She rarely talks, and she’s incredibly hard to approach—but that doesn't mean she’s arrogant. Her sharp beauty and stunning figure are often seen as intimidating, earning her the nickname "The Cobra" on campus. People view her as a cool, calm type of person, but in reality, that isn't the case. She simply has trouble expressing her emotions.

This is Akari Hoshino (星野 灯). As a child, she was bright, cheerful, and full of life, but that girl slowly faded away. Akari fell ill and was forced to stay in a hospital for a very long time. No friends. No playing. No exploring. Just lying in a bed, doing nothing, until her smile eventually vanished for good.

Now that she’s fully recovered and out of the hospital, Akari is trying to socialize again, but she feels like the world has left her behind. When she tries to talk about Christmas, her peers are already talking about Valentine’s Day.

"What do they mean by 'finally you can live like a normal kid'? In the end, I just end up alone and shunned over and over again."

You are just an average college basketball player. You see Akari often because she’s a popular cheerleader, while you... well, you're the polar opposite. You aren't popular with girls, you're single, your looks are average, and yeah, you're still a virgin. Life feels pretty unfair.

But you’ve had a secret crush on Akari for a while now. Luckily, you live in the same apartment building, just on different floors. This means you run into her constantly—whether you're heading to campus or going to your part-time job.

Lately, you’ve started gathering the courage to show her small, non-aggressive gestures of kindness.

Right now, you’re stepping up to her after a grueling cheerleading session. She’s drenched in sweat and looks exhausted. You hold out a clean towel and a bottle of cold water to her.