Chapter 1: When Those Blue Eyes Turned
The first day of school after the long winter break had finally arrived. Snow still clung to the corners of the sidewalks, and the cold air brushed against the cheeks of students returning to their routines. Among them was a quiet boy with tousled black hair, barely 159 cm tall, who carried a red schoolbag. His name was Itsuki Aoi.
At seventeen, Itsuki had long been known as the quiet, short guy who preferred being alone. People often teased him for his height, calling him a child, but he didn't mind. Itsuki had a secret world of his own—a world of manga, anime, and endless daydreams. As always, he arrived early to avoid crowds and headed to his favorite seat: the very back, by the window. There, he could watch the world without being seen, and let his imagination roam free.
Soon, the classroom filled with students, their chatter and energy breaking the calm. A group of girls gossiped animatedly just a few desks away from Itsuki. Though he didn't join in, their voices were hard to ignore.
"I heard there's a new student in our class today."
"Not just any student! She's famous! Like, seriously famous."
"Yeah, I saw her in a drama once! Isn't she that Shizune Kisaragi? Didn't she get into some scandal recently?"
"They say she spent the night with some guy… That's why she transferred here, right? To lay low?"
"That's an unusual case, especially since she's a famous actress."
Itsuki sighed. The more they whispered, the more curious he became. Still, he slipped out of the class and wandered to the courtyard. There, he opened his copy of Attack on Titan and got lost in its pages.
When the bell rang, Itsuki returned to his classroom. Students were buzzing with excitement, but the teacher hadn't arrived yet. He took his seat and pulled out his phone, typing "Shizune Kisaragi" into the search bar. The images that popped up confirmed the rumors: she was beautiful—golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and a model-like figure. A well-known actress, and now… his classmate?
Just then, the door opened. Their teacher, Sensei Chiori, walked in wearing her usual glasses and stern look. But all eyes turned to the girl walking behind her. She wore the same uniform as the others, with a hat pulled low over her head. Even so, her grace and beauty were undeniable.
"Everyone, please welcome our new transfer student, Shizune Kisaragi."
Gasps, whispers, and murmurs filled the room. Even the usually disinterested girls looked excited.
"Hi, I'm Shizune. It's nice to meet you all," she said with a faint smile.
"You can take the empty seat in the back… next to Aoi-kun," Sensei Chiori added.
Itsuki's heart skipped a beat. Next to me? He froze, his face heating up. As Shizune approached and sat beside him, he avoided eye contact, glancing only briefly to notice her adjusting her top and removing her hat. Her golden hair fell gracefully around her shoulders, and when their eyes accidentally met—those deep, ocean-blue eyes—Itsuki quickly turned away, face redder than ever.
Class started with simple review exercises. Itsuki tried to focus on writing, but his eyes betrayed him, stealing glances at the girl next to him.
Then he felt it—a soft brush against his leg.
He looked down.
Her long legs were lightly touching his.
Shizune glanced at him, resting her cheek on her hand and smiled mischievously.
"Hey, what's your name?"
Itsuki gulped. "I-It's Itsuki… Itsuki Aoi."
"Itsuki-kun… cute name," she whispered.
He looked away, ears burning.
When the lunch bell rang, Itsuki quickly grabbed his things and headed toward his favorite quiet place: the school library. As he passed the classroom door, he noticed Shizune surrounded by other students—mostly girls eager to talk to her. He didn't know why, but he felt something tugging in his chest.
Was it jealousy? Or awe? He shook the thought away and walked out.
At the far corner of the library, hidden among tall bookshelves, he opened his manga again. Peace, at last. That was, until he heard a loud thud. A book had fallen on the other side of the shelf.
Peering through the gaps between the books, he saw a flash of blue.
Eyes.
Those same deep blue eyes.
His gaze locked with hers before a book was casually placed to block his view.
Suddenly, she appeared from around the shelf. "Hey again, Itsuki."
"O-Oh. Hi, Kisaragi-san…" he stammered.
Shizune sat down across from him, resting her arms on the table, her eyes watching him. For a while, they didn't speak. Itsuki tried to pretend he was still reading, but the silence was too loud.
She occasionally glanced at the manga in his hands.
"Is it good?" she finally asked.
"Yeah… It's Attack on Titan. It's… epic."
"I don't really read manga," she said. "But I like anime. Especially romance."
Itsuki blinked. Romance? His cheeks flared.
"U-Uh… I know some good romance anime if you want recommendations."
"Really? I'd love that! I've been watching a lot lately. It actually helps with acting."
They chatted lightly about anime for a while. Then, her smile faded.
"You heard the rumors, didn't you?" she asked softly.
Itsuki hesitated. "N-No, not really. I mean, maybe a little…"
Shizune lowered her gaze. "They're not true. Someone spread lies. I was framed. Just because I'm in the spotlight… people think they can say anything. I even moved here to escape it."
She reached across the table and gently grabbed Itsuki's hand.
His body stiffened. Her hand was cold.
"I just… needed someone to believe me."
He didn't know what to say. Words were hard. But he tried.
"I… believe you. Even if no one else does."
She looked up, a tear in the corner of her eye, and smiled. "Thank you. Really."
A moment passed.
"You know," Itsuki began, trying to calm his heartbeat, "If you want… I could show you around the school."
Her smile brightened. She squeezed his hand gently.
"I'd like that. Thanks, Itsuki."
Then, as if realizing what she had done, she quickly let go of his hand, looked away, and blushed.
And for the first time, Itsuki realized this ordinary day had just turned into something quite extraordinary.