8 – The Window Seat — Scene 1 – Morning at Sunrise Residency The June morning breeze carried the smell of wet soil from the previous night’s rain.
Dhruv stepped out of House No.
7, wearing his neatly ironed white shirt, black trousers, black tie, and blazer folded over one arm.
His short black hair was still slightly messy despite trying to fix it.
“Morning.” Deep walked out of House No.
8, his tie hanging loose around his neck.
“Morning?
Bro, I woke up ten minutes ago.” Alya came out of House No.
9 with her silver hair tied into a neat low ponytail.
She looked at Deep’s tie with narrowed blue eyes.
“You forgot again.” “I didn’t forget.” “You wore it wrong.” She sighed, stepped closer, and fixed it in one smooth motion.
Deep grinned.
“This is why I date you.” Alya’s cheeks turned faintly pink.
“…Walk.” Just then, House No.
11 opened.
Mitsuri stepped outside.
Instead of leaving her long pink hair open, she had tied it into a high ponytail for the first time.
She wore the same Devison uniform as every day, but somehow…
Everything looked different.
The morning sunlight caught a few loose pink strands around her face.
She smiled warmly.
“Good morning, everyone.” Deep waved dramatically.
“Morning!” Alya smiled.
“Morning.” Dhruv looked at her…
His thoughts stopped.
“…” She looked…
Different.
Fresh.
Beautiful.
“…Dhruv?” Deep snapped his fingers in front of him.
“You alive?” Dhruv blinked.
“…Yeah.” He quickly looked away.
“Let’s go.” As they walked toward school…
Dhruv couldn’t understand why the image of Mitsuri’s ponytail refused to leave his mind.
— Scene 2 – The Walk The four walked through the busy Ahmedabad streets.
Deep talked almost the entire way.
“So if our class beats IX-C in football, I’m officially declaring myself a legend.” “You don’t even play football.” “I’ll emotionally support them.” Alya looked at Mitsuri.
“Ignore him.” “I’ve been trying.” They laughed.
Dhruv stayed unusually quiet.
Every now and then…
His eyes accidentally drifted toward Mitsuri.
She was listening to Alya with an excited smile, her ponytail gently swaying every time she nodded.
“Focus…” He looked ahead again.
— Scene 3 – Classroom XI-A.
The physics teacher wrote formulas across the board.
Dhruv solved every question correctly.
Yet…
When he looked toward the window…
His eyes briefly met Mitsuri’s.
She smiled politely.
He immediately looked back at his notebook.
“Seriously…” “Why am I getting distracted today?” Rohan noticed.
“You okay?” “Hm?” “You’ve erased the same answer three times.” Dhruv looked down.
“…I did.” — Scene 4 – Lunch Break The four met near the courtyard.
Deep had already bought four juice boxes.
“I was feeling generous.” Alya looked at the receipt.
“You used my money.” “…I was feeling your generosity.” Mitsuri laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.
Dhruv smiled without realizing it.
For a second…
He forgot about assignments…
Ranks…
Practice…
Everything.
Just hearing her laugh was enough.
Then reality returned.
“Come on.” “Get yourself together.” — Scene 5 – Library After lunch…
Mitsuri visited the library to borrow a novel recommended by the Literature Club.
She stood on her toes.
The book was just beyond her reach.
She stretched again.
Still too high.
A hand reached above her.
The book slid out smoothly.
Dhruv handed it to her.
“There.” Mitsuri blinked.
“Oh…” “Thank you.” She accepted it carefully.
For a brief second…
Their fingers brushed against each other.
Both quietly pulled their hands back.
Neither mentioned it.
Dhruv simply nodded.
“I’ll return this reference book.” He walked toward another shelf.
Mitsuri watched him disappear between the rows of books.
A small smile slowly appeared on her face.
— Scene 6 – Cricket Practice The afternoon sun returned after the rain.
Dhruv stood at the crease.
Aditya folded his arms.
“Twenty balls.” “No reckless shots.” Dhruv nodded.
The bowler ran in.
CRACK!
Straight drive.
CRACK!
Cover drive.
Then…
He mistimed one.
Caught.
Aditya smiled.
“What happened?” Dhruv looked annoyed with himself.
“…Lost concentration.” “It happens.” Dhruv looked toward the empty stands for a moment.
“Today especially.” — Scene 7 – Returning Home School ended.
The four walked back together.
Deep walked ahead with Alya, arguing about whether pineapple belonged on pizza.
“It absolutely does.” “It absolutely doesn’t.” Behind them…
Dhruv and Mitsuri walked quietly.
After a while…
Mitsuri looked at him.
“You’ve been quieter than usual today.” Dhruv scratched the back of his neck.
“…Have I?” “A little.” He smiled awkwardly.
“Maybe I didn’t sleep well.” She nodded.
“I hope you rest today.” The concern in her voice was simple.
Natural.
But somehow…
It stayed with him.
— Scene 8 – Evening Dhruv sat at his study table.
Mathematics notebook open.
Phone switched off.
Everything ready.
He solved one question.
Then…
Without warning…
The image of Mitsuri smiling that morning appeared in his mind again.
Her ponytail.
The sunlight.
That smile.
“…” He leaned back in his chair.
“What is wrong with me today…” A few seconds later…
He shook his head.
“No.” “Study first.” He picked up his pen again.
This time…
He finally focused.
— Scene 9 – Mitsuri’s Room Mitsuri stood before the mirror after changing into comfortable clothes.
She untied her ponytail.
Her long pink hair fell over her shoulders.
She smiled softly.
“I think…” “I’ll tie it like that again sometime.” She didn’t know why.
She simply liked how everyone had complimented it.
She definitely didn’t notice one classmate becoming unusually quiet because of it.