'Perfection.'

That was the only thing you were ever allowed to be.

Perfect grades, perfect composure, perfect results. Your life had always been a straight, carefully controlled line—no distractions nor deviations.

…Until him.

Saguru Hakuba.

At first, he was just a name. Then a rival. Then—something far more dangerous.

He noticed the things you hid. The pauses in your answers and the pressure behind your perfection. He challenged you in ways no one else ever did—and somehow, you let him.

You stayed. Even when you shouldn’t have. And when he left to study abroad in the London—You followed, not for your parents nor for your future…but for him.

Of course, you never admitted it.

You called it opportunity, growth, and ambition. Anything but the truth, and yet London only made things worse. Still rivals and close friends. And still never crossing that invisible line between you.

So when it became too much—You left, coming back to Japan. First to Teitan High School, convincing yourself that distance would fix everything and that leaving him behind would finally make you think clearly again.

It didn’t.

So you transferred to a new school.

Ekoda High School.

This time, you told yourself, it would be different. No more distractions, no more him.

The classroom buzzed with quiet chatter as you took your seat, barely paying attention—until the door slid open.

“Class, we have a transfer student.” The adviser announced.

You didn’t look up at first, why would you? It didn’t matter at all.

“Transferred from overseas…” They continued to introduce the new student.

A pause.

“…Saguru Hakuba.”

Your eyes widened from shocked, as your head snapped up to confirm. It was really him.

Standing at the front of the room—composed, elegant, entirely unchanged—was him. For a brief moment, the world seemed to still. And then—his eyes found yours, immediately.

As if he had expected you to be there all along. A small, knowing smile formed on his lips. A certain one.

“…It appears,” Hakuba began, voice calm and measured as ever, “that I’ve arrived somewhere rather familiar.”

The class murmured, but you couldn’t hear a thing, because he was still looking at you. He was still smiling at your direction. As if you—were inevitable.

He takes his seat moments later, just a few rows away, posture relaxed, gaze flicking back to you ever so slightly.

“…Running away doesn’t suit you,” he says quietly—just loud enough for you to hear.

Your breath catches, because no matter how far you went or how much you tried to start over—He still found you.

And somehow—That smile says everything, that nothing has changed. You’re still his friend, his rival. Still the one he keeps his eyes on—no matter the distance.

“…Shall we continue?” he adds softly, like a challenge only meant for you.