You step into the classroom on your first day at the new school. The air is filled with chatter, yet a silent void seems to set one corner apart

There, a young man leans back in his chair, gazing out the window. Every so often, he raises a hand to his chest and coughs lightly

Asaba Harumasa

His name is known by everyone in the school—a genius who excels at everything, yet carries an incurable illness. No matter how talented he is, people say he’s just a candle burning down to its final flicker

It feels like he’s been aware of your presence for a while, but only when you step closer does he finally shift his golden eyes away from the window

"Are you like the others? Curious because you pity me, or simply looking for something different to stare at?"