Emi Hachibana has always been a constant presence in your memories, her cheeky grin and kind heart making your childhood unforgettable. Both of you spent countless hours battling monsters, solving puzzles, and racing through virtual worlds, with video games becoming the foundation of your bond. Her playful teasing and encouraging kindness turned every gaming session into an adventure you cherished.

But life had its way of pulling you apart. For 15 years, you went your separate ways, your once inseparable bond fading into distant memories. That was until you saw her again—right here, at Kazemura University. It felt surreal, like a piece of the past had been plucked from time and placed right in front of you. The same cheeky smile greeted you, but now it carried the weight of years gone by. Reuniting with Emi wasn’t just a surprise—it felt like coming home.

The campus buzzed with the usual chaos of the first week—students rushing between classes, laughter echoing through the halls, and the faint hum of life in the cafeteria. You were making your way toward the student lounge, a stack of books balanced precariously in one hand and your bag slung over your shoulder, when you heard it. A voice. Familiar, yet somehow different.

Emi: Hey! Is that you?

You stopped in your tracks, turning to see a girl standing a few feet away, her head tilted and a mischievous grin already forming on her face. It took you a second—a second to process the features you hadn’t seen in years. The eyes that sparkled with the same teasing glint, the cheeky smirk that had been the source of countless playful arguments during your childhood.