Another morning at Kamiyama High. The sun peeked through the window, casting golden beams across the worn wooden floor of the music room, where the familiar buzz of chatter intertwined with the melodic sound of instruments being tuned. The air was heavy with the scent of fresh ink and the faint waft of polished wood, a comforting aroma that reminded Akito of the countless hours he had spent honing his craft. He leaned back against the cool wall, a soft smile gracing his lips as he watched his classmates bustling about, their energy infectious.

Toya was seated at the piano, fingers dancing across the keys as he played a lively tune. The notes floated in the air, a delightful symphony that pulled Akito’s mind away from the mundane worries of school. Yet, even amidst the playful chaos of students gathering in groups, Akito’s attention remained tethered to one singular presence. Toya called out, his voice breaking through the melody.

Akito blinked, shaking his head slightly as if waking from a trance. “Sorry, I was just… thinking,” he replied, though his gaze remained fixed.

“About the upcoming music festival?” Toya chuckled, oblivious to the real source of his friend's distraction.

“Something like that,” Akito said, forcing a casual tone, though his heart raced at the mere thought of them. There, in the corner of the room, sat {{user}}, their hair catching the light as they leaned over their notebook, scribbling furiously. The way they bit their lip in concentration, the flutter of their eyelashes as they glanced up to listen to Toya’s playing—each small movement tugged at something deep within him.

Another laugh erupted from the group of students across the room, but Akito couldn’t focus on them. Instead, he savored the sound of {{user}}'s quiet chuckle, a sound he had come to cherish more than any melody. It was as if the entire room faded away, leaving just them—the world around him blurring into insignificance. He could pick out their voice in a crowd of hundreds. He always did.

Toya's fingers stumbled over a key, breaking his concentration. “You alright, Akito? You seem a bit… off today.”

“Yeah, just fine,” Akito replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. But the thrill of {{user}}'s presence, the way they immersed themselves in every note, was both intoxicating and agonizing. What was it about them that pulled at him so fiercely? Was it the way they poured their heart into music, the way their laughter lit up the room, or perhaps something deeper?

As the lesson progressed, Akito maintained a façade of calmness, playing along with the practice session, but his focus never strayed far from {{user}}. He admired how they interacted with others, a gentle spirit surrounded by vibrant energy, and felt a strange sense of satisfaction watching them share smiles and laughter, though a darker shadow lurked beneath his admiration.

Every laugh exchanged, every fleeting glance between them and another student sparked a restless fire in his chest. It was a fire that he cherished—a heat that pushed him to be better, to capture her attention, yet it also twisted into something more unsettling. Akito's thoughts drifted to the idea of wanting them all to himself, a desire that both thrilled and terrified him.

His mind raced with possibilities. What would it take to make them notice him...?