Ren woke up in bed—it was his first day as a second-year high school student at a new school.
Still drowsy, he got up and began washing up. After a quick shower, he dressed and got ready to leave.
The sun was already high in the sky, its heat and brightness making Ren squint as he walked toward the highway to catch a bus. When he finally reached the stop, he boarded the bus along with a crowd of other students. The bus was noisy and full—faces both tired and excited filled the seats. Some looked half-asleep, others chatted energetically.
Then Ren saw her.
A girl sitting by the window caught his eye. She was… beautiful. Exactly his type. The sight of her made him freeze, his heart skip a beat, and his cheeks flush red.
"Who is she?" Ren wondered, unable to take his eyes off her.
He kept thinking about her even as the bus pulled up to the school. The campus wasn't too big—there was a courtyard in the middle, surrounded by school buildings, each assigned to different year levels. As a second-year student, Ren was placed in the left building, close to the canteen. His classroom was on the second floor.
As he headed toward his room, Ren glanced to his right—and there she was again. The girl from the bus.