Winter break ended.
And so did the brief peace that came with it.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains of Hina’s apartment.
She stood in front of a mirror.
Wearing her new school uniform.
A long breath escaped her lips.
Today was her first day.
A new school.
A new city.
A new beginning.
Or at least…
That was what she wanted to believe.
After a few more moments, Hina picked up her bag and left.
The streets of Tokyo were already busy.
People hurried toward work.
Students walked in groups.
Cars moved through the roads.
Everything felt alive.
Hina quietly walked toward her school.
Trying not to think too much.
Trying not to think about Christmas night.
Trying not to think about Ryu.
Then—
Her body froze.
A familiar figure appeared ahead.
Black hair.
Familiar eyes.
Familiar face.
Ryu.
And to make things worse—
He was wearing the exact same school uniform.
The same blazer.
The same tie.
The same emblem.
Hina’s heart nearly stopped.
No way.
Don’t tell me…
Before she could think any further—
Ryu looked up.
Their eyes met.
Ryu’s emotions entered Hina’s senses.
Surprise.
Happiness.
For a split second.
That was enough.
Panic immediately took over.
Hina turned around.
And ran.
She didn’t know where she was going.
She just ran.
Away from him.
Away from that conversation.
Away from everything.
Then—
THUD.
She collided with something.
Or rather…
Someone.
Hina stumbled backward.
Slowly looking up.
The person standing before her was tall.
White hair.
Bright blue eyes.
And the exact same school uniform.
The boy blinked.
Then leaned down slightly.
Until their eye levels matched.
A playful smile appeared on his face.
“Where are you going, Shorty?”
Hina froze.
“W-What?”
“You’re pretty small, aren’t you?”
The boy grinned.
Hina immediately took a step back.
The boy tilted his head.
Then his gaze landed on her eyes.
His emotions entered Hina’s senses.
Curiosity.
No negative emotions.
“Your eyes…”
Before he could finish—
“HINA!”
Ryu’s voice echoed from behind.
Hina jumped.
Her face immediately paled.
“I-I have to go!”
The white-haired boy blinked.
“Huh?”
“I have to go!”
Then he looked behind her.
At Ryu.
Then back at Hina.
A knowing smile slowly appeared.
“Oh.”
“So you’re running from him.”
“W-What?!”
“Got it.”
Before Hina could react—
The boy grabbed her wrist.
And ran.
“Wait!”
“Relax!”
“Where are you taking me?!”
“Somewhere away from Mr.
Chasing-You-Down.”
“What?!”
Hina struggled.
But the boy continued dragging her through several small streets.
Laughing the entire time.
“You know, if anyone sees this, they’re going to think I’m kidnapping a girl.”
“What?!”
“I’ll get yelled at.”
“This is your fault!”
“How is this my fault?!”
“You grabbed me!”
“Details.”
Hina stared at him in disbelief.
Is this person serious right now?
Eventually they reached a quiet alley.
The boy finally stopped.
Hina immediately pulled her hand away.
“I need to go!”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to be late for school!”
“Don’t worry.”
“We’re going to the same place.”
Hina blinked.
The boy pointed toward his uniform.
Then hers.
“See?”
“…”
“…”
“…Oh.”
The boy laughed.
Hina immediately turned red.
Then without another word—
She ran away.
Again.
Leaving the white-haired boy standing there.
The boy blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then looked toward the direction she disappeared.
“…Interesting.”
A little later.
Inside Class 1-B.
Students chatted loudly.
The classroom buzzed with excitement.
Then the door opened.
Their homeroom teacher entered.
Immediately, everyone quieted down.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Sensei!”
The teacher nodded.
Then smiled.
“Today we have a transfer student.”
Murmurs spread throughout the classroom.
“A transfer student?”
“In the middle of the year?”
The teacher looked toward the door.
“Come in.”
The door slid open.
And Hina entered.
The first thing she noticed—
Was him.
The white-haired boy.
Sitting beside the window.
Smiling.
Why is he here?
A strange feeling appeared in her chest.
“Please introduce yourself.”
Hina nodded slightly.
“My name is Hina Takahashi.”
She hesitated.
Then continued.
“I hope we can get along.”
A few students applauded.
Then—
“Wait.”
The white-haired boy suddenly spoke.
Hina immediately recognized the voice.
“It’s you.”
The boy grinned.
“We met earlier.”
The class immediately became interested.
“What?!”
“You know each other?”
The boy ignored everyone else.
Instead—
He looked directly at Hina.
Their eyes met.
His emotions flowed into her senses.
Curiosity.
“There was something I wanted to ask.”
Hina suddenly felt nervous.
“W-What?”
“Why are your eyes like that?”
The classroom became silent.
Then—
“Oh yeah.”
“Now that he mentions it…”
“They’re really pretty.”
“They almost sparkle.”
“I’ve never seen eyes like that before.”
More voices joined in.
More attention.
More eyes.
All focused on her.
