."
Kaito thought for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"…Okay."
Across the classroom, Mika grinned mischievously.
"Ohhh after school already?"
Yui sighed.
"Don't tease her."
The bell suddenly rang.
Students began packing their bags.
But Hikari remained seated at Kaito's desk for a moment.
"Don't forget," she said.
"Library after school."
Then she stood up and walked back to her seat.
Kaito watched her go.
For some reason, something felt different today.
It was a small feeling.
A quiet change.
Like a window opening in a room that had always been closed.
And Kaito didn't realize it yet…
But that moment was the beginning of something that would change his life forever.