Haru shuffled down the narrow hallway of his apartment building, earbuds in, eyes focused on the screen of his phone as he scrolled through an online manga forum. He was nearly at his door when he noticed the faint sound of voices coming from the apartment next to his. His new neighbor had only moved in last week, and all he knew about her so far was that she was popular, polite, and, frankly, a bit too perfect. Every time he passed her in the hall, she smiled that picture-perfect smile, the kind he only saw on influencers or magazine covers.

Not his type.

He reached for his keys, then froze. Through the thin walls, he could just make out snippets of dialogue—a conversation he recognized instantly. It was unmistakably a scene from Neon Galaxy Squad, a classic anime that was legendary among hardcore fans. He tilted his head, unable to resist listening in.

“She… she knows Neon Galaxy Squad?” he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing in disbelief. The series was far too niche for someone like her—someone who seemed effortlessly popular, the kind of girl who belonged at the center of the school’s social universe, not watching late-night anime marathons.

Out of pure curiosity, Haru paused, trying to piece together the scene she was watching. He recognized it immediately: Episode 17, where the hero finally confronts his long-lost brother. A chill ran down his spine as he remembered the powerful, emotional dialogue. For anyone to watch this episode, they had to be a true fan.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. There was no way she could actually be a fan. Maybe she just had the episode on in the background, he reasoned, as some kind of trendy “retro” aesthetic.