Her eyes met the eyes of other students.
Curiosity.
Hina immediately became uncomfortable.
Her fingers tightened around her skirt.
“I…”
She looked down.
“They’ve always been like this.”
“I don’t know why.”
Her voice became smaller.
“I was born with them.”
The white-haired boy noticed immediately.
The hesitation.
The discomfort.
The nervousness.
So he suddenly stood up.
Then dramatically pointed at himself.
“Everyone stop looking at her.”
The class blinked.
“Huh?”
“If you’re going to stare at someone, stare at me.”
The classroom burst into laughter.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your face isn’t that interesting!”
“That’s rude!”
Even the teacher sighed.
The attention quickly shifted away from Hina.
And for the first time—
She felt relieved.
The teacher rubbed his forehead.
“Enough.”
Then he pointed toward an empty seat.
“Hina.”
“You can sit next to Haku.”
The white-haired boy immediately waved.
“Over here.”
So his name is Haku…
Hina quietly walked over and sat beside him.
The moment she sat down—
Haku moved his chair slightly closer.
“Hello.”
“Hina Takahashi, right?”
Hina nodded.
“My name is Haku Kisaragi.”
“You can give me a cute nickname like me if you want.”
Haku grinned.
“No thanks.”
“…”
“…Ow.”
Haku placed a hand over his chest.
“You wound me.”
Hina ignored him.
Haku laughed.
Then lowered his voice.
“You’re uncomfortable talking about your eyes, aren’t you?”
“No.”
“Yes, you are.”
“No.”
“Definitely yes.”
Hina looked away.
“There isn’t any reason.”
“Of course there is.”
“There isn’t.”
“There is.”
“There isn’t.”
“There is.”
The teacher cleared his throat loudly.
Both immediately became silent.
Class began.
But Haku occasionally glanced toward Hina.
Curious.
Interested.
And slightly confused.
Lunch break arrived.
The cafeteria buzzed with noise.
Students gathered in groups.
Laughing.
Talking.
Eating.
Meanwhile—
Hina quietly sat alone at an empty table.
Just how she preferred it.
Or so she thought.
Because seconds later—
A tray landed beside hers.
Haku sat down.
“Oh.”
“You’re alone.”
“I am now.”
“Ouch.”
Haku clutched his chest dramatically.
Again.
Before he could continue—
Hina noticed someone approaching.
Her entire body tensed.
Ryu.
The moment she saw him—
She immediately looked away.
Too late.
He had already noticed her.
Ryu walked over.
And sat directly across from her.
Hina avoided eye contact with him.
An awkward silence immediately formed.
Then—
Haku casually placed an arm across the back of Hina’s chair.
He smiled.
“So.”
“Who’s this?”
Ryu looked at him.
Then at Hina.
Then back at him.
“Your friend?”
Before Hina could answer—
Haku spoke first.
“Friend?”
He grinned.
“We’re practically close friends.”
Hina immediately turned.
Their eyes met.
Haku’s emotions entered Hina’s senses.
Playfulness.
“What?!”
Ryu raised an eyebrow.
“Really?”
“No!”
Hina quickly answered.
“He’s just my deskmate.”
“Oh.”
Ryu nodded.
Then Haku suddenly looked at him.
“Wait.”
“Who are you to her?”
Ryu looked at him.
“Her childhood frien-”
“Just acquaintance”
Hina interrupted before Ryu could finish.
Haku pointed at Ryu.
“You’re that famous senior, aren’t you?”
“The popular one everyone talks about?”
Ryu sighed.
“I guess.”
Then he looked at Haku.
“And you’re the trouble-maker.”
“The one everyone knows.”
Haku gasped dramatically.
“You know me?”
“Of course.”
“My heart is touched.”
Ryu looked completely unimpressed.
Meanwhile Hina wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
Then—
Ryu picked up a piece of meat cutlet from his tray.
“This.”
He placed it on Hina’s tray.
“You always liked these.”
Hina froze.
Old memories resurfaced.
Before she could react—
Haku casually reached over.
Picked it up.
And ate it.
“…”
“…”
“…”
The silence that followed was painful.
“Good.”
Haku nodded.
“I like it too.”
Ryu stared at him.
Haku smiled.
Ryu continued staring.
Haku kept smiling.
The atmosphere somehow became even more awkward.
Finally—
Ryu looked toward Hina.
“Hina.”
“I need to talk to you.”
Immediately Hina stood up.
“My lunch is finished.”
It clearly wasn’t.
But she stood anyway.
And started walking away.
Haku immediately stood as well.
“Oh.”
“I’m coming too.”
And just like that—
The two left together.
Leaving Ryu sitting alone at the table.
He watched them disappear.
His expression remained calm.
But somewhere deep inside—
Something hurt.
And he couldn’t stop the feeling.
The cafeteria continued buzzing with noise around him.
Yet for some reason—
It felt strangely quiet.
End of Chapter 5.