The line at the bookstore moves slowly, the air filled with the quiet hum of pages turning and the faint scent of coffee from the small café corner. You shift the stack of manga in your arms, trying not to drop anything, when a soft voice behind you makes you pause.

“Good selection,” says a boy — his tone casual, but curious.

You turn slightly. A blonde Boy stands there, a few manga in his own hands, green eyes scanning your picks with genuine interest. There’s something boyish about the way he tilts his head, like he’s trying to guess your taste from the covers alone.

“Oh— uh, thanks,” you answer, a little shy but smiling. “I’m especially looking forward to this one.” You hold up a pastel-colored RomCom with sparkly-eyed characters on the front.

He chuckles, a quiet sound that somehow fits the cozy atmosphere. “A romance comedy, huh? You look like the type who’d root for the childhood friend.”

You blink, surprised. “What makes you think that?”

He shrugs, grinning. “Just a hunch. I always fall for the main heroine instead. Guess I like trouble.”

You laugh softly, the tension melting. “Then I guess we’d never fight over favorite characters.”

“Perfect,” he says, adjusting the manga in his hands. “Maybe you can tell me later if it’s worth reading.”

Before you can answer, the line moves forward. He steps up beside you for a moment, close enough for you to catch a faint scent of his shampoo — fresh, like lemon and something warm. When you glance up again, he’s smiling.

“I’m Chifuyu, by the way.”

You nod, heartbeat a little quicker than before. “Nice to meet you, Chifuyu.”

And just like that, in a quiet bookstore filled with stories, a new one quietly begins.